Friday 5 March
IRELAND'S EYE
There are two interesting jumping cards at Newbury and Doncaster today while Lingfield and Wolverhampton on the all weather makes it a full day for punters. A recent hunter chase scorer is taken to make it a quick double in that sphere at Newbury while a recent Irish point winner can spring a mild surprise in an open looking novice hurdle at the same venue.
Templer (15/8) proved our sole winner yesterday in a Ludlow hunter chase whilst in another hunter chase at Taunton Sheriff Roscoe (11/2-4/1) and Mustangsallyrally (5/4-11/10) could only finish a modest second and third behind a clear cut winner in Rash Move. However we did manage to land a well backed and short priced winner in the closing bumper at Ludlow with the facile scorer and former pointer Carribs Leap (evens -1/2) in our back up service.
Former flat scorer Gifted Leader has made the transition to hurdling a relatively smooth one and Ian Williams charge can land the opening 2m 1/2f novice hurdle at 2-00 on the Doncaster card. Winner of a Southwell novice on his third start the 5yo has since finished runner up (beaten less than three lengths) in a couple of better class novices at Wincanton and Exeter on softer ground. With the likely favourite and smooth Ludlow bumper Flemmingsbond making his debut over hurdles following an absence (and an injury) he could be worth opposing and the Trevor Whelan (claims 8lbs) gelding can record his second hurdle success at the expense of another former flat racer in the 9yo Dundry who showed promise on his third hurdle start at Kempton a year ago when finishing a modest third in a fair 2m 5f novice hurdle.
In what looks a wide open novice hurdle the 2m 5f event at 2-45 on the Newbury card looks a contest which taking on the market leaders could prove the way to go. Market leader and Nicky Henderson trained Chef Junior has been somewhat disappointing in a point and all weather bumper having gone off the market leader on both occasions. Exeter 2m 6f novice hurdle winner Moleskin ran well in taking third money behind the useful mare Silver Kate next time but the penalised Victor Dartnall runner has been somewhat disappointing in the interim and the 7yo was beaten a long way by Cheltenham hopeful Wishfull Thinking at Exeter last time. The vote here goes to the former Tommy Cooper trained Dromahane point winner Ballyegan who has shaped as if this trip would suit in both runs ‘between the flags’ as he travels well and the son of Saddlers’ Hall did well to score on testing ground at the end of last December in a fair maiden. Now with Robert Buckler the Harry Skelton ridden 5yo can put his experience to good use here and account for the Phelan trained The Big Orse who would have prospects of adding to his bumper win at this venue on the strength of a couple of decent efforts in better company over hurdles – including a second placing over a furlong less at Kempton.
The Tim Walford yard have been in form of late and the father and son combination can combine to land the 2m 3f hc chase at Doncaster (4-55) with the 7yo Rudimentary gelding Sheriff Hutton. A scorer here over hurdles in a handicap over 3m 1f and runner up in a similar course handicap over 2m 5f this trip may just be on the short side for the Sedgefield two mile and four novice chase winner and though he disappointed in a Kempton over two months ago he will be suited by the forecast better ground and he can return to winning ways at the expense of former Irish point winner Professor Higgins who is ideally suited by good ground and this trip should prove ideal. However the three time chase winner is making his seasonal debut while lower down the weights the David Pipe trained ex dual hurdle and chase winner Salut Flo hold some Cheltenham entries and the Hadden Frost ridden gelding would be of interest if the money arrives for the unexposed 5yo.
An interesting if not easy to analyse hunter chase with reservations about some of the market leaders the 2m 6 1/2f event and the call could be to go with a promising pointer and recent scorer Gentle George. The Newbury contest can go to the strapping 7yo who showed plenty of ‘the right stuff’ when arguably somewhat fortunate to beat the former Coral Cup scorer Burntoakboy (made bad mistake at vital stage) over 3 miles at Huntingdon eight days ago. Nevertheless this track could play to the strengths of this galloping sort and at the forecast prices the Ollie Greenall ridden gelding can beat the former Irish pointer Molostiep who invariably runs well when fresh and the former Towcester hurdle/chase scorer shaped well till unshipping late in the day on his seasonal bow two weeks ago. One of the favourites Alphabetical would prove hard to beat if he gets the good ground he requires while likely market leader Good Company may find an extended two mile and six round here stretching his stamina.
3-45 DONCASTER – 2m 3f novice chase
A decidedly open looking contest and a tentative vote goes to Ferdy Murphys charge RIQUEZ DANCER who could be suited by better ground and the Graham Lee ridden 6yo can land his second chase at the expense of maiden chaser The Panama Kid.
ADVICE
BET 4pt win GIFTED LEADER 2-00 Doncaster
BET 2pt win (saver) DUNDRY 2-00 Doncaster
BET lay FLEMMINGSBOND to lose 5pts 2-00 Doncaster
BET 4pt win (nap) BALLYEGAN 2-45 Newbury
BET 2pt win (saver) THE BIG ORSE 2-45 Newbury
BET 3pt win SHERIFF HUTTON 4-55 Doncaster
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) PROFESSOR HIGGINS and SALUT FLO 4-55 Doncaster
BET 4pt win GENTLE GEORGE 5-05 Newbury
BET 2pt win (saver) MOLOSTIEP 5-05 Newbury
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