There is rain forecast for Huntingdon this afternoon but at
what time and how much is up in the air. The ground was described as good at
noon on Tuesday, but that could deteriorate, and we need to bear that in mind
when looking forward to today's card.
Kim Bailey saddles Ajero in the novices' hurdle over the
minimum trip and this half-brother to the stable's Charbel was bought privately
after finishing third in a Thurles Bumper back in February. That form is
working out really well and Jamie Codd – who rode Ajero in that Bumper –
writing in Paul Ferguson's excellent Jumpers To Follow gave the gelding a very
positive mention and felt he could even win on the flat. The Irish import will
race in the same colours of Charbel and must go close, but I feel Leroy Leroy
(2.00) can defy a 6lbs penalty in what promises to be a most informative
contest.
The selection was second behind El Borracho – runs
Bangor-on-Dee Tuesday – before going one better at Southwell. Good ground and a
sharp track clearly suits – significant rain would be a negative – and he is
taken to give the weight away with three good efforts over timber to his name
so far. That experience might be vital.
Doctor Haze (2.35) was asked to cover plenty of ground at
Stratford last time when his fencing was a mix of very good but with the odd
novicey mistake. This winning pointer stuck to his guns very well in the
circumstances in finishing second and there is the possibility that today's
step up to three miles will suit. Chester Williams takes over in the saddle and
takes off a valuable 5lbs
The handicapper has certainly given Almost Gold a chance and
he could easily build on what was a decent effort at Hexham last time when he
may well have taken a hand in the finish but for clouting two out. He looks a
big danger although the yard of Ian Williams, despite a welcome winner 10 days
ago, are struggling to find their best form.
The Road Home is likely to be all the rage in the 2m 1f
handicap chase at Bangor-on-Dee but, as long as there is no significant rain, I
do believe there are races to be won with Count Jurado (2.10) who is blinkered
for the first time by Donald McCain and returns from a short break having had
three quick runs in August. The hope is that the five-week break will have
freshened him up and his second to Getawaytonewbay at Stratford suggested he
was well up to winning from his current mark.
Chuvelo (3.20) makes his hurdle debut in the Maiden event
and is hard to oppose having won his first couple of Bumpers before failing to
give 10lbs to Irish raider Good Time Jonny at Musselburgh back in January. That
form was franked when the winner finished ninth in the Champion Bumper at
Cheltenham and any rain would be a plus for the McCain trained five-year-old.
Vocaliser (5.00) just got home over today's C&D on his
first start for Olly Murphy last month and the form has been franked by the
subsequent success of runner up Do You Know What. The selection is just 4lbs
higher today in this conditional jockey's event although he has been raised a
further 3lbs from the weekend. Do note the 8-year-old is entered on Thursday at
Ffos Las and Saturday at Fontwell and will escape a penalty if successful given
this is a boys' event.
At Kempton, this evening Island Nation (7.30) is taken to
defy a 6lbs penalty in the 1m 3f handicap having won over an additional furlong
here last week. Heather Main's three-year-old appreciate the return to
polytrack and I do not think this slightly shorter trip will be a negative of
in the same mood given he was clear at the furlong pole last week.
