There is a terrific card at Bangor-on-Dee who are likely to
race on good ground given there is little if any rain forecast in the build up
to today's seven-race card.
In the valuable two-mile handicap hurdle Teqany has been
raised 5lbs for comfortably seeing off the challenge of Ferrobin at Newton
Abbott at the beginning of the month although the runner up may not be the
heartiest of battlers.
El Borracho disappointed on his handicap debut at Stratford
when he was a bit keen and did not jump with the same fluency as was the case
when scoring at Southwell on his penultimate start. He must go close but I just
favour Kajaki (1.40) who was pulled out of a race at Perth recently on
account of the rain-softened ground. The selection won two hurdles for Kevin
Ryan before joining Nicky Richards and he caught my eye when runner up to
Pagero to Doncaster back in December.
It was not much of a race that Lock's Corner won at Southwell
– favourite failed to finish – but he was very impressive and a 10lbs hike in
the weights may not prevent him following up. The vote, however, goes to Pogue
(2.15) who got bogged down on soft ground at Musselburgh on his final start
last season but had won at Doncaster on his penultimate start. Donald McCain loves
having winners at his local track and his grey will, I hope, give it a good go
from the foot.
There is a good card at Sedgefield and in the novice hurdle
over two-and-a-half miles I feel the return to decent ground – allied to a
recent wind operation – can bring about a revival in fortunes for Young
Lieutenant (2.25) who represents the yard of Warren Greatrex who saddled a
winner at Perth last week. The selection was bogged down on soft ground last winter,
but I remember thinking he was a sure-fire future winner when runner up to Sir
Valentine at Newbury back in November.
The selection receives 5lbs from Fortunate Fred courtesy of
Jack Tudor's allowance, but the latter is a big danger having fell at the last
over today's C&D when just a length behind Marine One who landed the
valuable handicap at Market Rasen at the weekend.
Sam England has his string in good form, and I feel My
Renaissance (4.10) may be a shade overpriced in the 2m handicap chase.
There is plenty of pace in the race and the selection won over C&D from a
16lbs higher mark last August. The ground was softer than ideal at Cartmel last
time and he has run some of his best races around today's C&D.
At Ayr Baryshnikov (3.50) is taken to follow up his
recent Chester success when he got his reward for a number of consistent
efforts. I felt he should have won at Windsor on his penultimate start and the
winner – Victory Chime – franked the form at Pontefract last week. David
Barron's four-year-old is only 1lb higher this afternoon and Robbie Downey –
who was in the plate at Chester – keep the ride.
James Bethell's lightly raced maiden Abbotside failed to
handle the soft ground at Ripon last time but will appreciate the return to a
sound surface. He represents a big danger with Kevin Stott in the saddle.
