The ground at Exeter on Wednesday morning was described as
good to firm, but there is rain forecast to hit the south west on Thursday and
the ground is likely to be no better than good for this afternoon’s card.
Ga Law (2.30) was a hurdles winner on heavy ground in
his native France, but bounced off the good ground at Fontwell on his chase
debut last time for Jamie Snowden when he beat a subsequent winner in the
147-rated Getaway Trump. As a four-year-old the recommendation receives a 10lbs
weight-for-age allowance from his elders and I think he can follow up. With Gavin
Sheehan on the side-lines, Daryl Jacob takes over in the saddle.
Celtic Joy is a chaser who I feel will win races this term,
but there is the possibility that this near two-and-a-half miles on
rain-softened ground might tax his stamina. A check of the market is advised
with Ben Jones still able to claim 3lbs.
Recent Fontwell winner Monkey Puzzle is only 3lbs higher
this afternoon but would not want too much rain and marginal preference is for
Tom George‘s Stop The World (4.30) who scored at Cartmel back in July
from a 4lbs lower mark. He would prefer decent ground, but his ability to cope
with good to soft or, indeed, soft ground might be the answer to this three-mile
handicap chase.
Truckers Pass (1.15) has finished runner up in all
three career starts – 2 x bumpers and his sole point – but he is taken to make
a winning hurdles debut in the 2m Novice Hurdle at Ffos Las for Richard Johnson
and Philip Hobbs. The well-bred gelding cost £175,000 a couple of years ago and
he coped with soft ground when a beaten favourite in the Exeter gloom when last
“seen” back on New Year’s Day.
Legends Gold (1.50) won her sole point and can make a
winning chase debut for Rebecca Curtis in the Mares’ Novices’ Chase over a trip
just shy of two-and-a-half miles. The mare won three of her five starts over
timber last season and it was reassuring to see Wayfinder run such a good race
– well backed – when runner up for the yard at the meeting here last week.
I was disappointed by Dell’ Arca at Uttoxeter last time
despite not being beaten far and the return to soft ground may see him in a
better light although he has been nudged back up the weights by a pound.
My two against the field in the 3m handicap chase are at the
foot of the weights and hope to see big runs from Peter Bowen’s Lord Bryan
ridden by his son James and Financial Outcome (2.20) ridden by Sean
Bowen for Rebecca Curtis. I remember backing the horse first time out last year
at Hereford when he disappointed despite being very well backed. That effort
was on good ground and his win last season at Doncaster was gained on soft
ground – albeit from a 7lbs lower mark. As with all representatives from the
yard a check of the market is advised.
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