The forecast is for good ground at Wincanton this afternoon and Paul Nicholls’ She’s Da One (1.50) improved when encountering a decent surface at Taunton last month and should follow up stepped back up in trip as long as the ground is no worse than good to soft. The mare, a point winner in her native Ireland, will be sent novice chasing in the summer and cost her present connections £100,000 when sold twelve months ago. She is part-owned by TV personality Jeremy Kyle.
There was plenty of money for Buck Magic over fences last time but he was far too free and capsized at the second; connections revert to timber this afternoon and he is likely to be more amenable to restraint today given he was coming back from a three-month lay-off on that occasion. AP McCoy takes the ride this afternoon but back on decent ground top-weight Man Of Leisure (2.20) gets the vote for Anthony Honeyball.
The selection won off a mark 9lbs higher in his prime and although 11 years-of-age he is undeniably well treated on his best form and the handicapper has given him a chance back on a decent terrain. He can reward each way support.
Miss Tenacious can go well fresh and a check of the market is advised but Vesperal Dream (2.50) also looks ahead of his current mark and returns from a near six-month break for Paul Nicholls. The selection has not looked the most fluent of jumpers but is still only six and is sure to have done plenty of schooling ahead of his return to the track.
I’m In Charge (3.50) is another returning from a lay-off having been pulled up on ground softer than ideal when last seen on the track back in November. He had previously looked a progressive staying chaser on decent ground and on good or quicker ground looks to have every chance in a decent race.
Merrion Square (4.20) cannot be opposed for Nicholls’ in the Hunter Chase given he only went down a neck in the Grand Military Gold Cup last time at Sandown. The amateur jockey is not one I am familiar with but he looks a class apart from today’s rivals.
At Towcester Lily Little Legs (3.40) looked to hold every chance when coming down three out at Wincanton last time and the form has been franked by the second Sublime Talent winning easily at Chepstow earlier in the week. Ian Williams looks to have found a good opportunity for the grey who won her only previous start at the track last April.
Le Rouquin is invariably well punted and it will be interesting to see if there is money for Michael Bell’s charge returning from a 2 month break in Kempton’s opener. He is 8lbs higher than when scrambling home at Lingfield, however, and preference is for the handicap debutant Precast (5.45) who hinted at ability as a juvenile and is bred to improve with age. The race is sponsored by 32Red and their Chief Executive Ed Ware and Chairman David Fish are joint owners of likely favourite Le Rouquin.
Mark Johnston made a terrific start to the turf season last weekend and his filly Donna Graciosa (7.15) is certainly bred to win her share of races, sister to a Group 1 winner in Germany, and made a highly promising debut when third at Yarmouth on debut.
Shingle (8.15) made a satisfactory reappearance following a break over C&D last month and has been dropped a couple of pounds by the handicapper. The tissue price of 8/1 with BetVictor looks worth an each way nibble and Luke Morris keeps the ride.
At Dundalk this evening War Envoy (7.05) has the assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle on his reappearance in the listed Patton Stakes and this War Front colt who finished runner up in the Champagne Stakes for Aidan O’Brien back in the autumn. Joseph O’Brien continues to have his problems with his weight and obviously can’t do 9st 3lbs at present; his talented younger brother Donnacha O’Brien takes the mount on the Ballydoyle second string. We will hear an awful lot more of Donnacha going forward.
NAP – Le Rouquin
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