Friday 12 March
IRELAND'S EYE
There is full line up of meetings today both on the flat and over jumps with Dundalk and Wolverhampton under the floodlights tonight providing the all weather action in Ireland and the UK backed up by four jump cards at Ayr, Wincanton, Sandown and Leicester. The hunter chases will provide the backbone of our betting strategy today and there are sound reasons for siding with a course and distance winner at Leicester despite a poor effort last time while a Victor Dartnall trained handicap hurdler can score at generous odds at Sandown
Bene Lad (3-9/4) was our sole winner yesterday but we did have plenty of placed selections headed by Ag Dul Suas (13/2) in the opener at Clonmel while two of our selections in the handicap hurdle Shorecliffe King (11/4-5/2) and Jacks Island (12/1) went down narrowly to the top weight at the same venue. Coscorrig (5/4) was a disappointing third in the mares novice chase at the Tipperary venue while our supplemental choice Noble Concorde (16/1) finished runner up to the ‘jolly’ in another novice chase.
The opening mares novice hurdle at Wincanton today at 2-00 over 2m 6f can give Alan King a pre Cheltenham winner with the 5yo Call At Midnight. Although the daughter of Midnight Legend – a bumper winner at Bangor on her debut has not shown progression on her second start over sticks and has had a rear view of the decent mare Banjaxed Girl now on three occasions the Robert Thornton ridden mare can make it third time lucky here and account for the Hughie Morrison trained Yonder a two time flat winner who should appreciate better ground here on her third start over hurdles. Likely favourite Far From Blonde finished a modest third in this race last year but Paul Nicholls lightly raced 6yo does not look bomb proof and though she could also improve for a better surface she is taken on here.
Dual point winner Oopsmylord may have ‘bombed out’ last time on heavy ground at Haydock but the 8yo has proved himself on better ground and he can return to winning ways in the extended 2m 7f hunter chase at Leicester at 3-40. A winner over course and distance on his chase debut last year where he accounted for the useful and subsequent dual hunter chase scorer Gentle George (gave 7lbs)one of the leaders in the betting for the Christies Foxhunters next week the son of Rock Hopper was not disgraced on his seasonal debut when finishing runner up to the useful Bob Hall at Ludlow. In a decidedly open contest he could have most to fear from the former Coral Cup winner (2007) Burntoakboy who failed by four and a half lengths to the aforementioned Gentle George at Huntingdon on his second start in this sphere two weeks ago where a bad blunder at a vital stage did not help the 12yo. The 128 rated chaser King Of Angels (sporting first time blinkers) would prove dangerous if capable of running to the form which saw him land a couple of Stratford good ground handicap chases and a fine second in the Listed Summer National at Uttoxeter in the middle of last year.
The 2m 6f hc hurdle at Sandown at 4-05 offers recent Ffos Las distance winner Tara Taylor a good opportunity to follow up but the 7yo mare has to race off a 13lb higher mark and this could halt her progress.
Former three time point to point winner Dr Hart may only have scored twice for the Dartnall yard in a hurdle and chase during a light career in Britain and though the 10yo has nor scored for two years there were signs that the Dr Massini gelding could be nearing win number 3 with a fair third over an inadequate 2m 1f at Exeter over five weeks. With Giles Hawkins taking off a valuable 7lbs he can land this open looking handicap at the expense of former point and hurdle winner Outlaw Tom while the Emma Lavelle trained Priors Glen is an unexposed type who looks capable of better.
Though only a tidy field are assembled for the extended 3m hunter chase at Sandown at 4-40 there should not be much between the first three in the betting here.
The vote however goes to recent point winner He’s The Gaffer – a six time chase winner who admittedly had a lean time of it last year under Rules but the 126 rated 10yo looks to have conditions to suit here and he looks a better option than the former Irish trained Van Ness who is a dual winner in this sphere but could be suspect over the trip on this demanding track. The other contender is the veteran Back Nine a course and distance winner who has reportedly had breathing problems and is now tried in a first time visor.
2-35 WINCANTON – 2m 6f handicap hurdle
A lightly raced son of Accordion the King trained Ballamusic just gets the nod to land this handicap and the 8yo should improve for his first run 44 days ago after a break with trip/ground to suit.
3-30 SANDOWN – 3m 1/2f Grand Military chase
Shay Slevins recent Ballydarragh point winner Bolachoir won this race two years ago for another yard and the Hubbly Bubbly 8yo again showed his liking for this CD when finishing a close second in a similar event three weeks ago under todays pilot and he can land this contest at the expense of the consistent Gaora Lane and last years winner Oakfield Legend.
ADVICE
BET 4pt win CALL AT MIDNIGHT 2-00 Wincanton
BET 2pt win (saver) YONDER 2-00 Wincanton
BET lay to win 5pts FAR FROM BLONDE 2-00 Wincanton
BET 4pt win OOPSMYLORD 3-40 Leicester
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) BURNTOAKBOY and KING OF ANGELS 3-40 Leicester
BET 4pt win DR HART 4-05 Sandown
BET 1pt win (savers) OUTLAW TOM and PRIORS GLEN 4-05 Sandown
BET 4pt win (nap) HE’S THE GAFFER 4-40 Sandown
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