No turf racing in Britain on Saturday but there is a flat meeting scheduled for Lingfield Park and, at the time of writing, Naas are due to stage a decent jumps card in Ireland although they are subject to a 7.30 am inspection on raceday.
At Naas Petitbonome’s (4.00) second to Cape Gentleman was let down when the winner ran no race at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend but Henry De Bromhead’s grey is taken to make it third time lucky over timber.
The selection – 9/4 with 10bet – will get further than today’s 2m 3f trip but jumped slightly out to his left last time and will appreciate a return to an anti-clockwise track. The grey was first past the post on his second start between the flags and will make up into a decent staying chaser in time.
In the opening apprentice handicap at Lingfield the beautifully bred filly Moohareeba is likely to be all the rage having scored at Kempton in a slowly run race over 1m 3f last time from a 4lbs lower mark. Her talented 7lbs apprentice Benoit De La Sayette keeps the ride on this lightly raced 4-y-old who is bred to appreciate today’s trip although her win last time came in what turned out to be a virtual match and she is likely to be short enough in the betting.
Galahad Threepwood (11.45) came clear with one other over C&D last month and his subsequent 6lbs rise is largely negated by the 5lbs claimed by apprentice George Bass who takes over from Tom Marquand. The selection is 5/2 with 10bet.
Give ‘Em The Slip (12.50) has finished runner up in her two starts and looked as if her turn was near when going down by half a length over C&D returning from a near eight-month absence. Kieran Shoemark returns to the saddle on Charlie Hills’ daughter of Oasis Dream – 10/11 with Boylesports – and she is taken to make it third time lucky.
The BBC website suggests it will not get down lower than 3 degrees on Saturday evening at Exeter and forecasts temperatures as high as nine degrees on Sunday. The track must pass an 8.30am inspection on raceday but there must be every chance of racing getting the green light. Let us hope the thaw comes in time.
Three of Colin Tizzard’s last ten runners have struck gold and I hope to see Killer Kane (2.10) go one better than when second on his British/rules debut at Aintree back in October. The selection cost £300,000 after winning his sole point in his native Ireland although I do feel better ground will suit going forward.
The Veterans’ Chase is a cracker and the return to 3m should suit Bobo Mac (3.40) who looked a non-stayer in the Welsh Grand National (3m 5f+) having previously finished finished third to the subsequent 1-2 in the Chepstow showpiece Secret Reprieve and Two Amigos.
Note the grey was trying to give Secret Reprieve 5lbs when beaten 15L on his penultimate start and we now know that was a near impossible task. The 10-y-old is 1lb lower on Sunday and Adrian Heskin keeps the ride. The selection is 4s with William Hill.
