Not at all a bad haul from last night’s preview with winners aplenty at both Naas and Fontwell. Kicks for Free though proved that there is no such thing as a certainty!
Tomorrow we have meetings at Hereford and Plumpton.
In the first race at Hereford, the 2.30, Alan King gives a hurdles debut to the dual bumper winner Calafacial. Those bumper wins both came on the all weather surface at Lingfield so the drying ground should be a point in his favour.
I have a feeling that Carrickmines may be quite well handicapped in the 3.00. He has form on good ground as well so could be interesting.
Rippling Ring, a winner on the flat in South Africa looked a decent hurdles prospect when 5th in the Supreme Novices at the Festival last year but has been a big disappointment on his two starts this season. He remains on the same handicap mark in the 4.00 tomorrow so will have to improve on his earlier efforts this season. He clearly has ability and may well come good but will have to overcome Carrickboy who was a most impressive winner at Market Rasen last week.
Aureate is a recent winner on the flat on the all weather at Southwell. I see that Tony McCoy has been booked to ride him in the 3.50 at Plumpton which looks significant. At least we know the horse is fit and well and will get every assistance from the saddle. Also in thus race is Temple Place who deserves a mention. Although he has a fairly ordinary wins to runs ration backing him blindly throughout his career would have reaped dividends as his wins have come at odds of 20/1, 12/1, 8/1, 50/1 and 7/1.
A word of warning about the 4.20. Chopneyev is an admirable animal and has been one of my favourites over the years. He does relish the mud however so beware of supporting him in the 4.20 if the ground dries out. Teamgeist is an interesting runner in this. He has always looked a potential chaser on appearance and should have benefitted from his chase debut at Folkestone last month.
The photograph of Hereford racecourse is courtesy of Ruth S Harris while the painting, based on a scene at Plumpton is by kind permission of the artist Katy Sodeau.
That is about it for tonight.
ahorse 