.
Huntingdon 11.45 – Royal visit for team Lacey
Tom Lacey has a 25% strike rate at Huntingdon, so it should be worth noting that he runs just one horse there tomorrow in the shape of UNJEU ROYAL.
A Southwell bumper winner was subsequently pulled up in the Aintree graded bumper, shaped well on hurdle debut last time out.
He seemed to be travelling well into the straight when he was affected by a faller and lost a few lengths as a consequence.
He never recovered after that, but the fact he went off 11/1 in a warm Chepstow novice and had already been pitched into the deep end in the Spring suggests connections think plenty of him.
I saw enough on hurdle debut to suggest he should be up to winning this and all the vibes from the yard would add substance to my suspicion.
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Haydock 2.25 – Navajo not for passing in valuable handicap hurdle
You have to admire the consistency of NAVAJO INDY after Tom Symonds’ charge ran another fine race on his return at Cheltenham.
He somewhat bumped into one there, I think, and the front 3 pulled nicely clear.
That was his first try over 2m 4f, which always threatened to bring about further improvement after he spent all of last season over 2m, where he often caught the eye.
I don’t think he was stopping up the hill the last day, so the step up to 3m here looks like an interesting move.
He is still rated 132, which for a horse with his form, looks lenient and the make up of this race might just really suit him, and tomorrow could be the day he has his big day in the Sun.
It is an open race as you would expect, but at around 11/1, I think the selection is one of the most solid bets on a bumper Saturday of racing.
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