The ground was given as good at Huntingdon on Monday morning but there was the prospect of further showers – some heavy – overnight and this morning ahead of their eight-race card.
Larch Hill put up a career best when scoring at Stratford over an extended two miles on his first start for his new yard and a 7lbs rise is unlikely to stop him if in the same mood. That success was franked when the third – Darling Du Large – was a fluent scorer at Uttoxeter at the weekend but the prospect of good to soft ground and an additional three furlongs might stretch his stamina. He has been put in short enough at 5/2 and is overlooked.
I will be keeping a close eye on the betting regarding the prospects of Court Duty (2.30) who has his first start for Sheila Lewis. The 9-y-old finished in front of Demon D’Aunou at Newton Abbot back in June and is 12lbs better off with the top-weight – 19 if you include jockey’s allowances – and he is back down to his last winning mark.
The each way selection does not have the best record fresh, but I would be surprised if his new yard did not have him tuned up following a near three-month lay-off. He copes well on soft ground and Nick Schofield is a positive booking. There was 25/1 available – albeit fleetingly – on Monday late afternoon but he is 10/1 with Boylesports at the time of posting.
Railway Muice (3.40) has won his last couple and can overcome a 12lbs rise for a facile Market Rasen success on his British debut. The Irish import will be fine on good to soft or better, but if conditions deteriorate then his ability to handle soft ground would have to be taken on trust. Note at the time of writing, trainer Sarah Lewis has saddled two winners from her last three runners. The selection is 11/8 at William Hill.
Conditions at Leicester were described as soft on Monday with further showers expected. There is a fascinating 10f handicap and I believe there will be a three-year-old winner. Preference for Irish Legend (2.47) over Kolisi is marginal.
The each way recommendation – 11/2 with William Hill – failed to get home over 12f at Ascot last time and is best judged on his third over 10f in a competitive Royal Ascot handicap from a 2lbs lower mark back in June. The selection has run very well on all three starts on soft ground and James Doyle – who landed a hat-trick at Longchamp on Saturday – takes over in the saddle.
Kolisi has been dropped 3lbs by the handicapper for finishing a 5L second at Ayr last time behind a progressive rival. That run may have come too soon after a hard race at Goodwood, however, and William Haggas – who saddled eight winners on Saturday – has given his gelding the best part of two months off.
The Nathaniel colt Forza Orta (3.22) broke his duck when landing a Novice event at Hamilton last month ending a frustrating run of seconds. The selection – 10/3 with Boylesports – went down by less than a length to Sea La Rosa – now rated 99 – and by just over a length to Mahrajaan – now rated 95 – before last month’s success and he looks fairly treated from a current mark of 79. He has yet to race on soft ground – ran well on good to soft on debut – but there is no reason he should not be at least as effective with plenty of give.
There is a competitive jumps card at Galway, and it was nice to see Robbie Power back in action and amongst the winners at the weekend for Henry de Bromhead. Magic Daze has an excellent chance in the Beginners Chase, but Gabynako (3.30) is taken to make a winning chase debut for Gavin Cromwell.
The selection -4s with MansionBet – only won one of his eight hurdle starts but was often highly tried and he promises to be a much better chaser than hurdler and this intermediate 2m 2f trip looks ideal.
