No inspections planned for today’s turf meetings scheduled for Leicester and Wetherby and we start in the midlands where unbeaten The Organist (1.55) can make it four out of four for Grand National winning trainer Oliver Sherwood.
The selection has won her both starts over timber by an aggregate of 43 lengths and didn’t turn a hair when scoring at Fontwell last time. She is currently 12/1 at BetVictor for the inaugural Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and is taken to have too much toe for the Venetia Williams‘ trained Tara Flow who is yet to finish out of the first two in four starts over timber.
Doctor Harper receives 10lbs from On Tour in the Novices’ Chase and the former is certainly one to keep on the right side of when he gets some decent ground over a bit further than the minimum trip. A chance is taken, however, on Deep Trouble (2.30) who has been a very frustrating sort for connections having hinted at real ability on more than one occasion over fences. Trained by Ben Case the 9-year-old ran well for a long way at Kempton over timber earlier in the month and is likely to be overlooked in the betting.
The form of Knockgraffon’s (3.00) C&D win at Oadby back in November has taken a few knocks but he had run well at Aintree on his reappearance back in October and remains a gelding of some potential for Dan Skelton whose stable were back amongst the winners over the weekend.
At Wetherby Transient Bay (1.45) can get back to winning ways after a run too bad to be true at Uttoxeter last time when a well beaten fourth. That race may have come too soon after winning back at the Staffordshire track only 10 days previously, and Philip Kirby has given him 39 days to get over his latest run. Blake Dean looks a danger for Sue Smith dropping back in trip and his decent amateur takes off a further 7lbs.
If freshened up then Tutchec (2.20) is a fascinating contender in the 3m Chase for Nicky Richards; the selection lost his way lost season having finished a decent fourth in the Rehearsal Chase from a 14lbs higher mark back in November 2014.
The grey is still only 9 years-of-age, has run well fresh in the past and represents a yard in cracking form; eight are due to go to post and he can reward each way support.
Azert De Coeur (3.25) has been raised 5lbs for finishing runner up over C&D earlier in the month but that was only his second start over fences and he is open to considerable improvement. The selection was very well backed on that occasion and he can recoup losses despite the 5lbs rise.
No Comment (4.00) belied his name when going into many a notebook after his sole Bumper run when runner up at Ludlow last month. Philip Hobbs likes introducing novice hurdlers at Wetherby and he can make a winning hurdles debut for the inform yard. The penalised Fionn Mac Cul beat a Hobbs inmate a nose at Taunton last time so the stable should know where they stand with the top-weight who must give the selection 7lbs.
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