There is the prospect of light drizzle overnight at Chepstow although nothing significant and conditions were described as being good on Thursday ahead of todays card.
Kim Bailey did us a favour courtesy of Mr Grey Sky at Leicester last week and I hope to see Kyntara (1.55) go one better than when second over 2m 5f at Warwick last time when he may well have prevailed had he not blundered at the last. The selection – 8/11 with William Hill – is a point and Bumper winner and steps up to near three miles over hurdles for the first time. This distance should suit although it is worth noting that he was pulled out of an engagement at Uttoxeter on account of the good ground back in November.
There are three competitive handicap chases in the middle of the card and in the 3m 2f+ handicap chase I will be keeping an eye on the market with regard to Neil Mulholland’s La Cavsa Nostra who has run well fresh in the past and returns from over two-years off the track. The horse he beat at Sedgefield on his last start – Lord Du Mesnil -is now rated 30lbs higher than he was in the northeast, yet the Mulholland horse gave him weight and a beating.
The each way vote, however, goes to Wayfinder (3.30) who ran very well at Newbury last time and can race from the same mark as when successful over C&D back in October 2020. The selection has – like Kyntara – been taken out of a race when conditions were deemed too quick at Newbury last month, but the hope is that there is sufficient moisture in the ground to let the Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding take his chance.
The 8s with William Hill first show was too big although there has been an overreaction and he is into 9/2 with Boylesports at the time of posting. I expect him to go off about 6s with th Curtis yard quiet at presnt.
The listed mile contest for the classic generation in Meydan is a cracker and New Science (3.10) beat dual subsequent Group 1 winner Angel Bleu at Ascot in a listed event at Ascot on fast ground and his two disappointing efforts as a two-year-old have come on slow ground. He might not be quite in the same class as his stablemates Native Trail and Coroebus, but he is a best price of 50/1 for the colts’ classic at Newmarket in May.
Island Falcon is match fit having won here over an additional furlong under Frankie Dettori here a fortnight ago. He represents the danger but I am a big admirer of the Appleby colt although he makes no appeal at his odds on Thursday evening.
At Lingfield in the finale Forge Valley Lad (4.24) should have the race run to suit with the front-running No Flies On Me likely to ensure a decent gallop for Mark and Charlie Johnson. The latter takes a decent hold and drops back in trip this afternoon having been campaigned over 12f since winning over today’s 10f at Chelmsford from a 4lbs lower mark back in November. The 9/4 with 10Bet looks fair.
No Flies On Me would be carrying a couple of pounds more at the weekend but she has the worst of the draw and may get taken on for the lead by Santa Florentina who also likes to race prominently.
