By Charlie McCann
A wonderful days racing and it might be prudent to start our jumps preview at Taunton given an 8am inspection is planned at Huntingdon. The first division of the maiden hurdle can go to the juvenile daughter of Authorized What A Scorcher (2.05) who wouldn’t exactly be a topical winner but the Oliver Sherwood-trained filly showed promise when runner up at Kempton on debut and is entitled to improve for the experience.
Philip Hobbs and Champion trainer Paul Nicholls rarely leave their local track empty-handed and they saddle Alto Des Mottes and Sternrubin respectively and they look sure to run well in a hot little race. Sir Frank Morgan may need further in time but a market move on debut for David Pipe would be worth noting.
I think Daryl Jacob is riding out of his skin at present and I like his booking for Mr McGregor (3.10) in the handicap chase over the extended three-and-a-quarter-miles. The selection was amateur ridden when third here over timber last month but the selection is a multiple winning point-to-pointer including on soft ground and is likely to be a different proposition over the larger obstacles.
Shimba Hills is interesting at the foot of the weights in the handicap hurdle but he may be a short runner and preference is for Amanto (3.45) who ran against two promising sorts here over slightly further last time and suggested this drop in trip would suit.
Strawberry Hill returns from a 13-month lay-off in the 2m chase and has every chance but Moonlight Maggie (4.20) has been knocking on the door of late and deserves to break her maiden at the fifteenth time of asking. She ran, arguably, a personal best at Catterick last time and won’t have many better opportunities to get her head in front.
If Huntingdon does get the green light the feature is the Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle and Arabian Revolution (3.35) looked to run into a well-above average juvenile at Ludlow last time in the shape of Beltor and he would be unlucky if one of the newcomers were as good. He has handled soft ground well enough for a son of Dalakhani in both previous starts and his experience will be an asset against Matorico and Iniesta who are both worth checking to see if the market speaks in their favour.
Some excellent racing in Meydan and Mike De Kock’s Ad Idem (3.55) can reverse recent course form with Godolphin’s Local Time over 7f despite being 2lbs worse off at the weights. Local Time won the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket back in Newmarket and will be a warm order to continue her upward curve but I just think the older filly the daughter of a South African Group 1 winner can land the prize.
Ahzeemah has not been on the track since finishing runner up in the Goodwood Cup back in July and faces a stiff task on his reappearance for Saeed Bin Suroor. Star Empire (5.05) has finished first and second in this corresponding race for the last couple of years and looks sure to go close having had a pipe-opener over an inadequate trip here three weeks ago.
Last year’s Dubai World Cup winner African Story (5.40) finished runner up to Prince Bishop in this corresponding race last year but I expect the placings to be reversed this evening. Both have excellent draws near to the rail and I would be disappointed if they weren’t fighting out the finish again although I expect the Godolphin runner to have the edge on this occasion.
I am looking forward to seeing Ajeeb (6.15) stepped back up to a mile for Mike De Kock having raced over five furlongs on his reappearance following a long lay-off. That run clearly showed he retains all his old ability and he looks sure to run well. At 6/1 with BetVictor he can reward each way support in a wonderful finale to a cracking card.
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