We have suffered from a bout of seconditis over the last couple of days but at least Yaboya won for the list to follow today. I have followed Yaboya’s progress pretty well since the start of his career and he has always looked the type to make a chaser. He jumped well today to open his account over fences at Market Rasen although he had to be kept up to his work right to the line by AP McCoy. The other runner in the race, Keenan’s Future was brought down at the first.
Down at Wincanton I thought Henrietta Knight’s Harringay jumped particularly well on her chase bow and there was no disgrace in being outpaced at the finish by Senorita Rumbalita who had a much higher hurdles rating and the benefit of a previous run.
Elsewhere I see that Liberate made a winning hurdles debut at Hereford. He is yet another recruit to the winter game from the flat stable of Sir Mark Prescott. He won 4 times on the flat before moving to Philip Hobb’s yard.
The advance going at Ascot is good to firm although there is rain about. King Barry won at Perth in the summer and a firm surface may well be to his advantage. He has also had a promising prep run over hurdles at Haydock and looks each way value in the handicap chased at 3.20. There are plenty of old favourite in opposition, not least Florida Dream who was a big success on last season’s list to follow. This full brother to the great Florida Pearl won twice last season and is another that looks overpriced in the market.
The ex German gelding Tarlac is my fancy for the 3.55. He won twice last season as well as finishing 5th in the ultra competitive Imperial Cup at Sandown. AP McCoy rides.
At Exeter Petit Lord may be the answer in the 3.30. Trained by Paul Nicholls he was 3rd at Toulouse to another horse now with the champion trainer, Good Spirit.
The 1.25 at Kelso looks like being an informative beginner’s chase. Rasharrow was expected to make a winning debut over fences at Newcastle last week but he had to be pulled up when the saddle slipped. He should make amends here at the expense of The Duke’s Speech, another from our list to follow, and Richard Fahey’s Altay. The latter won the Swinton Hurdle in 2003.
There is plenty of quality arcing over the weekend and I will be back tomorrow evening to go through the cards fro Saturday.
ahorse 