13:15
FOREVER
FORWARD
Not sure Peter
Bowen has trained many if any for Munir & Souede but modest flat performer
was well handled in his first start for the yard but I suppose the quick ground
is no issue
MAGISTRATO
French hurdler
with just one start and a second to his name, but the third has won since and
picked up a Listed race last time out so you’d think this lad could be above
average in time
NAZWA
Two hurdles
starts to date which were at least progressive but needs another step forward
here really
ROCKY MAN
Not massively
keen on his French winning form, but for one so young there’s plenty more to
come you’d imagine. Love Doctor Dino as a sire and this quicker ground will
probably be ideal
THEONLYWAYISWESSEX
3 flat runs so
far for Alan King and has achieved a modest mark of 67. Wouldn’t be my idea of
the winner
Summary – Small
Field juvenile hurdle with the quick ground probably putting a few off running.
Ground will suit ROCKY MAN who looks to have a chance and MAGISTRATO for me has
the better French form so maybe it’s between that pair
13:50
ALLMANKIND
Top weight
giving 12lbs to his nearest rival. Was undoubtably disappointing on seasonal
reappearance in the Mastersons Hurdle at Cheltenham last season so this would
appear very much a day out before tackling fences again this term. Probably his
best hurdling performance did come at this track though and officially he’s
10lb lower than his Chase rating, plus he’s a year stronger so they won’t want
to let him get clear
FLIC OU VOYOU
Easy winner of
his novice hurdler here last season, that came as a second season novice. Think
they’ll want to go over fences with him this season but could run well off this
mark although I think he’ll find something better treated
HIGHWAY ONE O
TWO
Aborted chase
campaign last season and has slipped down to a reasonable mark now. I think
this track will suit and I expect him to run well
MASTERS LEGACY
Beat POLISH
who won his handicap hurdle off 130 so this lad being 2lbs higher means it’s
definitely a workable number. Had a long break before two runs last season, so
with a more straight forward summer under his belt I expect he’ll be winning
soon enough, and this looks as good a chance as any
GALICE MACALO
Has shown more
than a couple of glimpses of serious ability and the ground will be no issue.
Last run was at this track so you’d think they’ve has this race in mind and
he’s another who could run well
SCARLET DRAGON
Been around
for a while and a great dual purpose horse. Last win came off 3lb higher mark
at Market Rasen and back on this type of ground you’d have to think the mark
looks manageable. Possibly vulnerable to a more improving type though
FRENCH
CRUSADER
A mark of 129
looks incredibly light when you go back to his run behind EPATANTE in the
intermediate hurdle. Twice ran last season and disappointed really but that was
after a layoff so if things have bee straightforward for him since, I’ve no
doubt he’s better than his mark
VALENTINO
DANCER
3 wins from 6
starts since joining Fergal but a chance the handicapper has him in his grasp
now.
RESTANDBETHANKFUL
Two wins last
spring and has had a wind op over the summer which makes me think they’re
taking this race seriously. Another who should be better than his current mark
BATHSHEBA BAY
Has won under
Bryony but has also been off the track for some time. You’d think he’ll need
this run
Summary – Plenty with cases to be made for them, I like HIGHWAY ONE O TWO, FRENCH CRUSADER (for my sins) and RESTANDBETHANKFUL looks to have a shout of the shorter priced runners
14:25
MISTER MALARKY
Cracking horse
and I think this is his trip and ground. Can certainly run close of this mark
but might just need this first run as longer breaks he’s only won once after,
which was in a handicap chase of a 30lb lower mark
REAL STEEL
There’s been
something about this horse that people have suggested he’s best right handed
but he ran an absolute belter in the 2020 Gold Cup. There’s no doubt he’s
talented, but also inconsistent. Fresh here from a wind op but that’s not
unusual for this yard. Has a great record when fresh and almost certainly
capable of better than todays mark
TRUCKERS LODGE
Midlands
National winner in 2020 off an 11lb lower mark and might not find this race and
conditions enough of a test
BRAVE EAGLE
Track, trip
and ground will suit but it’s been such a long time since he’s shown any real
enthusiasm so impossible to trust
EXELERATOR
EXPRESS
Up 28lbs since
the start of the year and was impressive the last day when trying this sort of
trip for the first time. I’d be concerned that the handicapper has him held
now, but he’s coming here in tremendous form
FIDUX
Has big weight
pull now with EXELERATOR EXPRESS but has just looked like a typical summer
horse this season and picked up a weak enough handicap back in June
KITTY’S LIGHT
4 from 7 over
fences and the run at Sandown to end last season looked like this 5yo still has
plenty more to come. This is a big ask, but can see her running a big race all
the same
THE MIGHTY DON
Beat ENRILO at
this meeting last year and truthfully, he did quite a lot wrong that day. Some
reasonable efforts since an obviously likes it here so has a chance, but others
may be off better marks.
