Category: Horse racing

 

Sure Josie Sure was fancied for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and ran well there for a long way. That should bring her on for her run at Newbury tomorrow in the 12.30 where the track should also suit her.

I tipped Alverstone when she won at Cheltenham last month and I am going to stick with her to follow up in the 1.00. Tony McCoy has the ride which is an obvious plus.

The 1.35 brings together a couple of useful types in Finian’s Rainbow and Sang Bleu. Both were smart hurdlers and look the types to do well over fences. With only 3 runners the race could develop into a tactical affair and there is not much point in coming up with a selection. They do look a couple of exciting prospects for fences though and this should be a race worth watching.

Vagrant Emperor has been off the course for a long while but has some useful form including a 2^nd to Bensalem at Leicester. He looks on a handy mark if he is fit after his lay off.

In the 3.15 Aiteen Thirtythree and Swincombe Rock could fight out the finish.

My only selection at Uttoxeter is Predictive in the 12.50.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Julie Whitwham.

After a disappointing campaign last season Alan King’s horses are enjoying a better time this term. King sends Sweet Irony up to Wetherby tomorrow for the novice hurdle at 1.20. The 4 year old looks a decent prospect on the basis of his bumper from and his hurdles debut at Wincanton recently where he finished 3^rd. He is my only selection for tomorrow.

Just a couple of horses to look out for at Lingfield tomorrow, Recession Proof in the 2.20 and Zafranagar in the 3.20. Both would prefer good ground and the going at Lingfield is predicted to be testing which tempers my enthusiasm somewhat.

 

Rebecca Curtis does well with her bumper horses and Grovemere, who runs in the Ffos Las 4.05 looks interesting. He is a half brother to Alberta’s Run and has Tony McCoy in the saddle.

Backing horses wearing headgear for the first time will probably put you on the road to penury but I am going to give George Nympton another chance in the Kempton 12.30. I had him down as a horse to follow this season and he surely has more to offer than he has shown so far.

Staying with Kempton Banjaxed Girl can continue the fine form of team Twiston-Davies when running in the 1.30.

Phidippides put in a run full of promise on his chase bow at Exeter behind Rock Noir and should win the Ludlow 2.50, a course where he won over hurdles at this time last season. Another runner to note in this race is Sandynow who I fancy to make his mark over fences this season.

 

Selections for Sunday

Aintree 12.35 Frankie Figg

1.10 Comhla Ri Coig

1.45 Merigo

2.55 Arctic Court

Towcester 2.05 Woodlands Genpower

Picture courtesy of Sarah Clegg

Dual Champion Chase winner Master Minded has his first run of the season at Ascot tomorrow where he will face Albertta’s Run who won both the Ryanair and the Melling Chases last season. Master Minded has had a wind operation since last season which may bring him back to his best form but there is always the possibility that his below par efforts last season were simply an indication that he is not as good as he was. With the ground drying out the going should suit Alberta’s Run and I will make him my selection.

Another with the ground in his favour is Noble Alan in the 3.10. He comes here on the back of a win at Kelso a fortnight ago and could upset some of the more fancied runners.

Dunraven Storm ran well behind the impressive Cue Card at Cheltenham last week and can gain compensation in the Haydock 12.40.

Tara Royal has had a few problems with his jumping this season but I would be inclined to stick with him, particularly as his stable are in excellent form. If he can put in a decent round of jumping he will be hard to beat in the 1.15.

Palypso de Creek rean well in the Grand National last season until falling 4 out. Richard Johnson rides his for the first time in the Haydock 2.20.

There are plenty with chances in the 2.50. Grand Crus won well last week at Cheltenham and looks to have something in hand over the handicapper. James de Vassy is another to consider. He was 4^th in the Greatwood and 3^rd in the Coral Cup last season. Peveril, a winner 3 times over hurdles last season is the other one I like and I would be surprised if the winner does not come from these 3.

Imperial Commander should win the 3.25. He is miles ahead on ratings and has an exemplary record when fresh. If you are looking for a chink in his armour he has won 6 of his 10 races at Cheltenham but is only 1 from 7 at other tracks. He should win but if he fails to fire What a Friend could be the one to benefit.

