The Dubai Future Champions Festival begins tomorrow with the Fillies' Mile (Minding 7/4Fav at BetVictor) but today we have some excellent jumps action to consider with some of the bigger yards bringing out some decent long-term prospects.
Indeed perfect jumping ground for the first meeting of the season at Exeter and 53 runners declared for the six competitive races. In the feature 3m Handicap Chase He's A Bully looks ready for a return to 3m having been touched off (beaten 2L in fourth) and Market Rasen last time. He is extremely well handicapped and if he can get his jumping together he would be the one to beat but I'm In Charge (3.30) despite being 11lbs higher for winning at Fontwell in the summer clearly goes well fresh and can score for Grant Cann.
The selection has to be held up but should have the race run to suit as Midnight Request is likely to ensure there is a decent gallop; the selection would not want the ground any softer than good.
The Beginners Chase is a cracker with the Paul Nicholls' runner Ballycoe taken on by fellow Irish point winner How About It (4.05). The selection is trained by Rebecca Curtis in south Wales and may have taken time to acclimatise to his new surroundings last term He cost connections 130,000 Euros after his point success last summer and was highly tried last term.
Sam Twiston-Davies suggested Ballycoe might make up into a Welsh National horse in the future and he returns from a 320 day lay-off. Whilst not one of the Ditcheat stars he will be winning his fair share of races but he might be over-bet because of the yard he represents and Curtis can certainly get them ready first time out.
Nicholls' has Abjdjan (4.35) entered up in four races over the next few days and I suggest we take the hint that he gives his April Newton Abbot scorer the green light to run under a penalty. The selection will appreciate this stiff track and may have most to fear from Silver Dixie. Useful on the flat Peter Hedger's 5-y-old has won four times on the level and made an encouraging hurdles debut at Warwick last month.
At Worcester I would be very sweet on the chances of Gold Man (2.00) as long as there is no further rain (ground given out as good to soft, good in places) and a dry day is forecast. As a son of Presenting the lightly-raced 6-year-old is likely to make a better chaser than hurdler and he did win a point-to-point and Towcester Bumper on decent ground. He begins his handicap career off what looks an attractive mark.
All In Favour is a fascinating runner making his racecourse debut for powerful connections in the Novice Hurdle over the minimum trip. It is rare that Jonjo O'Neill has decided against giving the 4-y-o a run in a Bumper and preference is for Wishfull Dreaming (3.05) off the track since winning a Cheltenham Bumper on New Years' Day.
That success came in listed company and he certainly has the scope to make up into a decent prospect for the Philip Hobbs team.
As long as Fingerontheswitch (4.50) settles better than he did at Kelso last month he can take the finale for Neil Mulholland. The 5-y-old needs good ground and should be more amenable to restraint with that Kelso run likely to have taken the fizz out of him. If he drops his head he has decent point-to-point form and should make up into a decent chaser in time.
