Monday 8 March
IRELAND'S EYE
With two competitive jumping cards at Stratford and Ffos Las today it wont be a doddle for punters but we do have high hopes of success with a long priced ex German runner in the opening contest at Stratford while drying ground can see an Allison Thorpe trained runner land a competitive handicap hurdle at the Welsh track.
Sunday was a day to forget as we failed to hit the score sheet for the first time in ages. Admittedly we were arguably unfortunate to collect with What A Buzz (7/2-3/1) who looked likely to collect till toppling two from home on his chase debut at Sedgefield while You Never Said (4/1) did finish in the frame in the opener at Huntingdon. However we did register a winner in our supplemental service when Double Expresso (8/11-4/6) obliged and our second best Dancing Tornado (12/1) landed a competitive handicap hurdle at Naas.
With plenty of question marks against the leaders in the betting in the 2m 1/2f maiden hurdle at Stratford at 2-00 today it can pay to side with one of the longer priced runners in the line up. The vote falls on the Harris trained ex German flat racer The Lemonpie who pulled too hard for his own good on his hurdle debut for his current yard in a decent Newbury contest over three weeks ago. In the hope that he settles better here odds of 36.0 on the DAQ represents decent odds and the former three time flat winner (up to 12f) can spring a surprise here at the expense of likely warm favourite Souter Point – an 85 rated flat winning 4yo (all weather) who ran reasonably well in taking fourth in a fair Sandown contest on his hurdling bow 17 days ago.
Tony McCoy is leading rider at Ffos Las by some way since the Welsh track opened its gates last year and the champion rider can add to that tally by landing the 2m novice hurdle at 2-20 with the Rebecca Curtis trained Black Jack Blues. A dual bumper winner the Definite Article 7yo followed up a fine third to the useful Chartreux in a maiden hurdle over 2m 4f with an all the way success at Ludlow a month ago. This front running type will be suited by this track and he can defy the penalty here at short odds with the former consistent bumper runner Bendant posing the main danger on his hurdle debut.
Though Allison Thorpes debut bumper winner Flexi Time has failed to add to his tally in four attempts over flights but though he has only shown ordinary form in those contests to date he could prove a better proposition in his first time handicap in a 2m 4f contest at Ffos Las today at 4-35. It should be noted that the 6yo has shown decent form on better ground, including a win in a Uttoxeter bumper on good to firm but three of his four runs over flights have been on a softer surface. Back on a better surface the James Farrelly ridden gelding could oblige here off a decent mark (100) and he can account for top weight Yetholm – a hurdle winner who has been running reasonably well in better company. Racing in first time blinkers the Phillip Hobbs trained 5yo can pose a big danger despite the fact that he has to shoulder 11-12 and is racing over two miles and four for the first time.
5-40 FFOS LAS – 2m bumper
The once raced Paul Nicholls 5yo should improve markedly for his initial start in a Huntingdon bumper and though he has obvious claims here the better betting alternative could be the Bangor winner and four year old SIR BERE from the Rebecca Curtis yard and the French bred can follow up here under Tony McCoy at the expense of the experienced ex Tom Hogan trained Oursininlaw.
ADVICE
BET 3pt win/1pt place THE LEMONPIE 2-00 Stratford
BET 2pt win (saver) SOUTER POINT 2-00 Stratford
BET 5pt win (nap) BLACK JACK BLUES 2-20 Ffos Las
BET 4pt win FLEXI TIME 4-35 Ffos Las
BET 2pt win (saver) YETHOLM 4-35 Ffos Las
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