Paquet Cadeau has an each way chance at Huntingdon in the 2.45 while on the all weather you could have a look at Hitchens in the 3.40 at Lingfield and Mastership in the 8.15 at Wolverhampton.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of Imperial Commander.

There are a number of interesting types in the Ascot novice hurdle at 1.00. Frascati Park has the most experience but is yet to win over hurdles despite being placed in good company a number of times. These efforts were on soft or heavy ground however and his wins in bumpers suggest that he will be suited by the better ground he will encounter tomorrow. His 3 main rivals are making their hurdles debuts and all have form in bumpers. Sprinter Sacre won at Ascot and went on to defy a penalty at Ayr in the Scottish Grand National meeting. His future lies over fences but he could be good enough to win over hurdles in the meantime .Poungach won a bumper at Stratford in May and is described as “a lovely type” by his trainer Paul Nicholls. Lastly Easter Meteor represents in form trainer Emma Lavelle. He ran a bit green when 3^rd in a Newbury bumper on his only start last season and is a full brother to today’s winner Easter Legend. Another to consider is the Rebecca Curtis trained Made in Time, ridden by AP McCoy. Another with winning bumper form he has already won over hurdles this season but does carry a penalty for that. This should be an interesting and informative race and if pushed for a tip I would go for Sprinter Sacre.

Nicky Henderson could also take the 1.35 with Master of the Hall. Twice a winner over hurdles at Newbury and Sandown he should make a chaser and is preferred to Cheltenham festival winner Pause and Clause who will probably come good in time but has had a few problems with his jumping.

Megastar won twice in bumpers last season including the Aintree Champion bumper where eh beat Dare Me who has already won twice over hurdles this season. Megastar will be hard to beat in the 2.10.

Recent Exeter winner Quinz looks well handicapped in the 3.20 as does Aegean Dawn in the 3.55. Mille Chief looks the main danger in the latter race.

At Exeter I am going for a big outsider in the 12.45 where Jayjay Valentine, a winning pointer could go well at a price.

There are two that I like in the 1.15. The usually reliable Ernst Blofeld rather blotted his copybook when refusing at Haydock over fences earlier this month. He is better than that and is respected here back over hurdles. Synchronised won the Midlands Grand National last season. This may be a warm up race for a chase campaign but he is interesting nonetheless.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

 

At Hereford tomorrow Evella and Fleur de Vassy are a couple of winning hurdlers that look to have the scope to win over fences. They run in the 3.00.

I am working on the basis that Tiptoeaway needed the run when disappointing at Carlisle and hopefully he will do better in the Market Rasen 12.40.

My only selection at Thurles is Sizing Mexico in the 2.45.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Ruth S Harris

There is an interesting novice chase at Hexham tomorrow with a number of promising types running in the 1.40.

Best Lover missed the whole of last season but has won over hurdles at Hexham. On the credit side the stable are in excellent form but against that Best Lovers hurdles win came on good to firm ground. His trainer reports that he is an exceptional jumper. Bygones of Brid won 3 times over hurdles last season and has the look of a chaser. He is a tough sort and has winning form on heavy ground.

Glenwood Knight is rather a fragile individual but has plenty of ability and has a great pedigree being out of a half sister to Grand National winner Papillion. He was second at Haydock in April over the fixed brush hurdles which indicates that he will handle the ground and that he should have the aptitude for fences. Lord Villez was still a maiden after 20 races in France but has already won 2 of his 3 starts since coming to the UK. His wins came over hurdles at Newcastle and Sedgefield on soft and heavy ground. Graham Lee rides Bygones of Brid in preference to Lord Villez which may be significant. I think that this could be between Bygones of Brid and Glenwood Knight.

Locked Inthepocket is yet to win a race but he has run some decent races and his pedigree indicates that he should improve with time. He was 6^th over two miles on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle last month but should improve both for the run and the extra distance in the Hexham 3.10.

 

Dansilver 1.00 at Fakenham