Hi all,
Ibis Du Rheu didn’t get beyond the second fence at Catterick yesterday. However, we have three competitive handicaps to get stuck into today at Wetherby this afternoon and one at Kempton.
Wetherby
2:05 – Sixt Car Hire Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 1m 7f
Marracudja has had a win since disappointing in the Castleford Handicap Chase over C&D in December. The same race he won the previous season off today’s mark. Big chance at the weights if the wind-op has done the trick.
Commis D’Office, a winner when trained in France has yet to win on his eight starts for Venetia Williams but ran well when 2nd of 7 at Newbury 63-days ago and is on a winnable mark on the best of his form.
Hollywoodien an easy winner on his final start last season was an eyecatcher on his return to action when 3rd of 8 to Ibleo at Sandown 46-days ago. Slight concern that he’s had wind-op since but the cheekpieces that were left off last time return.
Maypole Class made it 2-3 over fences when winning at Fakenham last time. Up 8lb in a better race but he’s open to further progress.
Umbrigado has even less experience over fences. Just the two starts but last time he beat three rivals in a Fontwell novice chase. Decent over hurdles he can rate higher over the larger obstacles but I’m not sure the drop back from an extended 2m 3f will suit the 7-year-old.
Verdict: Marracudja and Commis D’Office are on attractive marks and the latter comes into this in good form. Maypole Class and Umbrigado come into the race on the back of recent wins and are open to more improvement. Hollywoodien shaped well on his return behind Ibleo at Sandown and is the selection.
1pt each way – Hollywoodien – 13/2 @ Bet365
2:40 – racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m 3 ½ f
The race of the day in terms of quality. Just the nine declared runners but they include the hat trick seeking Nightboattoclyro & Albert’s Back. The former is just 5lb higher than when winning at Chepstow 28-days ago. Up a notch in class here but the 7-year-old is going the right way.
Albert’s Back is 3-4 at Wetherby and his form figures over hurdles are 1121. The 7-year-old has won both starts this season and last time at Haydock showed he stayed 2m 3f when coming from the rear to win going away. Raised 8lb for his last win but he’s progressive and well suited to soft or testing ground.
Miah Grace has yet to win on five starts at the track but she has finished runner-up four times, including over C&D last month.
No Comment has returned to hurdling this season and last time was beaten only a short head over today’s distance at Hereford. Nudged up 3lb but the 10-year-old should be in the mix once again.
Top weight Midnight Shadow runner-up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup on his last start returns to hurdling for the first time since the 2019 Stayer hurdle. The 8-year-old has a touch of class as he showed when winning the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham two seasons back.
Verdict: Midnight Shadow is interesting back over hurdles but my slight preference is for the improving Albert’s Back.
1pt win – Albert’s Back – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:12 – Racing TV HD On Sky 426 Handicap Chase (Class 4) – 3m
Sigurd was pulled up at Carlisle yesterday so seems unlikely to run here.
Commit Or Quit won over C&D, off 4lb lower, three starts back and ran even better when 2nd of 9 over C&D last month. Another good run looks likely from the 6-year-old here.
Destinee Royale won a 2m 3f handicap chase at Market Rasen 12 months ago. Despite a 9lb rise in the weights she was sent off 6/4 favourite for her seasonal return at Sandown last month before unseating her rider at the 6th. Had little chance at the weights when 4th of 5 in Listed mares chased at Warwick last time but better can be expected back in handicap company and she looks well treated on her first run beyond 2m 5f.
Hugo ‘N Taz won last season’s Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen off 1lb lower but hasn’t run anywhere near that level of form on three subsequent starts.
Leverock Lass won at the fifth attempt over fences here 52-days ago. The ground was heavy that day and she was the only finisher of the four runners. The mare can race off the same mark and has nice light weight.
Verdict: This looks between Destinee Royale and C&D winner Commit Or Quit. At the prices I go with the latter.
1pt win – Commit Or Quit – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Kempton
5:15 – The lightly raced Premier Power, a winner over C&D as a juvenile was only beaten a short head in a similar handicap over C&D two starts back. He meets winner Brian The Snail on 5lb better terms here and should reverse placings with that one today. Not quite as good a Lingfield on his next start but maybe that race came to quick and he’s looked better off a break. Tawny Port was a further ½ length back in third in that Kempton race and gets a handy pull with Premier Power & Brian The Snail. He’s not the most consistent though and has failed to run to that level of form on four subsequent starts on the tapeta & fibresand.
Streamline won Group 2 Sirenia Stakes over C&D as a juvenile. He missed the whole of last year but has returned to action with a couple of good efforts. Looks to have retained plenty of ability and gets a 6lb pull with Brian The Snail for 1 ½ lengths on their running at Lingfield 26-days ago.
May Sonic is a dual course winner, including 1-1 over C&D. The 5-year-old disappointed in his hat trick bid when last of 11 at Ascot back in September. First run since but finished runner-up on his start for 361-days last summer.
Verdict: Premier Power can win when all the cards fall right. Streamline could be ready to strike after two runs back from a long layoff and May Sonic is interesting on his return to action.
1pt win – Streamline – 6/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – May Sonic – 8/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John