BetVictor sponsor an excellent six-race card this afternoon at Ayr, where Nicky Richards’ Duke of Navan (2.50) is undoubtedly the star attraction, running in the Back of the Net at BetVictor.com Novices’ Chase. The selection is rated 145 over hurdles and made an impressive debut over the larger obstacles beating Malcolm Jefferson’s highly-touted Urban Hymn on his seasonal debut at Carlisle. He ran as if something was amiss when falling upped in class at Cheltenham, but remains a highly promising novice, and is expected to continue his education over fences this afternoon before a likely tilt at the G1 Maghull Novices’ Chase on Grand National Day at Aintree.
The stable can double up with Mister Marker (3.20) in the BetVictor.com Handicap Chase over three and a half miles. The evergreen 11-y-o boasts excellent course form, winning twice at the track, and despite perhaps less than impressive form thus far this term, has tumbled down the handicap accordingly. He looks sure to be competitive from a revised mark of 120, which is now 12b lower than when scoring under the trainer’s daughter last season at Kelso.
Lucinda Russell’s Kumbeshwar (4.20) was pulled-up last week at Musselburgh however warrants a second look, and indeed a second chance, in the Best Odds Guaranteed at BetVictor.com Handicap Chase over the minimum trip. The former Alan King-trained 8-y-o was rated as high as 152 when at Barbury Castle and must be competitive from his revised mark of 120, providing he still has his sparkle of old.
According to Them (3.40) landed the feature Gay Kindersley Memorial Salver on the corresponding card last term at Plumpton and can go in again on the feature handicap chase for amateur riders. The selection scored from a 6lb higher mark last term but did so from 14lb out of the handicap, winning by lengths. The 11-y-o arrives in much better form having won a similarly contest last month over course and distance by 44 lengths and despite a 12lb rise at the weights, remains very well treated.
AP McCoy boasts an impressive strike-rate when riding for trainer Jim Best, 9 winners from 21 rides in the last 12 months, and he looks to have massive claims aboard Generous Jack (5.10) in the bumper. The selection was successful under McCoy when winning a bumper at Uttoxeter in the summer, despite playing up in the prelims and unseating AP before the start. He failed to follow-up under a penalty a month later when losing by a short head at Stratford however remains a fascinating contender and can give weight and a beating to his seven rivals in this afternoon’s finale.
It should be third time lucky for Bryan Smart’s Captain Future (3.30) on the all-weather after a brace of second place finishes at Southwell and Wolverhampton respectively. The speedily-bred son of Captain Gerrard was an eye-catcher when second on his handicap debut over course and distance and was well backed to make amends when stepped up in trip, when failing to stay 6f last month at Southwell. Those efforts has seen him raised 5lb by the handicapper however he remains open to further progression and can land the odds under regular partner Paul Mulrennan.
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