GAVI DI GAVI CAN TASTE SUCCESS

PICKS FROM THE PADDOCK

Andrew Ayres lists his latest eye-catchers

KEMPTON December 16 (standard)

1m two-year-old novice (Class 5)

Above average event

SOUTH PARS (Roger Charlton) is a tall, lengthy colt with a touch of class. He wasn’t wound-up for this debut and failed to launch an effective challenge after racing wide throughout. He hails from a high-ranking German family and will be a different proposition next time.

1m two-year-old novice (Class 5)

Fair form

FOXES TAILS (Andrew Balding) looked the business and was a big market mover (7-1 to 100-30). However, he found himself in position-Z after a sluggish start and performed a minor miracle to nick second spot. This fella cost plenty (400,000gns) and is well above average.

ASCOT December 19 (heavy)

2m7f110y novice handicap hurdle (Class 4)

Race run at a decent clip

FAWSLEY SPIRIT (Ben Pauling) is a tough-looking gelding and had this in the bag before he tipped-up jumping the last. Compensation arrived when he made-all at Market Rasen in mid- January. He is odds-on to make a cracking novice chaser next term and could be attractive for Free bets.

LINGFIELD December 21 (standard)

1m two-year-old fillies’ novice (Class 5)

Interesting contest

SAMMARR (Roger Varian) is related to some smart fillies and made plenty of appeal in the prelims. However, she looked a longshot after fluffing the start and was trading at 90-1 on the exchanges by halfway. Jack Mitchell conjured a tremendous run from her to get up close home and everything suggests this fast lady is well above average.

KEMPTON December 27 (soft)

2m juvenile hurdle (Class 2)

Fair form

HONNEUR D’AJONC (Mrs Jane Williams) is a strapping individual and would have gone close but for falling at the final flight. He is a horse with plenty of toe and will be difficult to reel-in round the sharper circuits.

2m handicap hurdle (Class 3)

Impressive winner

CADZAND (Dan Skelton) was heavily backed near the off (9-2 to 5-2) and won as he liked after travelling like a dream. Connections were chuffed with a 9lbs rise in the weights and are getting him ready for Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle on February 13. He is improving physically and will run a mighty race.

NEWBURY December 29 (soft)

2m110y introductory hurdle (Class 4)

Above average form

CASCOVA (Nicky Henderson) bled when fancied on his sole start last season and was easy to back here. Mind you, he looked the business and ran a cracker to nab second spot after looking a likely winner at the last. He will be a notch sharper next time and is nailed on to win races.

WARWICK December 31 (soft)

2m3f novice handicap hurdle (Class 5)

Competitive low-grade event

COACHELLA GREEN (Samuel Drinkwater) has been lightly raced since winning a point in 2017 and attracted plenty of late support (10-1 to 15-2). She wasn’t sharp enough to get the job done but finished well to nick fourth spot. There is a weak staying handicap in this good-looking mare.

SANDOWN January 2 (heavy)

2m Grade 1 novice hurdle (Class 1)

Decent renewal

SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Ben Pauling) is a handsome gelding and ran a personal best to chase home the pacier Metier. He possesses any amount of scope and could go right to the top over fences next term.

Gavi Di Gavi

LINGFIELD January 4 (standard)

1m2f novice (Class 5)

Above average race for the time of year

PURE BUBBLES (Gary Moore) is from a decent German family and hinted at ability on his first two starts. He improved on that to finish fourth here and would have gone close but for a desperate ride from Tom Queally. The stewards asked some questions – connections explanations were noted – and this colt is capable of much better.

1m4f handicap (Class 5)

Messy finish

CASA LOUPI (Gary Moore) has really started to thrive and would have won this but for being forced wide off the home bend under his apprentice rider. He remains well treated and is nailed on to nick another run-of-the-mill event.

KEMPTON January 6 (standard to slow)

6f three-year-old handicap (Class 5)

Competitive contest

HACKNESS HARRY (David Simcock) looked in great shape but found himself poorly positioned behind a muddling pace and was unable to launch an effective challenge. He did well to finish fourth under the circumstances and has not finished winning yet.

KEMPTON January 9 (soft)

3m110y novice hurdle (Class 3)

Smart form

FEDELTA (Emma Lavelle) is bred to be a high-class chaser and certainly looks the part. He stepped-up on his previous efforts to chase the smart Barbados Buck’s home and will improve as he gains experience. This fella is a smart long-term prospect.

LINGFIELD January 12 (standard to slow)

1m handicap (Class 5)

Fair form

GAVI DI GAVI (Alan King) looked in tremendous shape but was poorly positioned under an inexperienced claimer and did well to finish third. He will be happier back on a galloping track and should win again.

1m2f three-year-old handicap (Class 6)

Competitive race for the grade

BEIJING BILLY (Richard Hannon) was well backed (8-1 to 11-2) and set a personal best to finish third in a messy finish. He didn’t have the smoothest of passages and shapes as if a step-up in trip will help. Granted that, this handsome colt will pinch a prize or two.

FONTWELL January 14 (heavy)

2m3f handicap hurdle (Class 4)

Race run in atrocious conditions

KENNY GEORGE (Sheena West) invariably looks well and stepped-up on this winter’s efforts to finish a gutsy second. He copes well with testing ground and should pick up a similar event around the gaff tracks soon.

WARWICK January 16 (heavy)

2m5f novice hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)

Ferociously competitive race

ADRIMEL (Tom Lacey) looked a million dollars and put up a dour performance to make just about every yard. His jumping was much sharper, and connections are now pondering a crack at the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle. However, they see this likeable gelding as a chaser in the making and he must be followed over fences next winter.

MINT CONDITION (Jennie Candlish) was as fit as a flea and continued his improvement by finishing a gallant second. His dam won over 3m and there is every chance he will improve again over that trip. Stick with this granite tough individual.

3m1f handicap hurdle (Class 2)

Cracking contest

MR HARP (Thomas Gallagher) has improved hand-over-fist and ran a blinder to chase Imperial Alcazar home. That horse is being considered for the Stayers’ Hurdle by super shrewd Fergal O’Brien, so there is every reason to believe Mr Harp will be competitive in decent staying handicaps. He should pick up a valuable pot somewhere soon.

2m national hunt flat race (Class 5)

Ordinary form

CODE NAME LISE (Lucy Wadham) looked as if the run would tighten her up and did well to finish a clear second. She is related to a couple of decent bumper winners and should have no trouble opening her account in a mares’ race.

Cadzand