There is a cracking midweek card at Lingfield and in the 3m handicap chase Tallow For Coal will appreciate the return to a left-handed track having jumped out to his left when a good winner at Exeter last time.
He looks sure to run a big race, but he is 11lbs worse off with Illegal Model (3.20) for the 12L he was ahead of that rival on that occasion, and I hope to see a bold show from Charlie Longsdon’s 8-year-old who has the scope to jump a fence and did win here on his sole previous start on heavy ground over hurdles. There was 25s available first thing with William Hill but the ew recommendation is 15/2 with William Hill at the time of posting.
Longsdon has his string in excellent form with Snow Leopardess winning in game style at Exeter at the weekend en route to a tilt at the Grand National in April. We had a women jockey win the great race last year; could we have a mare who has already given birth to a foal win 12 months on?
At Newcastle, the hat-trick seeking Resumption looks the one to beat for William Haggas with the switch to this more galloping track seeing him in a better light.
The vote, however, goes to Onesmoothoperator (4.40) who has finished second in four of his last five starts but was a smooth winner at Southwell on his penultimate start. The selection – 11/4 with 10Bet – is 2lbs higher than when runner up at Southwell last time although that is negated by Brian Ellison putting up 3lbs claimer Harry Russell.
At Ayr I am going to give Gallic Geordie (3.05) another opportunity despite being 10lbs higher than when scoring at Newcastle under Adam Wedge at the end of December. The selection – 11/4 from 10/3 with Boylesports – has finished runner up in his last couple of starts but the ground was too quick at Newcastle on his penultimate start, and he ran a terrific race at Haydock on more suitable ground just four days later.
He has been given a three week break to recharge his batteries and the ground – described as heavy on Monday – should be ideal. The selection is 7/2 with William Hill at the time of posting.
