Those with hurdling experience don’t look anything out of the ordinary in Chepstow’s opener – although I expect to see a better run from Carry On The Magic following wind surgery and dropped back in trip – and the vote goes to the dual listed Bumper winner Good Risk At All who is an exciting prospect for Sam Thomas whose training career is developing nicely after a slow start.
It was not the most competitive listed contest that the selection won at Cheltenham back in November – soft – but there was no denying the quality of his win at Newbury under a penalty on good ground in February. That form has worked out very well in the first few weeks of the season and it will be disappointing if Good Risk At All cannot transfer his top-class Bumper form to timber. The price is very prohibitive and it is a race best watched.
The 2m Novices’ Handicap Chase is a corker and I will be surprised if the race does not throw up a number of winners going forward. My two against the field are the Tizzards’ Amarillo Sly and Red Rookie (2.30) and it is the latter who gets the each way vote for Emma Lavelle on his chase debut.
The prospect of soft ground holds no terrors for this 6-y-old who has gone well fresh in the past and whose two defeats in five starts under rules have both come when stepped up beyond the minimum distance. ** Do note that the ground had dried out to good to soft – soft in places – on Wednesday mornning and a dry day is forecast.
The Lavelle yard remain in good form, and it was no surprise to hear that their stable star Paisley Park would be fitted with cheekpieces for the first time at Newbury next time after his comeback run at Wetherby at the weekend when he seemed to down tools at the top of the straight before finishing best of all. Red Rookie has the scope to make his mark over fences, and he gets the each way vote at 15/2 with William Hill 4 places.
There is a good jumps card at Musselburgh, and I made a note to support Millarville (1.20) next time if she drops back in trip from three miles. The mare is considered to need good ground to be seen to best effect although her Irish point and hurdles success – was trained by Oliver Sherwood – were achieved on good to soft ground.
Conditions were given as good to soft – soft in places – on Tuesday morning although no further rain was forecast. Harriet Graham – who is also the clerk of the course at the track – fits her mare with blinkers for the first time and she gets the vote ahead of Broadway Joe who may also be ahead of the handicapper. The selection is 7/2 with MansionBet.
The feature race looks between Do Not Disturb – who beat Millarville last time – and The Ferry Master (3.20) with the hope that the Scottish National fourth is ready first time out for Sandy Thompson. One would imagine that a return trip to Ayr will be on the radar for the 8-y-old who looked to be going best two out over four miles back in the spring.
This 3m 6f trip should be ideal and he gets the vote – 15/8 with Boylesports – despite giving 9lbs to Rose Dobbin’s 8-y-old who is on a four-timer but who must prove his stamina over this trip. His sound jumping has been a great asset in his hat-trick and he will not go down without a fight.
There is a good flat card at Nottingham and I am looking forward to seeing Schmilsson drop back in trip to a mile having been outstayed over longer trips in his two starts. He will make into a decent handicapper next term but Shigar ran an eye-catching race over 7f on debut and Sir Michael Stoute saddles a well bred newcomer in Desert Crown. It is a race best watched.
Of more interest from a betting proposition is Forever William (2.40) who can shed his maiden tag for Alan King in the two-mile handicap. The 3-y-old has been knocking on the door in recent starts and looked ready for a step up in trip when beaten half a length over two furlongs shorter at the end of September. Hollie Doyle goes to Kempton this evening but Hector Crouch is an able deputy. The 5s with William Hill looked overpriced on Tuesday – he is into 7/2 on the morning of the race.
