Newmarket’s opening 7f Alex Scott Maiden was won by CAROLUS MAGNUS (3.00) 12 months ago and Andrew Balding’s 4-y-old followed up over today’s C&D back in September. He is 5lbs higher in the weights this afternoon and is fitted by a hood for the first time, but the stable did us a favour when Mellow Magic scored at Windsor on Monday and the Rowley Mile clearly suits this gelded son of Holy Roman Emperor.
The market leader Hortzadar is 3lbs well in having finished runner up at Redcar – a track he has a good record at – but he was well beaten in this corresponding race – named in honour of the late great Irish jockey Pat Smullen – 12 months ago albeit from an 8lbs higher mark.
Recommendation: Carolus Magnus 3.00 Newmarket at 7/2 with William Hill
Cresta was placed in a couple of 7f Group 3’s at the end of his juvenile season and the step up to 1m 1f should suit Martyn Meade’s son of New Bay.
I hope to it is a good day for the master of Kingsclere, however, as MASEKELA (3.35) finished just a short head behind Native Trail in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes before making all to land the Washington Singer Stakes where he had a subsequent Gp 2 winner – Bayside Boy – back in second.
He is bred to appreciate this 9f trip – and more – holds entries in the Dante and Derby and is an exciting prospect for the year to come.
Recommendation: Masekela 3.35 Newmarket at 7/4 with William Hill
My two against the field in the 2m 4f mares handicap chase final at Cheltenham are Burrows Saint and FOUND ON (2.05) with the latter getting the nod near the foot of the weights.
The each way selection had a simple task when scoring at Market Rasen last time and has been raised 5lbs for that success, but she is still 12lbs better off with Burrows Saint for the 11L she was behind the Sue Smith mare at Uttoxeter over 2m 6f back in January. This drop back in trip should suit Found On who also has a big weight pull with the admirably consistent Precious Eleanor who finally struck gold when winning at Warwick last time.
If the Venetia Williams runners have run well on Wednesday, I would certainly not discount Fontaine Collonges but, without that information, she is reluctantly overlooked.
Recommendation: Found On EW 2.05 Cheltenham at 9/2 with William Hill
HER INDOORS (2.40) won the juvenile fillies’ handicap on this card 12months ago from just a 1lb higher mark and Alan King – who saddled the winner of this corresponding race back in 2017 – fits the mare with first-time cheekpieces this afternoon.
The EW recommendation will appreciate today’s better ground and the step back up in trip. The 12/1 with William Hill looks more than fair. David Pipe’s Panic Attack is considered the main danger in a competitive heat as befits such a valuable prize.
Recommendation: Her Indoors EW 2.40 Cheltenham at 12/1 with William Hill
The nap runs at Exeter this evening where WICKED WILLY (6.10) is taken to defy a 7lbs penalty for scoring over C&D last week on his chase debut when he looked a natural over fences having been well supported although it was only a moderate three-runner race.
Sam Twiston-Davies bypasses Cheltenham to have five rides at Exeter and I will be disappointed if De Newland’s cannot give weight to his five rivals given, he did not have a hard race here nine days ago. The handicapper has only raised the selection 8lbs in the weights so connections have not had their arm twisted to run the gelding under a penalty. David Pipe’s hat-trick seeking Red Happy is another running under a 7lbs penalty having scored at Taunton last week.
Recommendation: Wicked Willy 6.10 Exeter at 11/8 with William Hill
