For my preview of Thursday’s action I will start with the jumpers. Although we are in the last few days of the national hunt season there are still some decent prizes to be won and Cheltenham have a card with plenty of quality.
Gold Award, trained by Nicky Henderson, was a dual bumper winner last season and came 9th behind Cousin Vinny at Cheltenham. He won on his hurdling debut but was then beaten into second at Warwick last time. At around 12/1 I think he is worth a small each way interest in the 2.10.
Nicky Henderson’s runner in the 3.20 is Hora. This mare won over 2 miles on the flat and has plenty of stamina as shown when she won over an extended 3 miles over hurdles at Aintree. She has always been consistent and will certainly have no problem seeing out this shorter trip. Alan King’s Over Sixty looks quite well treated on her 4th behind the runaway winner Quevega at Cheltenham in the mare’s race at the Festival. How’s Business won at Exeter off a mark of 113 on New Year’s Day and is on a mark of 127 now. She did run well in that race won by Quevega though. The grey Argento Luna has not finished out of the first 2 this season. She is not an easy ride but possesses a turn of foot and something like Hora could set this up for her. One of the keys to this horse may be the ground as she has a particularly good record on decent ground and has won on good to firm. For my selection I will side with Argento Luna.
In races such as the 3.55 I like to try and find a bit of an outsider and there are 4 runners that I have looked at. Heathcliff won 3 times earlier in the season but unseated when beaten in the Pertemps Final at the Festival. He is a chaser in the making but I wouldn’t rule him out here. Ringaroses was 11th in that Cheltenham race and has in truth been disappointing. He acts on good ground though and has been given a chance by the handicapper. In addition Tom Scudamore rides and he was second on her on the only other occasion he has ridden the horse.
The Old Pretender has finished 2nd on all 3 starts this season. He doesn’t look badly off at the weights and Tony McCoy rides for the first time. The other one I like is Sarde. Kim Bailey had a winner the other day with Max Bygraves and he saddles Sarde in this. At around 20/1 I will go with Ringaroses each way.
The Newmarket card opens with the Wood Ditton Stakes at 1.50 which is always a bit of a lottery as it is for horses that have not run before. There are good reports about Harbinger and he would be my token selection.
In the 3.00 I see that Redford has been dropped back to 6 furlongs. I wouldn’t rule him out in a strongly run race but I see that his usual jockey, Jamie Spencer rides Zidane. In the Craven Stakes at 3.35 my short list consists of Delegator, Sans Frontieres and Glass Harmonium. Delegator warrants plenty of respect but at evens he looks too short a price. Glass Harmonium represents a viable alternative at a better price while, if 8 runners go to post I like the look of Sans Frontieres of Jeremy Noseda’s with the eyecatching jockey booking of J Murtagh.
Twice Over and Virtual both come from stables that are bang in form and they look the pair most likely in the 4.10. For the last two races on the card I am going to follow Sir Michael Stoute with Resort (4.45) and Imposing (5.20).
Up at Ripon the most interesting race of the day looks to be the 3.45 where there are a number of potentially smart 3 year olds in opposition. Mutamaashi only had to be pushed out to score on his debut at Lingfield in February. He gets in here on a mark of 85 which could just be on the lenient side. Roman Republic was a disappointing beaten favourite on his racecourse debut last season but made amends next time up winning at Doncaster. Trumpstoo represents Richard Fahey and the trainer speaks very highly of this strapping colt. Finally Cook’s Endeavour has some useful looking 2 year old form and is another for the shortlist. Mutamaashi gets the nod for me with Roman Republic next best.
Cascata holds an Oaks entry and looks the one to be on in the Wolverhampton 7.15.
Today’s pictures are by courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
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