Tomorrow’s jumping cards come from Bangor-on-Dee and Huntingdon and they are also racing at Naas in Ireland.
Bangor stages a potentially informative novice chase (1.10) with several with decent hurdles form. Wymott, highly regarded by Donald MCCain won a grade 2 hurdle at Haydock in February beating Wayward Prince, himself a winner over fences this season already. Wymott handles the ground and will stay further than this trip in time. Alfie Sherrin won a good handicap hurdle at Newbury over and extended 3 miles last season when he was with Paul Nicholls. Now with Jonjo O’Neill he goes well fresh and is a serious contender here. Tarablaze has been off the track for the best aprt of two years with a leg injury but had won the same garde 2 hurdle at Wymott the season before. All 3 have points in their favour. Tarablaze was a winning pointer and therefore has competitive experience over fences while it is tempting to go for Alfie Sherrin who does well after a break but for my selection I will side with Wymott who has been schooled thoroughly over fences and has the class to do well in that sphere.
In the 1.40 I will stick with Rock Noir who comes here on the back of a win at Exeter and will handle the ground OK as he has winning form in France on very soft and heavy going.
Minella Boys is at his best when the mud is flying and at odds of around 8/1 looks fair value in the 2.10. He is a course winner and has won off his current mark.
Bonfire Knight has some fair flat form and should be suited by the tight track at Bangor in the 2.40. Very testing ground is a slight concern so any stakes here should be kept at a sensible level.
Safran de Cotte won bumpers at Market Rasen and Haydock last season and can make a winning hurdles bow in the 3.10. His Haydock win was on heavy ground.
I have Royal Chatelier in my notebook as one to follow this season as he looks to be on a fair handicap mark. He runs in the 3.40 and soft ground will not be a problem for him. I expected to see him running over a longer trip as he is related to stayers, including Impek. I just wonder if this is something of a prep race. Perhaps we should keep a watching brief tomorrow and catch him when running over a longer trip.
I don’t have any tips for Huntingdon but it will be interesting to see how Medermit goes in the 2.50. He has the potential to be a leading novice chaser.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Alison Wilson.
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