We are spoilt rotten this afternoon 3 excellent NH cards at Ayr, Bangor and Exeter and Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Gold (1.10) a confident selection to land the opener at the latter under Richard Johnson. The selection couldn’t have been any more impressive when bolting-up over course and distance 8 days ago on Haldon Gold Cup day and isn’t likely to be stopped under a 7lb penalty.
Cloudy Copper (1.40) can score quick-fire doubles for the pair in an excellent renewal of the 3m Handicap Chase. The selection made a winning debut under rules at the track in a Novices’ Hurdle under AP McCoy nearly three years ago and has clearly had his problems thereafter but showed he had retained all of his ability last term when second in a pair of 3m Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter and Lingfield. The selection is a p-t-p winner in his native Ireland and should be stripped fitter after a recent pipe-opener last month at Chepstow. He is given the not to get the better of stablemate Mountain Tunes, who is a fascinating runner making his debut over fences but not sighted since giving AP McCoy his 4000th winner at Towcester in December 2013.
Evan Williams‘ On Tour racked up a hat-trick over timber last term and is respected making his debut over fences however preference on this occasion lies with Venetia Williams’ Otago Trail (3.40) under Aidan Coleman. The selection missed a pair of engagements last week in search of his preferred soft ground and on the forecast heavy ground is a confident selection to make a winning debut over fences.
There’s a six-race card at Ayr where Mumgos Debut (2.20) must go close for the in-form pair of Lucinda Russell and Peter Buchanan. The selection remains a maiden after twelve starts under rules but put his best foot forward when last sighted finishing second in a handicap chase over the extended two miles at Newcastle in March. The 7-y-o has been a runner-up on three of his five starts over fences but remains unexposed and can make it 13th time lucky now upped in trip to two and a half miles.
Six go to post for the feature handicap chase over an extended three miles with Final Assault (2.50) fancied to give the Lucinda Russell yard a double under 3lb conditional jockey Dominic Fox. The selection ran a personal best when third behind next-time-out winner Village Vic in last month’s Bobby Renton at Wetherby on ground quicker than ideal and the return to both three miles and soft ground should see the son of Beneficial score for the second time over fences.
The Alan Swinbank stable boast a tremendous record in bumpers (25% strike-rate in the past 12 months) and his Ten Trees (3.50) can give weight and a beating to her seven rivals in the closing Mares’ Bumper. The selection made it third time lucky at Hexham when bolting-up under Tom O’Brien in the spring and should be able to follow-up under a 7lb penalty.
Dan Skelton‘s What a Good Night will be a likely favourite for the feature 3m Handicap Chase at Bangor but has a 7lb rise at the weights to contend with for last month’s final-fence mishap at Stratford and he is overlooked instead for Bob Ford (2.00) under regular partner Leighton Aspell. Rebecca Curtis‘ 8-y-o has been eased 5lb by the handicapper for being pulled-up in the Midlands and Aintree Grand Nationals but boasts a great record fresh and has the necessary stamina to thrive in the forecast testing conditions.
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