by Jack Milner
Turf cards from Catterick and Leicester both go ahead without any problems this afternoon with Ian Williams‘ Perfect Summer (2.00) expected to be competitive from a lenient looking mark of 100 in the opening two and a half miles Handicap Hurdle at the former. The selection was rated as high as 80 on the level with Lady Cecil and was well-backed to make a winning debut over timber in a pair of Maiden Hurdles at Huntingdon last season over two and two and a half miles respectively. The daughter of High Chaparral has been dropped 6lb for finishing down the field last month at Kempton but should strip fitter for the run and must go close back in calmer waters.
Brian Ellison enjoyed a terrific day at his local track at the weekend, enjoying a treble on Eider Chase day at Newcastle, and must go close with Carthage (3.00) in the second division of the 2m Maiden Hurdle under Danny Cook. The selection built on his debut over timber at the track in December when second last time out at Musselburgh and should be able to make it third time lucky in this sphere at the expense of David O’Meara’s hurdling debutant Sinakar.
Donal McCain’s Ubaltique heads the weights for the feature 2m Handicap Chase and would be potentially chucked-in from a revised mark of 120 if anywhere back to his best. The 8-y-o is respected having won impressively two starts back on bottomless ground at Haydock, but is overlooked on this occasion for My Friend George (3.30) under regular partner Henry Brooke. Kenneth Stack’s charger was well-supported in the market prior to beating the ultra-consistent Verko over two and a half miles last time out at Sedgefield and can follow-up dropping back in trip from a 7lb higher mark.
Rose Dobbin landed Newcastle’s feature Eider Chase at the weekend and with the stable in much better form Vinny Gambini (4.30) can belatedly come good over fences and shed the maiden tag over the larger obstacles at the ninth time of asking in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over an extended three miles. The selection has improved with all three starts since returning from an absence of nine months in December and, after an excellent third stepped up in trip last time out on ground softer than ideal, can go even closer back on his preferred sounder surface from an unrevised mark.
Sam Twiston-Davies has shown that blood is indeed thicker than water, opting to partner The New One for father Nigel in next month’s Champion Hurdle, and now 6/1 (from 7s) with BetVictor to make it third time lucky on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. The pair team-up with I Am Colin (2.20) today at Leicester with the 7-y-o fancied to make it fourth time lucky over fences in the opening Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles. The selection has gone up 6lb for placing in all three starts over the larger obstacles but remains open to much further improvement.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Lockstockandbarrell (3.50) made it second time lucky over fences ten days ago at Market Rasen and should follow-up under a penalty in the 2m 6f Novices’ Chase. The selection is bred to excel over the larger obstacles and after a pleasing round of jumping last week, can go in again under Aidan Coleman.
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