Horse Racing Preview – Chelmsford and Wetherby – 13th April 2017
Our horse racing preview on the 13th April 2017 comes from 2 meetings, Chelmsford and Wetherby with selections from both meetings.
14.00 Wetherby – Watch Racing UK in Glorious HD Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (16f)
This should be an opportunity for Dan Skelton’s new recruit to get off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles. The ex-Prendergast in-mate is 0-18 in all codes, but his hurdle form is something worth noting considering he was fourth to Lord Justice at Ballinrobe two runs back. He was just four lengths off the winner who has gone on to finish behind the likes of Mega Fortune and Cliffs of dover in the Grade 2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle, that winner has an estimated hurdle rating of 154, so really Raven’s Hill should be going very close.
Dangers for me looks to come from Jamie Snowden’s Lord Topper who equipped himself smartly at Huntingdon on his hurdling bow finishing behind two improving types in Head High and Spiritual Lady. Others are Warren Greatrex’s Bobs Boy who finished twenty-two lengths behind Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle winner Master Blueyes who went on to finish tenth in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. The runner up Long Call ran in this years Fred Winter when finishing tenth, a horse that was in front of him was Zig Zag who has a form line through Cliffs of Dover from their Grade 2 encounter at Doncaster, which gives Raven’s Hill a bigger boost.
RAVENS HILL : 2pt Win @ 3/1 (BOG)
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14.30 Wetherby – racinguk.com/daypass Selling Hurdle (19.7f)
Not the greatest of sellers, but what stands out is Aidan Coleman going to ride out for Tim Vaughan om Ballyrock. The eleven-year-old had been on a serious decline since late last year when having a rating of 129 around the Chase sphere. He has looked a right problem to train, but regardless, his form is not that bad considering he won a 0-120 Handicap Chase back in October at Southwell when thrashing his opposition. That was his first recorded win for five years, ouch you might say but his fifth in a 0-130 chase before Christmas and his sixteen lengths behind Late Shipment in a 0-120 Chase at Huntingdon has shown that he could be well in here.
Mark Walford’s Mr Snoozy will have to concede weight all round here, he has had the benefit of three runs this year which saw him win at Sedgefield in a seller over 19.9f in good fashion, he was retained that day by the trainer, but they are keen to sell him after he finished runner up in a seller here over 21.3f when behind Newstart who joined Brian Ellison’s yard. The front pair were a long way clear that day and he could get solid compensation this afternoon.
Brian Ellison is double handed here which once more see’s Newstart in the field along with another with chances in Mister Springsprong. The former is already back in a seller after what looked a disappointing run at Market Rasen when finishing fifth, so on that evidence his main string looks Mister Springsprong who was outclassed in a 0-135 handicap recently at Gosforth park when behind the likes of Gold Opera who has won again. On paper has been competing in better quality fields, but at 5/4 in the market I want to take him on.
BALLYROCK : 2pt Win @ 3/1 (BOG)
15.00 Wetherby – Racing UK Day Pass Just £10 Handicap Chase (15.2f)
Michael Easterby’s Lightening Rod seems to find nothing when push comes to shove as he has shown on his last two starts. You would have to go back all the way to 2014 with his 0-125 hurdle success here at Wetherby over 16.5f. It has been a long time and 0-15 around both codes he is becoming very frustrating to win with. His run here last time over course and distance saw him find nothing when beaten five lengths to Plaisir D’Amour who went on to win again at Newbury, but then was beaten off a double penalty. The fourth, Chestnut Ben also franked that Wetherby form, but is another that has suffered at the hands of the handicapper.
Nine Alters represents Ann Hamilton, and realistically I thought should be the outright fav in this over Lightening Rod. He has been running well in defeat and the eight year olds four runs this season has seen him finished runner up at Catterick and Kelso. This is a big drop in class from his second at Catterick in a 0-130 handicap chase, though he has to head the weights which could find him vulnerable once more.
This brings me on to the selection in Honourable Gent, Rose Dobbin’s chasers have been returning a profit over the past three weeks, this is the first time we have seen her entry here for over a year and a half when finishing runner up in a 0-110 handicap hurdle. He won a 0-125 Chase last May and this starting point in a 0-120 off a mark of 104, he certainly can get involved this afternoon under Craig Nichols.
HONOURABLE GENT : 1pt each way @ 6/1 (BOG)
14.10 Chelmsford – Bet toteplacepot at totesport,com Handicap (14f)
William Knight’s yard have hit the ground running and their entry here is The Juggler who is making his seasonal debut. His last run came back in November when second behind Mister Marchwood at Kempton over 12f. He has probably been crying out for a stiff test of stamina and will definitely get it here at the Essex track.
Regal Gait is the least exposed in the field and both of his runs this year have resulted in being beaten in to second place. His first run came over hurdles when a very good second to Most Celebrated of Neil Mulholland’s. The third Mister Globetrotter franked the form last month when winning a 0-60 handicap at Wolverhampton. His second and last run came again over hurdles when beaten at Stratford in a race he was fancied to win. With an all-weather win under his belt over just shy of today’s index here at the Essex track and only 5lb up on that winning mark, he looks the one to beat this afternoon.
REGAL GAIT : 2pt Win @ 13/8 (BOG)
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15.10 Chelmsford -Bet toteplacepot at totesport.com Maiden Fillies Stakes (10f)
The two Mark Johnston pair will be of interest as to who gets the nod to dictate matters from the outset. Looking over the pedigrees, Curlew River looks the obvious one to do the donkey work if this is obviously the trainers instructions. She will be partnered by Silvestre de Sousa this afternoon and the step up in trip just might be on the tough side being by Casamento whom I always thought was better suited over 8f. Joe Fanning is also a jockey that if he feels he can steal a lead he will do so, looking at the market he comes into this as the favourite,
She probably holds that respect after her good second here seven days ago at Chelmsford when behind the smart Interweave of Sir Michael Stoute’s. On paper, she is looking for a step up in trip and the one to beat in this intriguing fillies contest. Best of the rest looks to come from Pure Shores of Charlie Appleby who had just the one juvenile run when finishing runner up here at Chelmsford over 7f.
If we take out the winner who was probably just having her 3 minutes of fame, the runner up is the one that I want to pin point the form around. Cercle D’Or franked the form instantly when winning at Lingfield. The winner could also be a smart three year old once she gets on the track this season. But even though this is a good maiden to take on board I feel that Joe Fanning has got it spot on here when he rides Fiendish.
FIENDISH : 3pt Win @ 11/8 (BOG)
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