There is a cracking card at Ludlow this afternoon and the
ground is likely to just be on the soft side of good with the prospect of a few
isolated showers. The feature three-mile handicap chase is a belter and former
bet365 chase winner Step Back has dropped down to a favourable mark and will
give it a good go from the front although the yard are yet to have a winner
this term although they have only had 17 runners.
A market move for Tintern Theatre would be worth noting even
though he is returning from a near two-year absence. He is very well treated on
some old bits of form but For Good Measure (3.20) gets the each way vote for
Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.
The selection looked to be coming with a winning run but
could not get past Soldier Of Fortune over an additional quarter-mile last time
but the winner has subsequently scored from an 11lbs higher mark. The Hobbs
yard are not yet firing on all cylinders, but Imperial Presence landed
Fontwell's feature last weekend and conditions should be ideal for the JP
McManus owned nine-year-old today with Step Back ensuring a truly run race.
The Novices' Handicap Chase is another ultra-competitive
heat but Morning Vicar (4.30) looked sure to go close in a hot Newbury contest
last Christmas before coming a cropper four out. He can race from the same mark
this afternoon and the gelding scored here on his sole previous visit. Darling Maltaix will appreciate the return to
a right-handed track and he and Canelo are huge dangers in a terrific contest
which will, I am convinced, throw up several winners in the months to come.
Vinnie's Getaway (5.05) is a point-to-point and Bumper
winner who has finished second in both his hurdle starts and begins life in
handicaps off what looks a favourable mark. Olly Murphy's conditional Lewis
Stones takes off a valuable 6lbs and, although he will get further in time, he
should have another pace for this sharp track over the minimum trip. Any
further rain would hinder the chance of Roar although the latter is considered
the main danger on good ground.
In the fillies' handicap at Nottingham it would be no
surprise to see the 4-y-old Vindolanda bounce back after what was a slightly
below par run at Goodwood when last of three. She is a winner on soft ground as
befits a daughter of Nathaniel, but preference is for the 3-y-old Jane Marple
(2.00) who hit the line hard when scoring at Newmarket when last seen back in
June.
The odds on favourite in that race – National Treasure – has
not been seen out since while the third has subsequently disappointed but I
hope to see the John Gosden trained selection improve for the step up in trip
and she gets the vote.
Approximate (4.15) is a daughter of Dubawi out of the Ascot
Gold Cup winner Estimate – subsequently disqualified – and, while she is never
going to be as good as her parents, she can take the extended 10f apprentice
handicap.
The selection was a bit keen on her handicap debut but made
a bold bid from the front in that 12f contest and looked as if she ran out of
petrol over that trip. She drops back in trip today and the booking of the
excellent Cieren Fallon for her Majesty's filly suggests that a bold bid is
expected. Connections will be keen to get a win next to her name with the
breeding sheds in mind.
At Sedgefield I expect The Navigator (4.35) to follow up his
recent C&D success under a 7lbs penalty. The runner up – Radjash – won at
Uttoxeter on Sunday and the grey can see off the challenge of Eyeofthescorpion
who is also penalised having landed a gamble at Huntingdon over an additional
quarter of a mile last week. Note Graeme McPherson's six-year-old is also
declared at Exeter tomorrow.
