Ffos Las will race on soft ground this afternoon and the opening maiden hurdle can go to the Philip Hobbs trained hurdling newcomer Onenightinvienna (1.50) who has already won a point-to-point in his native Ireland and a bumper at Taunton last month.
He promises to be ideally served by this 2m 4f trip and those with hurdling experience look vulnerable with question marks about the ground for the first time visored Master Rajeem and stamina for King Of Glory who is entitled to come on for his recent Taunton run at this trip. The chief threat could be Peter Bowen’s Flying Eagle a Bumper winner here back in November and still going well when coming down three out over today’s C&D earlier in the month.
Tim Vaughan did us a favour earlier in the week at Chepstow and he can saddle another winner on home soil courtesy of Bens Moor (2.55) who won a point in Ireland before scoring on his British debut at Folkestone four years ago. The selection has only raced four times in the intervening period and has obviously had his problems but he has the scope for fences and was backed when last seeing the track back in October. It will be interesting to see if connections try and recoup losses with the stable in such good form.
Vaughan can follow up with Our Island (3.30) who bounced back to form in a better race than this last time when beaten a length over today’s C&D and he can race off the same mark this afternoon. He is 13lbs lower than his last winning mark and would carry an additional 2lbs if this race took place at the weekend.
Trainer David Dennis paid £35,000 for Ballybough Andy at Brightwells sales earlier in the year having finished runner up in his sole point in Ireland in January when a well supported 6/4 favourite. The winner has subsequently run well in Bumpers back in Ireland but Hughesie (5.05) ran an excellent race on debut for Evan Williams at Ludlow and the winner (Blue Heron) franked the form in no uncertain terms, albeit over timber, earlier in the week. David Pipe’s once raced Our Chief was backed into 6/4 at Wincanton on debut when a modest fourth and it will be worth noting if he attracts significant support in what could be an above average Bumper.
Looking forward to seeing the return to action of Rebel Fitz at Cork but he was no match for the mare Tarla (3.20) in the corresponding race 12 months ago and I can see the form being confirmed under similar conditions today. The selection didn’t appear to enjoy going left-handed at Naas last time when a beaten odds on favourite over the larger obstacles but we know she can cope with soft or heavy ground and Rebel Fitz will surely not be knocked about with other targets on better ground back over fences this spring.
There is a fascinating Mile handicap at Kempton Park this evening and I hope Passing Star (7.35) can maintain his unbeaten record having scored readily from an 8lb lower mark here earlier in the month. Tigers In Red won a Southwell maiden by 7 lengths on his only start to date and could be anything but the selection acts on the surface and track and gets the vote.
