MINELLA DRAMA is the NAP of the day today for me and I hope he can live up to my expectations over fences. He impressed me time and time again last year when running so well in soft and heavy ground and proved to everyone how good he could be when chasing home My Drogo at Aintree in the Mersey Novices Hurdle on good to soft ground. He beat some good horses that day and promises to be a better chaser so with that in mind I hope he can take the novice chase at Uttoxeter today.
I'm going to take a chance on ASHTOWN LAD at Wetherby in what looks to be a three way showdown between him, Ahoy Senor and Barbados Buck's. The latter pair have stronger form in the book but both look to be stamina laden and the 3 mile trip around Wetherby might just catch them out. My selection will travel strongly and has course form so I fancy him to cause an upset in what could be a tactical race.
Uttoxeter 2.48 – Minella Drama
Wetherby 2.05 – Ashtown Lad
I'm really looking forward to the 1.35 at Ascot on Saturday as I think there could be some smart chasers in the making in here. Sizeable Sam could be a really nice horse and I have long been a fan of his but when we last saw him he was still very raw and I suspect he may need a run or two over fences before we see the best of him. I was very taken with SAM BARTON last year given how much he achieved over hurdles as I think we will see a much better horse now he meets a fence. A typical Trevor Hemmings horse he was always going to be a chaser as he has plenty of size and scope about him. Bookmakers have opened him up at 13/2 and although he will be better over further I think he can put in a big run on chase debut off his current mark.
I will take a chance on BRELAN D'AS at Wetherby on Saturday as it's surely a matter of time until Ben Haslam releases the handbrake. A once classy handicap chaser for Paul Nicholls, he has now dropped to a mark of 112, which seems to have happened over night, and looks a tantalising prospect in the 1.20. If he's tuned up, he must go close.
The West Yorkshire Hurdle looks an open race given we're not sure which Paisley Park is going to turn up. If he hits a flat spot here he may not have the pace to make up the ground so I think THOMAS DARBY is the safe bet here. Olly Murphy thinks his horse has unfinished business over three miles and I tend to agree with him. He enjoyed a good season last year and didn't run a bad race at Aintree when just beaten by two better horses. There is no Thyme Hill or Roksana here tomorrow and I therefore think he will take some beating if ready to go which I'm sure he will be.
Saturday
Ascot 1.35 – Sam Barton
Wetherby 1.20 – Brelan D'As
Wetherby 2.30 Thomas Darby
