We at BetVictor are Non Runner No Bet on all Festival races from noon and it is interesting that, away from the Championship races, punters are trying to piece together running plans in the big handicaps. Yesterday we saw money for a trio of JP McManus owned runners Regal Encore 14/1 (from 20s) Pertemps Hurdle, Pendra 14 (16) Festival Handicap and Ned Buntline 7 (10) in the Grand Annual. The latter is the final race of the meeting and Noel Meade's Ned Buntline looks likely to have the honour of being AP McCoy's last ride at the Festival; he couldn't; could he?
A modest card at Catterick and we begin today's preview at Lingfield where the booking of Ryan Moore for Charlie Hills' unraced Hakam (3.30) certainly catches the eye. The colt cost $450,000 as a yearling and is bred to be at home on today's surface. The selection has a plum draw in stall one and would not have to be anything out of the ordinary to make a winning debut although Godolphin's Ventriloquist has some decent maiden form although he could hardly be described as progressive when last seen back in September. Indeed a bigger danger may come from Newholm stepping up to 7f for the first time having finished runner up on both starts at six.
Top-weight Maggie Pink (3.00) is likely to make it a decent clip in the mile handicap for fillies' and mares and that should suit Semeral (3.00) who has a high head carriage and has been called one or two rude names in the past but she won well over C&D from a 3lb lower mark back in November and might defy the rise.
Gios Last (4.00) is impossible to oppose in the 1m 5f handicap given he can race off a mark 1lb lower than when completing his hat-trick in an apprentice event at Wolverhampton last week. The grey looks progressive for this grade and trainer James Eustace's last four runners have form figures of 1, 1, PU, 1.
Godolphin's Four Seasons (4.30) reverts to handicap company having won a minor conditions event over C&D when last seen back in November; he is being aimed at the big Good Friday meeting and should have the race run to suit with Greatest Journey likely to tow them along at a good clip.
There is a valuable 10f handicap at Kempton this evening and hat-trick seeking Tryster (6.45) can make it an excellent day for the Boys In Blue by taking the feature under Shane Gray. The selection is 7lbs higher than when scoring at Wolverhampton last time but can take this on route to a crack at the Winter Derby at Lingfield next month.
At Catterick Classinaglass (2.40) is surely better than he showed at Musselburgh last time when parked wide and never competitive over a similar trip to this afternoon's. I am sure there is more to come, however, from this winning pointer and he is given a last chance to confirm the promise of his Wetherby reappearance. The opposition looks exposed and if Classinaglass can put his best foot forward he really ought to be too good for today's opposition.
Henri De Boistron (4.10) has been raised 5lbs for winning at Leicester last time but is taken to follow up although he will need a strong gallop given he just got up at Leicester last time and tends to race keenly. Cousin Guillaume is likely to lead and the hope is that Paddy Brennan can strike fast and late on the 5-y-old who might be open to further improvement.
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