The main interest in tomorrow’s racing will be the appearance of Cheltenham hopeful Peddler’s Cross at Kelso. He will be long odds on though and from a betting perspective the following may be more attractive.
Ffos Las 2.00 Maringo Bay
Kelos 1.40 Priceless Art
Kelso 3.15 Thumbs Up
Locked Inthepocket won for us over the weekend and should follow up under a penalty tomorrow in the Musselburgh 4.20.
We had 3 winners from 6 selections today including Royal Chatelier at 11/2 so not a bad strike rate.
My main hopes tomorrow are both at Catterick, Mac Aeda in the 2.20 and De Boitron in the 4.20.
I was looking forward to racing at Newbury this afternoon but it turned into a dark day for racing as two horses were killed in a bizarre incident before the first race. To make matters worse two horses lost their lives in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown – a race that was televised on C4. I was particularly sad to see Money Trix suffer a fatal accident.
Tomorrow there is racing from Exeter and Hereford. Spirit Son and Cedre Bleu look set to dominate the 2.40. Both are ex French horses and their future lies in a career over fences. Both are worth keeping an eye on but on this occasion Spirit Son, winner of a listed hurdle in France looks the likely winner.
Definity missed last season through injury but has progressed well since returning to the track. After finishing 4th to the useful Wymott he won at Fontwell at the end of January. He runs in the 3.10 where his main rival looks to be The Sliotar.
At Hereford the forecast heavy rain will suit Royal Chatelier in the 2.00. Fleur de Vassy was going well at Towcester last time before running out of steam in the closing stages. She runs over a shorter trip in the 2.30 tomorrow and will be ridden by a conditional jockey who can take some weight off her back.
Morgan’s Bay has looked the part in a couple of bumper races and makes his hurdles bow in the 3.00. Triple bumper winner Mizzurka should go close in the 3.30.
My thanks to Ruth S Harris for today’s photo taken at Hereford racecourse.
The main meeting tomorrow is at Newbury where the main betting race is the Totesport Trophy at 3.35. As you would expect with this sort of race there are plenty with chances and I will run through a few names to note.
Salden Licht is joint top weight. He was an easy winner at Exeter on New Year’s Day. Although he has gone up 10 lbs for that success the form looks solid as the third horse, Hunterview, has since won a valuable handicap at Musselburgh. He is a course winner and has winning form on both soft and good going. Recession Proof has won two of his three starts over hurdles and on his most recent outing won a jumpers flat race at Southwell. Tarkari ran a blinder last week to finish 3rd in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and if none the worse for his exertions there he is one for the shortlist.
Get me out of here won this race last season off a mark of 135. He is now rated 150 and has not shown much sparkle this season, possibly due to niggling injuries. At his best he would be in with a chance. Bothy was runner up in the Greatwood Hurdle in November and has gone up 9 lbs for that. A tenacious battler he could run well although there is a suspicion that he is best suited by soft ground.
Notus de la Tour was well backed at Ascot the other week but could only finish 4th. He is obviously well thought of by connections and could just be well treated off his current mark. Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino will be all the better for his run at Ascot last month and runs over what is probably his optimum trip. At the odds my two against the field would be Soldatino and Recession Proof.
The Newbury card opens with the 1.20 where Oasis Knight, rated 104 on the flat, makes his hurdles bow. He is an interesting newcomer but is up against Al Ferof and Kid Cassidy here that both have solid hurdles form. My slight preference is for Al Ferof but the race is not really much of a betting proposition.
Riverside Theatre was second to Long Run in the King George and that form looks good enough to win the 2.25. He has run well on his previous visits to Newbury winning 2 of his 4 races there. What a Friend looks the main danger. The 4.05 is quite a tricky 3 horse race. Aiteen Thirtythree is just preferred to Tarablaze.
At Warwick Finian’s Rainbow should win the 2.40 but his odds will be short while Cannington Brook and Alfie Sherrin look the pair to concentrate on in the 3.45.
At Leopardstown Quel Esprit looks the value in the 1.45 while the consistent Money Trix should run well on his favoured testing ground in the 3.15.