FULL BACK
I’m still
fuming that Mr Moore didn’t run this lad in a Handicap over fences following
his really good Chase debut at Fontwell when in the mix with some really nice
horses and only rated 125 himself back then. Now he’s a 140 horses, which I
think arguably he wasn’t far off back then either. Beaten a nk back at Fontwell
back in the spring but was reported to have finished lame. Jumping needs to
have improved, but is entitled to have done and may want a bit of give in the
ground (although has form on Good). I’ll be keen to watch how he goes because
he’ll be winning a nice handicap this season for sure
IRISH PROPHECY
Couple of
spins this summer and looked to be progressive in those, but this is a much
classier race, so while I think he’ll be primed for a bold show, I’m just not
sure he’s up to this
CAP DU NORD
Last win came
back last November off a 15lb lower mark but has run OK since and bumped into a
couple. Has always looked like he needs his first run so that’s a worry, but I
know the trainer thinks he’s got a proper chance
CHIRICO VALLIS
Well beaten
here in April and was stepped up to about this trip after which didn’t seem to
help much. As a Novice he was held in reasonable regard but this 9yo probably
does look quite exposed now
COURT MASTER
Just creeps in
at the bottom and lightly raced for an 8yo. Mark looks manageable and goes well
fresh so plenty to like
COBRA DE MAI
Can’t expect
any improvement really having left the Skeltons last season, but seeing this
lad running off 128 just makes him impossible to ignore. Should have come on from
that run last month and be spot on for this race and while Bridget hasn’t won
on this horse she knows him well enough. Wouldn’t be able to back him but no
surprise should he go well
Summary – Think there's plenty in with a shout but COURT MASTER gets my vote
15:00
CAPTAIN TOM
CAT
Peeled out a
sequence last summer over fences and had done the same the previous year but no
denying he was disappointed at Market Rasen last time when sent of favourite.
Think this track will suit, and has more experience than others over fences so
you can expect him to run somewhere close to his OR I think
FIDELIO VALLIS
Has won his
last 4 starts although each of those was not under Harry Cobden, who last rode
him on Chase debut when he was a well beaten favourite. Trip should be ok but
may stretch him a little although ground will be fine. Didn’t run great here as
a Novice hurdler but you could look to make excuses for him that day (ground,
small break, beaten favourite prior, raced enthusiastically)
GRUMPY CHARLEY
Makes his
chase debut here and although he’s raced mostly on slow ground under rules, he
won his point on good ground. Has been pitched into reasonable company over
hurdles and he’s 3 from 3 round here. His last of those wins was off 132 over
hurdles, but he looked value for the 9lb rise. The right sort of horse for me
who could go well here, if stalking the pack and jumping well. The step up in
trip also looks ideal
KILTEALY
BRIGGS
Horse I’ve
liked for a long time and had Collic I think the summer before last. I’d be
happy to draw a line through last season, but he’s a second season Novice now
so that experience will be a great help this term I think. Probably is capable
of winning this race in terms of class and I like him
PRESENTANDCOUNTING
Another summer
jumper but he’s won 4 in a row since beaten favourite at Aintree in June. You
can see him trying to go off in front and win this from the front but I think
Tom Cat and Vallis will also be keen to race from the front so there could be
too much competition for the front running types
TEA CLIPPER
Good winner of
the Silver Trophy here last season so we know ground, track and trip will all
play to his strengths. Yet to jump a fence in public but will have been jumping
for a long time being an ex pointer from the yard (well running in Sophie’s
name). Pretty good effort in the Coral Cup and they thought enough to get
Rachel Blackmore on board at Aintree so I think his mark of 142 will only get
higher this season. There’s plenty of pace in here so that will suit and he’s
got a proper chance I think
Summary –
Genuinely a race where every horse could win this, but that’s ideal really for
looking at future prospects because there’s going to be some eye catchers in
defeat I think. The three with wins under their belt all want to make the
running I think so I’m keen to oppose that trio so I’d think that the winner
comes from KILTEALY BRIGGS, GRUMPY CHARLEY or TEA CLIPPER. I’m expecting
KILTEALY to improve through the season so he might just be best watched and
while I think GRUMPY CHARLEY will love this race, he might just lack the class
of TEA CLIPPER, who has been here and done it over hurdles so I think he’s the
one to be on
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