There is a decent card at Southwell this evening and Owen Na View wears a hood for the first time in the feature event for Fergal O’Brien but he is a horse who is, arguably, best fresh and may prefer going right-handed. Tim Vaughan’s horses are running well and Figaro is very well handicapped on his best hurdles form but he has never struck me as the type to make a chaser.
Marginal preference in a cracking race is for Gray Hession (5.50) who ran away with a Bangor event on his first start for Jonjo O’Neill last time and is taken to defy a 15lbs rise as long as the ground remains decent.
Jimbill (6.20) was taken out of a Hunter Chase at Newton Abbott last week on account of the soft ground but there had been money for the 9-y-old coming back from a 533 day lay-off and he was a winner of a Beginners’ Chase for connections at Stratford back in September 2013.
There is a terrific handicap hurdle and Notnowsam (6.55) was 4lbs out of the handicap when winning at Warwick over fences earlier in the month and can race from a mark 4lbs lower back over timber. The obvious danger is The Geegeez Geegee who would surely have scored at Worcester last time but for running out at the last and runs off the same mark.
I’m In Charge (2.35) really should have won over today’s C&D at Wincanton on his penultimate start but was given too much to do by Nick Schofield but the jockey rode a peach of a race to bring the 9-year-old home 6l clear at Fontwell last time. The selection has been raised 9lbs for that effort and needs a decent pace to be seen at his very best.
Paul Nicholls‘ The Chuckmeister a winning point-to-pointer has led in the past and is likely to be strong in the market but I’m In Charge (tissue price 3/1 at BetVictor) was impressive last time and gets the vote.
The concluding Bumper is often won by a decent sort and Time Is Money (5.05) represents the yard of Emma Lavelle who often run some of their better horses at Wincanton. This well bred mare wouldn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary to make a winning racecourse debut.
At Beverley Brian Ellison has given General Alexander (2.25) plenty of time to get over his excellent debut when third in the Brocklesby at Doncaster and he looked a sure-fire future winner on that occasion. He has a decent draw in stall 11, unless the ground is very testing, and has most to fear from Mark Johnston’s Bathos and the unraced Lathom for Richard Fahey. Ellison won the corresponding race 12 months ago with Northgate Lad and can follow up.
The ground is a concern for Multi Grain although she was progressing at a rate of knots towards the end of last season and this step up in trip will suit. Marginal preference is for Multellie (4.25) who ran his best race as a juvenile when third of 13 off this mark over a mile on soft ground at Pontefract and his breeding suggests he will appreciate this step up in trip.
For all your racing odds check out BetVictor.com and follow us on Twitter @BetVictorRacing
