There was the prospect of showers at Chepstow on Monday and the hope is that the ground has enough give to see the hurdles debut of the Paul Nicholls’ trained Mr Glass (1.20) in the first division of the Maiden Hurdle.
Assistant trainer Harry Derham was interviewed on Racing TV from Aintree on Sunday and suggested the yard had a couple of promising novices’ – Stage Star runs in division II – running at Chepstow and Mr Glass – winner of two of his three Bumpers – has the size and scope to make his mark over obstacles.
The gelding has had his wind tweaked since scoring under a penalty on good to soft ground at Haydock back in March, having previously won at Wetherby on heavy ground. This near two-and-a-half-mile trip looks an ideal starting point. There was 8/11 about at 8,15 on Tuesday morning.
Harry Fry had four runners at Aintree yesterday and they all ran very well in defeat. I am convinced there are races to be won with his Fishkov although he is likely to come into his own over fences in time. He was just touched off in his sole Irish point by Vanillier who landed the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham back in March and is due to make his chase debut at Down Royal on Friday.
This is a big day for the Harry Whittington yard, and I hope to see Docpickedme (2.30) make a winning chase debut in the three-and-a-quarter mile novice handicap chase. The form of the selection’s win in his sole point is strong and he ran well on his reappearance over hurdles last month. He promises to be well served by this marathon trip and gets the vote ahead of Pennyforapound – stable quiet but a market move worth noting – and Starsky who appeared to pull himself up on the run in at Worcester on his reappearance.
There was 6s available on Monday afternoon but he is 3s with 10Bet at the time of posting with Starsky pulled out first thing this mornning.
Good/good to soft ground would be ideal for Moon King (3.05) in the handicap hurdle just short of three miles even though Charlie Longsdon’s gelding has a win under his belt on heavy ground on the level. The selection – 11/4 with Boylesports – has stamina to prove over this trip, but he did win a Bumper over 2m 4f back in February and was a decent stayer on the flat for Ralph Beckett. His handicap mark on the flat is 91 and he looks potentially well treated off 115 over timber.
The first division of the novice hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee is a belter with Go Dante (1.38) getting the vote having been taken out of a race at Cheltenham on Friday on account of the ground which was deemed too quick. There are showers forecast on top of good to soft ground in north Wales and Olly Murphy’s 5-y-old – so impressive when landing his Bumper at Wincanton back in March – is taken to maintain his unbeaten record. There is 8/11 around on Tuesday morning.
There are a number of dangers especially Black Poppy who went into many a notebook when scoring at Warwick on debut back in March. This well-bred son of Kayf Tara was allowed to go off 25/1 on that occasion but he travelled like a class act. The stable of Kerry Lee have no great record in Bumpers but they are on fire at present and Black Poppy is one to keep onside in the months to come. The 5s available on Monday looked an attractive each way alternative to the market leader but he is a best price of 3s at 8am this morning.
I said earlier that I hoped it would be a good day for Harry Whittington as I expect to see Poldark Cross (5.00) make a better chaser than hurdler and he is taken to make a winning chase debut in the 3m handicap chase. The selection – 7/4 from 9/4 with William Hill – was a winner between the flags in his native Ireland and was placed in all three hurdle starts for the yard last term. He carries top weight of 11st 12lbs today and is not the biggest, but he is athletic and can give the weight to his eight rivals.
