Hi all,
The Grade 2 WKD Hurdle (2.20) and the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (1.45) are the highlights of the first of two days’ racing at Down Royal.
Wetherby’s two-day Charlie Hall meeting begins in similar fashion with the Listed Juvenile Hurdle (2.40) and the Listed bet365 handicap chase (3.15). There’s also jumps action at Uttoxeter this afternoon. The featured race of Newmarket’s flat card is the Listed Bosra Sham Fillies’ Stakes (2.30). All-weather fixtures at Kempton and Dundalk complete the Friday action.
I have fancies at both Wetherby and Newmarket.
Wetherby
The going at Wetherby is being described as good and they have been watering. There’s a fair bit of rain forecast for the track on Thursday night and Friday morning so I wouldn’t be surprised to see soft appear in the going on Friday.
One of the highlights of day one of the Charlie Hall Meeting is Aintree Grade 1 winning hurdler Ahoy Senor making his debut over fences in the novice chase (2:05).
3:50 – Cash Out At bet365 Handicap Chase (Listed Race) – 2m 3 ½ f
The Big Bite really should have won but throw it away in a similar contest at Newbury in March. Has the ability win a race like this off his present mark but isn’t one for maximum faith. This track will suit him better than Cheltenham did on his last start in the spring and he did win first time up last season.
Laskalin is an interesting recruit to the Venetia William stable. The 6-year-old stay’s further than 2m 4f and seemed effective on soft/heavy ground in France. Likely open to more improvement and it will be interesting to see how he goes here.
Eclair D’Ainay, a useful novice handicap chaser last season. A solid jumper of fences the 7-year-old is another who is capable of better on his second season over the larger obstacles. Trainer Dan Skelton won this race with Born Survivor in 2018.
Newmarket
2:30 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Bosra Sham” Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 6f
Red Lacewing built on the promise of her racecourse debut when winning a Naas maiden, in a good time. last month. She still looked green at Naas and is capable of more improvement. The step up to 6f should be fine and if she handles the track won’t be far away.
3:40 – Soto Sizzler has gone over two years since his last win but has threatened to come good on a couple of occasions most notably when a 2¼ lengths 2nd of 10 at Epsom in June and when 5th of 10 at Ascot two starts back. Poor run at Sandown 69-days ago to overcome but is handicapped to be competitive if bouncing back to form.
4:15 – Iconique found plenty for pressure when getting off the mark at the 5th attempt at Yarmouth (good to soft) 18-days ago. Up 4lb for that success but she’s an inform filly and lightly enough raced to think she can do better.
Betting Advice:
Wetherby
3:50 – 1pt win – Eclair D’Ainay – 9/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Newmarket
2:30 – 1pt win – Red Lacewing – 13/2 @ Bet365
3:40 – 1pt win – Soto Sizzler – 7/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
4:15 – 1pt win – Iconique – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John