Hi all,
Irish Roe plugged on into third to grab the each-way money at Cheltenham. However, we had to wait for the lucky last at Newmarket for a winner with Bullace running out an impressive winner of the 3-year-old only 1m handicap.
A Steady profit on the day and most of yesterday’s losses regained.
Friday is new the Saturday this week. Saturday’s two main meetings have been moved to Sunday as a mark of respect for Prince Philip’s funeral. Which means the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr and the Newbury Guineas Trials at Newbury will now be run on Sunday. However, there’s some good racing at Ayr & Newbury today and I have looked at a few races at both tracks. Let’s begin at the Scottish track and the first day of the Scottish Grand National Meeting.
Ayr
2:40 – Coral Backing Scottish Racing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 3m ½ f
Didonato will be a short price to land the hat trick after wins at Doncaster and Ludlow. This is only the 6-year-old’s second start beyond an extended 2m 3f and she’s only been raised 6lb for a decisive success last time. Open to more improvement and will be a tough nut to crack.
Her biggest rival could turn out to be Irish raider Lily’s Gem. A winner of a Carlisle novice hurdle last season. The 8-year-old produced a seasonal best when 3rd of 12 at Down Royal 26-days ago. Needs to improve for her step up to 3m to win but that’s possible.
1pt win – Lily’s Gem – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (Listed Race) – 2m 4 ½ f
Nietzsche didn’t stay the 3m 1f of the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Drops back in trip today and is suited to good/good to soft ground. Handicapped to be competitive.
Schiehallion Munro has finished runner-up on his last three starts. Ran a fine race over 2m 6 ½ f at Kelso last time. Can race off the same mark here and the drop back in trip is a positive. As is small field with the 8-year-old’s last five form figures in races with less than seven runners being 12112. Brian Hughes booked for this solid jumper and he should go close.
Theinval is a well handicapped horse if bouncing back to something like his best. The 11-year-old hasn’t won since successful at the meeting 3-years ago. Needs good ground to be at his best and this has traditionally been his time of the season. Very much in the mix.
2pts win – Schiehallion Munro – 3/1 @ Bet365
3:50 – Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m
Defining Battle has run well on both his starts over hurdles. The 5-year-old ran Camprond to 1 ½ lengths at Taunton last time and that one has since improved to run well to go close in a handicap hurdle at Aintree last week. Handicap hurdle debut off what looks a winnable mark.
Fete Champetre won at the third attempt over hurdles at Wetherby (good) 15-days ago. He’s on the upgrade and looks on a workable mark for his handicap hurdle debut. Brian Hughes is a positive jockey booking for the 6-year-old.
Dino Velvet won this race in 2018 and finished runner-up in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2019. He’s been mostly disappointing since that excellent effort but he’s dropped down to 6lb below his last winning mark and can never be ruled out on genuinely good ground. Vulnerable to any improving types in the race.
4:27 – Book Your Staycation @Western House Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m ½ f
Nicky Richards has saddled the winner of this handicap hurdle in 2015 & 2018. He runs No Regrets in this year’s race. A winner on good ground at Southwell last August. He followed up at Stratford on his next start and ended 2020 proving his stamina for 3m when a neck, second of 10 at Musselburgh. Off for 3 months and raced like the run was needed when 5th of 6 at Newcastle last month. In with a good chance of making a third win in the race for the trainer.
1pt win – No Regrets – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Newbury
Three Class 2 handicaps to get stuck into at Newbury.
1:40 – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
Kings Lynn has only had five career starts. Runner up at Doncaster on his return to action last August. He was then sent off 4/1 favourite for Ayr’s Silver Cup but lacked the experience for such a big field handicap. Bounced back with an improved neck second of 12 in 6f handicap at Doncaster in October. Starts the new season off just 2lb higher and looks capable of winning a valuable sprint handicap this season. Despite the drop back to 5f he will take the beating here and he’s gone well fresh in the past.
Come From The Dark was having his first start since an off season gelding operation and wind surgery when a head third of 13 at Musselburgh 13-days ago doing best of those coming off the pace. He can win races this season.
Ivatheengine won two of his three juvenile starts and completed the hat-trick on his handicap debut at Newmarket on his only start last season. First run since June but he’s well suited to quick ground. However, his only defeat did come over 5f. Capable of more progress as a 4-year-old.
2:15 – Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap (Class 2) – 2m ½ f
Almighwar looks set to go off a strong favourite on his first attempt at 2m. Twice a 1m 4f winner at Kempton last year. He made a good return to action when runner-up to the useful Al Zaraqaan, clear of the rest. Stamina to prove but shaped like a staying type last time and looks capable of more progress as a 4-year-old.
Almighwar takes on a few experienced staying handicappers such Hochfield & Solo Saxophone. The former was length third of 13 to stablemate Themaxwecan at Musselburgh last time. Nudged up 3lb for that effort but another bold run can be expected from the Mark Johnston trained 7-year-old who stays 2m.
Solo Saxophone holds no secrets from the handicapper but had a good season last year winning four of his eight starts. Stays 2m but he starts this season off a career high mark of 98. Won first time up last season so can go well fresh.
Imperium comes into the race looking for the hat trick after two wins at Kempton at the end of last year. Today’s likely strong gallop will suit the 5-year-old but he must prove he’s as good on grass as he is on the synthetics. If he is, then he’s on good mark.
2:50 – Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Sixteen are set to go post for what could be an informative 3-year-old only handicap with plenty of the field open to more progress this year. The pace is forecast to be strong which could suit the closers.
Mithras, trained by John Gosden, improved for the fitting of the tongue tie when winning on his all-weather debut at Newcastle in November. Drop back to 7f shouldn’t be a problem as he quickened up nicely to win last time. Handicap debut off 90 but he’s open to more improvement.
Rafiki has improved on all his three starts. A winner at Wolverhampton on his second start. He returned from a 5-month break to follow up at Lingfield, upped to a mile, last month. Handicap/turf debut but likely to continue improving if as effective on the grass.
Beautiful Bertie, trained by Roger Charlton, was a neck third of 14 over C&D (good) last September and then went on to win twice on the all-weather in novice company at Lingfield & Chelmsford. Potential for more improvement as 3-year-old and could be one to follow this season. Won’t be far away if fully tuned up on his return.
Caribou improved on all his four starts last season winning his last two at Goodwood and here over 6f on his handicap debut. Up 5lb but is another who can win races this year. Slight concern would be both those wins did come on heavy ground though.
Dingle looks the pick of the three Richard Hannon runners. The colt shaped with promise when third of 9 in the valuable Convivial Maiden Stakes at York last August. Built on that performance when beating four rivals on his nursey debut at Kempton the following month. Looks the type to make up into a good 3-year-old. Has been raised 4lb for his Kempton win which isn’t harsh. The forecast strong pace will suit as he showed he stayed a mile well last time. Yard had the winner of this in 2015 & 2018.
Verdict: Plenty in with a chance Mithras looks a worthy favourite, Beautiful Bertie looks worth following but may need the run, at the prices I’m going to side with Dingle.
1pt win – Dingle – 13/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John