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Some excellent racing on Saturday and Captain Chris was cut from 33s to 12/1 at BetVictor (Non Runner No Bet) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his impressive win in the Ascot Chase but if we say a big race winner in waiting at the weekend perhaps it was Teaforthree who ran a cracking trial for the National and was cut to 12/1 favourite. It emerged later that Noel Fehily will keep the mount on the Rebecca Curtis trained runner who finished third in the race last year.
Southwell stage a Jumpers Bumpers card on their fibresand surface as the all-weather tracks keep the show on the road this afternoon. King Rolfe (2.20) won a point-to-point in his native Ireland, with Timesremembered behind, and scored over a timber at Stratford back in October. He has disappointed in two starts since but this looks an ideal opportunity to get his career back on track.
Dolatulo (2.50) must give weight away having scored over C&D back in March but he is taken to follow up given you know he handles the surface. Gavin Sheehan takes off a valuable 3lbs and opposition looks thin on the ground. Any Given Day returns from a long lay-off and I wasn’t overly impressed with the form of the Donald McCain yard over the weekend.
At the time of writing Alan Swinbank’s last two runners were winners and Mitchell’s Way (3.25) can maintain his excellent run of form in a race that won’t take much winning. The selection stays 3 miles over obstacles and this 2m 2f will take plenty of getting on this deep surface.
The same connection of Swinbank and jockey Paddy Brennan team up with Gogeo (4.00) and the selection has already shown he acts on the surface by winning a decent flat handicap over 1m 3f last month. His stamina for this additional three quarters of a mile must be taken on trust and he can fend off Zakatal a winner on polytrack at Wolverhampton when last seen on the track although that was back in December 2012!
The feature race can go to course specialist Masterful Act (4.30) who has six course wins to his name including a similar event to this by 16 lengths back in March. This looks an excellent piece of placing by trainer Alan McCabe and he merits the nap. The Charlies’ Longsdon and Deutsch teamed up for a winner at Ascot at the weekend but they may have to settle for second with Hazy Tom on this occasion.
In many ways the finale is the most interesting race with the well-bred Great Try making his racecourse debut for powerful connections. The market is likely to provide valuable clues but the hope is that it is a very good day for the Swinbank/Brennan partnership with the vote going to Bobs Lord Tara (5.00) who finished fourth at Wetherby on debut and, with that experience under his belt, is entitled to know more about his job later today.
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