At Sandown, this afternoon I am looking forward to the reappearance of Run To Freedom (1.05) in the 7f handicap for Henry Candy. The selection – 9/4 with BetVictor — beat the 110 rated Highland Avenue at Kempton when last seen back in December and his opening mark of 88 looks fair for his handicap debut, given he is a half-brother to the Group 1 winner Twilight Son. He is an exciting prospect although he won’t have things his own way as there are several potential improvers in opposition including Andrew Balding’s Bonnyrigg who is only 4lbs higher than when scoring at Brighton over a mile last time.
There has not been a 3-y-old winner of the mile handicap since 2011 but I hope to see Latest Generation (2.50) buck that trend fitted with a tongue tie for the first time by Simon and Ed Crisford. The selection – 11/4 with Boylesports – looked a non stayer over an additional quarter of a mile at Newbury in a hot Conditions event on his reappearance when, not for the first time, he was too keen for his own good. Jockey James Doyle keeps the mount on the colt, and I would not be surprised if he tried to make all from a good draw in stall two. King’s Knight steps up to a mile for the first time and he is bred to appreciate the trip – he looks a big threat although he is drawn wide in stall eight.
King Of Clubs (3.25) readily broke his maiden tag at Nottingham last time on ground described as good to soft. It is his second to Sir Rumi back at Colwick Park on his penultimate start, however, which suggests to me that he is well handicapped from an opening mark of 85.
Sir Rumi beat the selection by a short head at level weights at Nottingham, but he followed up from a mark of 89 at Haydock earlier in the week. He looks likely to be hiked up to the mid 90s on Tuesday and, with that in mind, King Of Clubs looks well treated.The recommendation is 15/8 with 10Bet.
I hope it’s a good day for Hughie Morrison as his Sulochana (4.35) is taken to land the hat-trick in the 14f handicap. The selection – 5/2 with William Hill – has won her last couple in the manner of a progressive stayer, and she looks adaptable regarding underfoot conditions. Oisin Murphy has been in the plate for her two recent successes, but he is plying his trade at York and Ryan Moore takes over in the plate.
One of these days everything will fall into place for Irv (4.50), and he gets each way vote in the 9f handicap at York. The selection has met trouble in running in a couple of starts so far this term and finished runner up to an excellently ridden winner at Pontefract over a mile last time. This slight step up in distance is considered a plus and the 9/1 with William Hill looks a fair ew price.
I was surprised to see Chuvelo (8.00) jump out to his right at Bangor-on-Dee last time but at least he got the job done under Brian Hughes. He is not going to be the horse I thought he would make up into, but I hope to see him defy top weight in the 2m handicap hurdle at Worcester. Do note Brian Hughes rides at Hexham rather than travelling south which tempers confidence a bit, but stable conditional Theo Gillard takes off a valuable 5lbs. The selection is 2s with MansionBet.
There is the possibility that Maori Knight (4.30) is best caught fresh, and he won’t build on last month’s Chelmsford win in the finale at Chester. Trainer Richard Hughes has always thought there was a good horse trying to get out, however, and I hope the gelding operation he had back in November has been the making of him – as a racehorse. Jamie Spencer made most – yes you read that right – on the all-weather and he has a good draw in stall four. He is unlikely to get a soft lead – Dr Marwan Koukash has four in the race – but I hope he gets into a prominent position if not able to get to the front. William Hill bet 4s ew 4 places.
In the finale at Salisbury on Sunday Alerta Roja is likely to be all the rage for Sir Mark Prescott stepping up in distance on handicap debut. A daughter of Golden Horn she has shown nil in four starts over 7f and a mile but is the type who could run up a sequence now racing over a more suitable trip. She could be thrown in from an opening mark of 64.
The vote, however, goes to top-weight Marsden Cross (5.15) who met trouble in running stepped up to 12f for the first time at Windsor last time. He looks a viable alternative to the Prescott filly.
