By Charlie McCann
A wonderful card at Carlisle this afternoon where the feature event is the Beginners’ Chase which sees the Chase debut of both Urban Hymn (5.00) and Duke Of Navan and preference is for the former who is a winning point-to-pointer and who has always suggested he could go to the very top over fences.
This 2m trip is likely to be on the sharp side for the selection and 12-months ago I would have been right behind Duke Of Navan, but he was a big disappointment in three starts over timber last season and has a bit to prove now fencing. That said trainer Nicky Richards ran stable star Eduard in this corresponding race last season and I remember just how impressive he was when landing the BetVictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso last February when he seemed to have the world at his feet.
I feel there is more to come from Shouldavboughtgold this season but the tongue tie that brought about improvement earlier in the year is dispensed with and he is overlooked unless the market speaks in his favour. Despite an absence of 551-days I am going to take a chance with C&D winner Cool Operator (4.00) who has won following a 185-day break in the past and whose last two career successes came for today’s 5lb conditional.
What A Good Night (2.00) did the column a favour last week having his first start for Dan Skelton and I would be surprised if a 7lb penalty prevented him following up at Southwell. One would imagine the handicapper will take a dim view of his facile Uttoxeter success and this looks an excellent opportunity of following up.
In the Novices’ Hurdle Ofical Ben is surely better than he showed when a beaten favourite on his British debut at Kempton back in March having been sold for £120,000 in December following an impressive win in a p-t-p in his native Ireland. Will Kennedy takes the mount in the continued absence of AP McCoy but he may find this on the sharp side and the each way selection is McCabe Creek (3.00) from the yard of Alan King.
The selection finished second at Newbury on debut before taking his chance in the Aintree Bumper. He is another who will get further in time but with the yard in such good form he is taken to reward each way support in what looks a decent contest for the course.
Finding Your Feet is ridden by 10lb claimer Patrick Cowley and must go close in his hat-trick bid but first time out might be the time to catch Ready Token (3.35) a winner of a Bumper here last March and the grey looked to be getting his act together over hurdles when last seen back in the spring having come down on his first couple of starts over obstacles.
At Kempton the BetVictor Racing Club horse Bob has a terrible draw to overcome (14 from 14) in the finale and he cannot be backed with any confidence although he remains, potentially, very well handicapped. He has yet to run on polytrack but his form stands up well in this grade but the vote goes to Jeremy Noseda’s Gone With The Wind (9.10) stepping back up to 7f for the first time since his debut.
Martin Harley takes the mount on the lightly-raced colt who ran on well from the worst of the draw over 6f last time (10 of 10) but has a cracking pitch in stall two this evening. He is entered in the Sales at Newmarket next week (as is Bob) and this return to 7f might just see him in a better light.
For all your racing odds check out BetVictor.com or follow us on twitter @BetVictorRacing