Ayr selections; 1.50 Arctic Court; 2.50 Locked Inthepocket; 3.20 Quicuyo.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.
Good luck.
Selections for Friday
Huntingdon 2.35 Sweet Irony
Musselburgh 4.40 Aikman
There isn’t much to go at tomorrow but 3 of the races at Huntingdon have possibilities.
If the forecast heavy rain changes the going sufficiently then Sandynow would come into the reckoning in the 2.40. A Media Luz was placed in Group company on the flat in France and should be up to winning the 3.10 albeit at cramped odds.
Grenstone Trail only won a 5 runner affair at Ffos Las but seems well thought of by her trainer and has an each way chance in the bumper at 4.40.
Selections for Monday
Ayr 2.45 Humbie
Lingfield 2.05 Vino Griego
Lingfield 3.10 Topless
We didn’t have much luck today with Frankie Figg brought down after being hampered by a loose horse and Lush Life being given no chance by the starter.
The big race tomorrow is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown where the English raiders Money Trix and Pride of Dulcote ate well fancied. Money Trix is yet to win at the track but has been second twice. He acts on soft ground and has finished first or second in 12 of his 14 career starts. Pride of Dulcote is an improving horse and held in high regard by connections. He has won both his starts over fences, the first an egg and spoon race and the second his defeat of Punchestowns in the fog at Newbury. He needs to step up on that form to take a hand in this but he may well be open to substantial improvement. He does lack experience though and at the odds Money Trix looks the better value.
In the UK Hunterview is my main hope. He runs in the 3.35 at Musselburgh. Premier Grand Cru could be an interesting outsider in the same race. He is trained by James Ewart who also saddles Vosges who could repay each way support in the 2.30.
Picture courtesy of the artist Sue Malkin.
Oscar Whisky and Binocular should have no trouble in winning their races today at Ffos Las and Sandown respectively but neither will be at a backable price so we need to look for value elsewhere.
At Ffos Las Sprinter Sacre should win the opener at 1.30 but he will also be at cramped odd. The handicap chase at 3.10 looks more competitive though. It is tempting to go for Dom D’Orgeval off a feather weight but the pair I prefer are Maktu and Adams Island. The former ran well for a long way in the Welsh National and runs here off the same handicap mark. Adams Island finished 3 rd to Wymott at Exeter and that form received a boost today. He then beat Mostly Bob at Doncaster and that horse has also gone on to win since. Adams Island is a thorough stayer and his jumping is improving.
Iron Chancellor was only beaten a nose at Ffos Las at Christman and returns over a longer trip which should suit him for the 4.15. Valley Lad only had to be pushed out to win a Ffos Las bumper in November and can defy a penalty back at the Welsh track in the 4.50.
At Sandown Professeur Emery , Magic Prospect and Terra Bleu all make some appeal. If pushed for a single selection it would be Professeur Emery.
A case could be made for most of the runners in the 2.25. Captain Chris has finished runner up on all his 3 starts this season. He has plenty of ability though and should find both track and going to his liking here. Reve de Sivola has an engine and an excellent attitude but is sometimes let down by his jumping. The form of his win at Cheltenham has since been given a boost and he is a serious contender. Medermit was the best of these over hurdles and has won 2 of his 3 starts over fences with the other run a refusal. The bold jumping Mr Gardner and dual chase winner Rock Noir are others to consider in a fascinating renewal. None of these could be ruled out but at RP odds of 12/1 Reve de Sivola looks the value.
In the 3.00 8/1 about Lush Life looks interesting. He has only been raised 5 lbs for his win at Cheltenham and I feel that puts him in with an each way chance. The going will suit Noble Alan in the 4.05 while Regal Approach has dropped down to his last winning mark in the 4.40.
Wild Rhubarb put in an eye catching effort when 4th on her hurdling debut. She is out of Diamont Noir a multiple winner herself and could run well at a big price in the Wetherby 1.40. Frankie Figg did us a favour when winning the Grand Sefton over the National fences and should again give us a run for our money in the 2.10.
Wayward Prince is hard to oppose in the 3.15 but both On His Own and Captain Americo are quite capable of profiting should the favourite fail to fire.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.
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