There was a gamble yesterday morning on Douvan for Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase and the brilliant Willie Mullins-trained Arkle winner is 4/6 from 5/1 at BetVictor for Saturday’s two-mile Grade 1 Chase. Sire De Grugy was also nibbled at from 5s into 9/2 at BetVictor with stablemate Ar Mad also 9/2 although the latter has also been entered for Sunday’s Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
There’s a good Novice Chase at Ffos Las this afternoon where I hope to see Join The Clan (2.20) go one better than at Fakenham on his seasonal reappearance when just touched off by Final Nudge. That was at a time when the Jonjo O’Neill yard weren’t exactly firing and there should be no excuses with that run under his belt.
Call The cops is blinkered on his chase debut, also in the colours of JP McManus, but has been largely out of sorts over the last 12 months and it was hard to get much encouragement from his reappearance albeit off top weight over timber. Nicky Henderson has decided to fit blinkers for his chase debut and the market should tell us if he has been working well in the headgear.
Lisheen Prince (1.20) might have bumped into a useful sort at Huntingdon on his hurdles debut and this point-to-point winner can go one better with the step up in trip to two-and-a-half miles looking a plus. The lightly raced gelding will jump a fence in time but he can give Philip Hobbs and champion jockey Richard Johnson another winner.
Truckers Glory (1.50) didn’t appear to get home over 3miles at Chepstow last time but it must be significant that connections are persevering with the trip and obviously aren’t concerned with any stamina issues. The gelding travelled through the race like the best horse for much of the race last time and certainly wasn’t stopping when he won over 2m 4f here on his penultimate start; he is with giving the benefit of the doubt to.
Great to see Sam Twiston-Davies back in the saddle with just the one ride for dad Nigel. The progressive 4-year-old Southport should give him a good ride back and should appreciate the step up in trip, but, irony of ironies, the horse who could prevent a winning comeback is Super Sam (2.50) who bolted up at Hereford, albeit in a weak race, on his return from a lengthy absence and will be difficult to beat if in the same mood for Venetia Williams.
At Catterick Work In Progress is just that after a disappointing run at Ayr on his reappearance over timber although it should be noted that his stablemate also ran below par at the Scottish track and it is possible that the pair didn’t enjoy the long journey north.
With that in mind I am keen to take him on at Laissez Dire (3.00) won a couple of hurdles in his native France and receives the four-year-old allowance this afternoon on his British debut for Alan King. Reports coming out of the yard suggest he is well above ordinary and he can take advantage of the 8lbs he receives from his elders. Barry Geraghty had a couple of options at Ffos Las and it is looks significant that he travels to north Yorkshire.
Nortonthorpelegend (2.00) cannot be opposed in the stayers’ handicap chase such was the manner of his recent Sedgefield success for which he picks up a 7lbs penalty. He jumped superbly at the Durham track and could be called the winner some way from home; if over those exertions he looks to have an outstanding chance.
At Kempton this evening Luqyaa will be all the rage for the 6f maiden after her solid debut at HQ, but she is bred to need a bit further than tonight’s 6f trip and preference is for the newcomer Endless charm (5.25) trained by Charlie Appleby and a half-sister to a speedy 6f juvenile winner.
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