By Charlie McCann
A wonderful midweek card at Kelso this afternoon and AP McCoy is back in Scotland after his winner at Ayr on Tuesday and has an excellent chance in the opener courtesy of Jack Steel (2.00) whose chance might not be too obvious at first glance but went into my fictional notebook at Wetherby last time when he was tenderly handled.
A winning point-to-pointer in his native Ireland on good ground the selection will need further in time and jump a fence but he can reward each way support although he will get a handicap mark after this run. Endless Credit flattered to deceive on the level but made a very promising hurdle debut at Catterick and is entitled to improve for the experience.
Only five go to post for the Morebattle Hurdle and good recent form is thin on the ground. The conditions of the race suit Tanerko Emery with McCoy in the plate but preference is for the novice Glingerburn (3.00) who represents Nicky Richards who won the prize two years ago with Duke Of Navan. The drying ground will suit the selection and he is clearly held in some regard by his yard; he is two from two over timber and can maintain his unbeaten record over obstacles.
Holywell cannot be opposed in the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase and you can put a line through his two runs earlier in the season when the stable of Jonjo O’Neill weren’t firing. He is 12/1 for next month’s Gold Cup at BetVictor and this looks an excellent pipe-opener for the main event. A winner at both Cheltenham and Aintree last season his 10l thrashing of Don Cossock at the Grand National meeting is excellent form although he has to improve again if he is to be competitive in the Gold Cup.
At Leicester there is an all-chase card and Until Winning (2.10) can defy a 10lb rise in the opener for Tom George with leading conditional Jamie Bargary negating 7lbs with his claim. Boss In Boots and Diamond Tammy both scored last time out and this is a cracking opener but the selection looked a horse to follow at Ludlow and should be followed.
The Ould Lad (2.40) can double up for the yard despite the fact that he is 20lbs higher than when scoring at Warwick back in November but is only 3lbs higher than when running an excellent race at Cheltenham last time. He has been given two months to get over those exertions but looks the type who might run well in the handicap chase on the opening day of the Festival next month.
Henri De Boistron is another Tom George-Paddy Brennan runner who commands respect in the handicap chase over 2m but Artifice Sivola (3.10) drops to the minimum distance for Lucy Wadham and this strong traveller might try and make all under Leighton Aspell.
The feature Cavalry Handicap Chase is a cracker with Richmond holding every chance for Venetia Williams whose yard saddled the winner of the event last year. The drop back in trip from an extended 3m at Wetherby last time will suit but I am going to give In Fairness (3.40) one last chance for Nicky Henderson.
The selection was never going for Barry Geraghty in a good race at Sandown last time but he has the stamp of a chaser and could be very well treated. The same could be said of Cloud Creeper representing Philip Hobbs and this race should throw up a number of winners between now and the end of the season.
The owner of Woodview Prince (4.10) lost Act Of Kalanisi at Bangor-On-Dee last week and this multiple winner between the flags can give him a welcome winner in the Hunter Chase.
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