Leicester is due to stage its first jumps card of the season this afternoon and in the mares' novices handicap chase I hope to see Princess Roxy (1.30) build on a promising chase debut for Ben Case at Bangor-on Dee when third from a 2lbs higher mark.
The mare was returning from a 700-day absence on that occasion and is a winner between the flags and of a soft ground Doncaster Bumper on her Rules debut. Trainer Ben Case had winners on Friday and Saturday, and I hope his mare can make up for last time.
Rose Of Aghaboe is another winning pointer who landed a gamble at Plumpton on her seasonal reappearance from a 5lbs lower mark. That success was gained on good ground, but she has form on the soft including her point win. She represents a big danger.
Ottonian (2.00) won his first couple of starts for Charlie Appleby and ran with promise on the level for Donald McCain this summer following a 1000-day absence from the track. I thought he shaped with promise at Aintree on his hurdles debut over 2m 4f and he gave the impression he would appreciate the drop back to the minimum trip. Hey Joe looks a big danger on his hurdles debut with the penalised Isolate looking vulnerable on soft ground.
Boughtbeforelunch (3.00) jumped very well at Cheltenham on his last start but swerved right after the last and a 2lbs rise looks fair with this slight drop back down in trip of no concern. The ground was given as good on the chase course on Sunday morning but there was further rain forecast and I would be surprised if conditions were not good to soft come post time.
Big Difference would have been the selection on genuine good ground after an encouraging return at Taunton. He would have won at Ludlow back in January had he not sprawled four out when going best.
At Kempton Just Beautiful (4.25) was visually very impressive when scoring over today's C&D last month and the filly is taken to maintain her unbeaten record in the opener for Ivan Furtado. The runner up to the selection – Daphne May – was a facile winner of Newcastle nursery last time from a mark of 70 and Just Beautiful had 5L in hand.
Sargasso Sea (5.00) made s pleasing debut when runner up at Newcastle and she is taken to go one better for William Haggas and Tom Marquand in the Mile Maiden. The filly was slowly away at Gosforth Park, but the hope is that she is quicker away from the lids this afternoon from an excellent draw in stall two.
Plumpton must pass an 8am inspection but, if racing gets the green light, I hope to see Cyclop (3.20) follow up his recent Chepstow success. Jockey Lily Pinchin got a good tune out of the horse on that occasion and the selection escapes a penalty given it was a conditional jockey's event. There is the possibility that the race will come too soon given it was only a week ago, but he is very well handicapped on his best form and is taken to follow up.
