Cartmel will be packed to the rafters again for this afternoon’s competitive jumps card which features a Mares’ Maiden Hurdle over 2m 6f. There are two Irish raiders Knocklayde Sno Cat and Western Home (2.50) and preference is for the latter who failed to pick up at Perth in a Bumper last time but had previously won a three-runner point-to-point. Tom Scudamore is a positive booking and she wouldn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary to score.
Alternatif (3.50) is blinkered for the first time for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore and he bids to put behind a frustrating run of seconds on his chase debut. The selection finished runner up in a decent Haydock Hurdle last time over 3m and this slight drop in trip looks ideal. When he scored at Kempton on his British debut on Boxing Day he was reported to be a chaser in the making and he can score at the expense of River Maigue who was sold for just £5k out of the Nicky Henderson yard last week.
Railway Dillon will be tough to beat in the Hunters’ Chase but Ganbei (4.25) can improve past that rival as long as his jumping holds up. The selection had fallen on his two previous starts under rules but put in a decent round when beaten less than a length at Hexham last month and has subsequently scored between the flags.
Amilliontimes (5.35) has improved since being beaten 7 lengths by Sleep In First over C&D back in August and is 12lbs better off this afternoon. The selection is coming back from a 200 day absence but has run well fresh in the past and the drying ground is a positive.
At Newton Abbot the eye is drawn to Perfect Timing (6.30) having his first start for Neil Mulholland returning from a 262 day absence. A previous C&D winner the selection can make all and I wouldn’t want him to get embroiled in a fight for the lead with He’s A Bully and Darwins Theory who have both front-run in the past.
Tercel was once a decent sort on the level for Sir Michael Stoute and makes his hurdles debut for Paul Nicholls in a hood and first-time tongue tie. He could easily turn this into a procession if taking to timber but Are They Your Own (7.00) is improving, is likely to get an uncontested lead and can follow up his recent Ludlow success at a track where he landed a bumper two years ago. He has been slow to get his act together over timber but there was much to like about his latest success.
Dormello Mo is owned in partnership by TV personality Jeremy Kyle and must go close in the valuable Novices’ Chase but I hope Minella Present (7.30) can go one better than when runner up to a decent fast ground sort from the Nicholls yard.
Midnight Sequel finished second at Ffos Las over the weekend and connections get the mare out quickly as she is likely to go up a few pounds for that effort when beaten less than a length. That was her best effort yet over timber and Noel Fehily looks to be getting a decent tune out of the 6-y-old.
At Kempton this evening Aabir (8.10) reverts to the all-weather having won his maiden at 33/1 back in November at Wolverhampton on debut and has run well in defeat on both stats over turf so far this term. The Marco Botti yard have been hitting the bar of late but leading apprentice Marc Monaghan takes off a valuable 3lbs and he has the plum draw in stall one.
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