By Charlie McCann
A terrific Novices' Hurdle to open the card at Newcastle with last time out winners Zip Top and Fascino Rustico (1.50) in opposition and marginal preference goes to the latter who wore a hood and a tongue-tie on his first start for Dan Skelton when bolting up at Bangor. It is possible that the hood won't be as effective a second time but he has always had scope and could be that he is about to fulfil his initial Bumper promise.
Zip Top won impressively at Fakenham last time battling all the way to the line and AP McCoy keeps the ride for John Ferguson's whose recruits from the flat have been in such sparkling form this winter. Both horses hold Grade 1 engagements further down the line and this is a very hot race.
No Through Road has won five of his last six starts and has been a revelation for Michael Scudamore but he carries a 7lbs penalty for winning at Ayr last week and may struggle to give 5lbs to another progressive sort in Silverton (2.20) who lost nothing in defeat when runner up to Silverton at Kelso last time from a 4lbs lower mark. That was in a Mares' only contest but she is clearly going the right way and could represent the value in another competitive event.
Macgillycuddy (2.50) looked sure to score when coming down three out at Kelso last time and can race off the same mark for Harriet Graham who doubles up as racecourse trainer and clerk-of-the-course at Perth and Musselburgh. The selection won on his penultimate start and has only had seven careers starts. If in the same mood as he was at the Borders track a fortnight ago he is the one to beat.
The Donald McCain yard are beginning to fire on all cylinders and Up And Go (3.20) could be very well handicapped for his first start in 260 days. A winner of a hot novice hurdle at Ascot two years ago he was beaten at 4/11 when last seen back in the spring but he has gone well fresh in the past and can continue the yard's renaissance.
The stable can double up with Lovely Job (3.50) who won a point-to-point in his native Ireland before making a satisfactory hurdles/ British debut at Bangor earlier in the month. He needs to improve on that effort and is obviously no star but this race won't take much winning and the yard had a winner at Sedgefield on Monday.
I'm not convinced the Henry Daly team are in the best of form but Tara Mist must go close in Leicester's opener stepped up in trip and preference is for Becausehesaidso (2.00) representing the Venetia Williams yard on his hurdles debut. He landed a gamble when scoring at Carlisle back in October in a Bumper (stable not known for winners in this field) and this 2m 4f trip looks an ideal starting point.
I have always been a fan of Ballybough Pat (3.00) and felt chasing was going to be his game. He returned from a long lay-off when finishing mid-division at Kempton over timber and I suggest we take a keen interest in the market to see if there is any stable confidence.
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