By Charlie McCann
Warwick and Uttoxeter need to pass late inspections to race this afternoon however jump racing looks sure to go ahead at Punchestown, whilst there’s action on the all-weather from Lingfield. Should racing get the thumbs up at Warwick then Venetia Williams’ Super Sam (1.20) would have obvious claims in the handicap hurdle over three and a quarter miles. The selection was an impressive scorer on his seasonal reappearance last month at Chepstow and was far from disgraced when unable to follow-up under a penalty last time out at Bangor. His has bumper form tied-in with a host of leading prospects and from an opening mark of 111 is a confident selection under Aidan Coleman.
The novices’ handicap chase on the card can go to Couldhavehaditall (1.50) after the gelding’s excellent second last time out behind Stellar Notion was franked by the Tom George-trained inmate at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Paul Webber’s 6-y-o was making his debut over fences and his first run for over seven months when chasing home the subsequent winner last time out at Leicester and is bred to relish both the step up in trip and the forecast testing conditions.
Free World (3.20) won last year’s corresponding two and a half miles handicap chase and successfully can defend his crown from a 5lb higher mark. The selection won a much stronger renewal last season when finding plenty for pressure and staying on strongly in the closing stages and looks well-treated to give another similar account after running with promise over course and distance on his seasonal reappearance and following-up with an excellent second last week at Bangor.
Barchan should make the market for Lingfield’s 7f nursery with the Charlie Appleby stable continuing to churn out winners; however a chance is instead taken on Hughie Morrison’s Percella (1.10) making her nursery beau from an opening mark of 68. The Sir Percy filly was an odds-on for a maiden last month at Wolverhampton finishing a disappointing third but showed she retained plenty of ability when finishing likewise in a stronger race last time out at Kempton. She could prove to be potentially chucked-in and has a further 7lb taken off with talented apprentice Charlie Bennett in the plate.
Percella could give a form boost to Lucky Leyf (1.40) ahead of the card’s 7f maiden, after finishing ahead of her in that Kempton maiden and Gary Moore‘s filly appears well-drawn to make it third time lucky under Shane Kelly. The daughter of Kheleyf out-ran her 40/1 price that day and looks an excellent each-way alternative to likely market leaders Free One and Plaisir.
Seven go to post for the feature two and a half mile hurdle at Punchestown, won last year by subsequent Punchestown Gold Cup winner Boston Bob, and 2012 winner Bog Warrior (1.45) fancied to maintain his unblemished record at the track. The selection beat corresponding Cheltenham and Aintree festival hero Solwhit in the corresponding race two years prior and boasts a terrific record of the trip having won five of his six completed starts. The 150-rated animal boasts a tremendous record fresh and can take this onto a tilt at much bigger and better t things.
Willie Mullins’ won last year’s 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle with subsequent G1-winner Adriana Des Mottes and debutant Petite Parsienne (2.15) shares a similar profile, switching codes after a promising season on the flat in her native France. The filly ran to a fair level in the summer and looks the ideal type to enjoy a fruitful campaign over timber, fancied to land doubles for Gigginstown House and their retained rider Bryan Cooper.
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