The 2015 Aintree festival is consigned to the history books and that combined with racing back at Windsor on Mondays means the flat season is upon us with Richard’s Hannon and Hughes both favourites to retain their respective trainers and jockeys championship with BetVictor. The two-time Champion Jockey could potentially go through the card at Windsor with a ride in all eight races and including six for boss Richard Hannon and Fit (1.40) a confident selection for the pair in the curtain-raiser to the season. Connections won the corresponding race last term and the well-bred Kodiac filly looks the ideal type to build on the stable’s excellent record with first time out juveniles.
The pair can land a quick-fire double with Sugar Lump (2.10) a fascinating runner in the 6f Handicap. The Sakhee’s Secret colt built on an excellent second on debut at Nottingham winning a nine-runner maiden at Salisbury a fortnight later. Whilst that performance doesn’t look particularly impressive, the form of the colt’s original run has worked out excellently and from an opening mark of 78 he looks potentially well-treated to make and can make a winning handicap debut.
Sir Michael Stoute won last season’s 10f maiden with subsequent Royal Ascot scorer Cannock Chase and his runner I Zingari looks open to further improvement after two encouraging starts last autumn however Winterval (2.40) gets the nod for the team of Luca Cumani and Adam Kirby. Like I Zingari, Winterval shaped with promise in a brace of maidens last term; finishing sixth on debut at Newbury before an excellent second at Nottingham behind Ed Walker’s promising juvenile Stoked. Both runs came on soft ground and the well-bred son of Dubawi should appreciate the testing underfoot conditions and the step up in trip to shed the maiden tag at the third time of asking.
Paul Hanagan is Redcar bound this afternoon and teams-up with former boss Richard Fahey for a string of eye-catching rides however the main reason for his visit it to ride Taghreeb (3.50) for boss Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in the feature handicap over a mile. The selection made a winning debut last season at Salisbury, winning despite signs of greenness hinting at further improvement to come. Brian Meehan’s string seem more forward than most and an opening mark of 77 underestimates his colt, and the application of first-time headgear can see him maintain his unbeaten record under the former Champion Jockey.
The National Hunt season isn’t done and dusted just yet however with Saturday’s Scottish National at Ayr poised to produce another strong field and Lucinda Russell’s Lie Forrit (16/1 with BetVictor) fancied at the five-day stage to extend his already excellent season. The yard are double-handed in the 2m Handicap Chase yet are without a runner in the feature handicap chase and Donald McCain’s Beeves (4.30) chanced after his last time out success at Newcastle. The selection chased home subsequent Irish National winner Shutthefrontdoor in a Novices’ Chase at Aintree 18 months ago and despite losing his way thereafter, is subsequently well-treated at the weights and can give another bold show from just a 2lb higher mark.
Nicky Richards‘ string ran poorly at Aintree with Eduard and Glingerburn in particular disappointing however Looking Well (3.00) can return the stable to the winners’ enclosure and is a confident selection to give weight and a beating to his ten rivals in the feature handicap hurdle. The selection made a winning debut when getting up close home to win a bumper at Perth and came good at the third time of asking over timber when staying on strongly to score over two and a half miles last month at Newcastle. The 6-y-o found plenty last time out at Newcastle and should have plenty more to come now upped in trip further.
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