Category: Horse racing

 

A couple of horses to look out for this afternoon.

Newbury 2.40 Sona Sasta

Doncaster 3.30 Lord Wishes

 

It doesn’t look an easy Saturday to find winners.

Starting at Doncaster there are 6 course winners in the 2.55 with Court by Surprise the best fancied of the sextet. With the trainer out of form I prefer Join Together who was a fast finishing runner up in the Becher Chase back in December. The third that day has since franked the form and although the ground may not be ideal Join Together stays really well and should give us a run for our money.

At Kelso in the 3.40 Eduard may be better suited to the conditions that his main rival Brick Red.

Harry Topper will be a hot favourite in the 4.15 but I am inclined to take him on with Bold Sir Brian who has form figures of 211 at Kelso.

 

Doncaster

3.20 Cal me a Star

5.30 Dreambrook Lady

Newbury

1.50 Gassin Golf

5.20 Fabrika

 

Ludlow

3.30 Grove Pride

4.00 Big Society

 

Kempton 3.50 Same Difference (ew)

Fairyhouse 1.00 Dogora

1.30 Glen’s Melody

2.35 Quito de la Roque

 

Sandown

1.45 Walden Prince has not shown much form lately but he is not on a bad mark on the best of his past form and at 12/1 could be interesting.

4.30 Barlow ran a promising race when 4^th at Newbury last time.

 

Selection for Thursday

Ayr

2.20 Shanen

 

Doncaster 3.25 Snake Eyes

 

Navan

1.35 Rubi Light is well suited by both the trip and the ground and will be hard to beat.

Taunton

3.40 I am going for a long shot here. Chesil Beach Boy may show improved form with a change of jockey.

 

Ascot

1.30 This is a difficult race to weight up. Paul Nicholls runs Aiim to Prosper twice a winner of the Cesarewitch but yet to reach that level of form over hurdles. Royal Guardsman was a leading bumper horde lasts season but is another yet to fulfil that promise over timber. Up and Go and Sausalito Sunrise are former point to point winners that have already tasted victory over hurdles. Up and Go strikes me as the sort to improve, although he will need to as he is giving weight away all round but he is the tentative selection.

2.05 Rocky Creek was a smooth winner at Warwick and is difficult to oppose here although taking a short price in a race of this nature is always a worry.

2.40 Cappa Bleu is being aimed at another tilt at the Grand National and may need the run so I will side with course winner Vino Griego who comes here in good form.

3.50 This is a classy renewal. Cue Card didn’t stay last time out at Kempton and the trip here will be more to his liking.

4.25 The usual Saturday head to head between trainer Nicholls (Far West) and Henderson (River Maigue). Far West is getting 9 lbs from his rival and that could make the difference.

Haydock

2.20 I was originally going to choose Kentford Grey Lady but the stable form, or lack of it, is a worry. Trustan Times will handle the ground and is given slight preference.

2.55 It is hard to knock the credentials of Teaforthree. He won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season, finished a very creditable 6^th in the Hennessy and then was runner up in the Welsh National. He jumps really well and has won on soft and heavy ground.

4.40 Hold on Julio is well treated on his chase form.

Picture courtesy of Emily Russell