Today’s horse racing preview comes from two meetings, with selections from Worcester and Brighton.
14.00 Brighton – Hertz Brighton Maiden Auction Stakes (5.1f)
Richard Hannon’s backward Juveniles are starting to come to hand and this could be a good opportunity for his filly Ghepardo to get her head in front at the fifth attempt. Her best run this year came on the all weather when finishing runner up at Wolverhampton being just denied by Tom Dascombe’s Deviate who has gone on to run an improved second to Michael Bells Revived.
He could not get competitive when stepping up on Handicap bow at Glorious Goodwood when running last in a 0-80 Nursery, however that was over 7f and it was obvious that a step back to sprinting was looking more likely, he competes over 5f this afternoon once more and should be the one to beat under Tom Marquand.
The main danger and probably the most frustrating one in the race is Sylvester Kirk’s Three Little Birds, form May to June it looked like a win was just around the corner after a string of good runs when being placed on three occasions. Even though she was possibly out classed when contesting the Class 2 Weatherby’s Super Sprint at Newbury, she ran a creditable seventh of twenty three, a length a head of her was Mother of Dragons who has also finished last in a Nursery since at Nottingham, but excuses can be made for her run purely as the ground was just beyond heavy and a mud-fest, she will be better back on this quicker ground.
GHEPARDO : 1pt each way :@ SP (BOG)
14.45 Worcester – Bet Toteexacta AT Betfred.com Novices Chase (16.5f)
This is probably Charlie Longsdon’s last chance saloon to get Lambeau Field a slim chance of running well off a low weight. The once trained Charles O’Brien gelding changed hands last October and ran a cracker on debut when placed in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Hurdle trial, that alone would be significant enough to land a race of this nature, but he was beaten out of sight on his return this year at Ludlow, then it looked like he was going to record his first success when just denied in a 0-110 Handicap Hurdle back in April.
Once more trainer stepped him back up into a Class 2 where again he showed no love when tailing off by eighty lengths, he drops down in class once more into a class 4 and should really be making his presence felt off this low weight of 10st 4lb on his chasing bow, the extra half a furlong also could play to his strengths as most of his runs above 16f has seen him go reasonably close.
Colin Tizzard’s Solatentif should also be on the premises after a good second at Uttoxeter on only his third chase run, he has a good fourth on his resume in a Grade 2 chase, he has to be feared from a five week layoff, Richard Johnson takes the ride for the first time, If Mad Jack Mytton turned up in a form that has seen him land a 0-135 Handicap Hurdle this year he would have to be the most feared in the race. He returns this afternoon to the larger obstacles and his best career run came in a 0-135 Chase back in January when behind Paul Nicholls Clic Work and on that occasion ran up to a mark of around 127 which is still a lot ahead of these today.
Favourites have a good record in the race, taking 4-6 which includes the last three renewals this saw Aidan Colman ride last years winner for Nigel Hawke, I expect the market to be in favour of Jonjo O’Neills seven year old and continue the run of winning favourites for the race.
MAD JACK MYTTON : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)
15.15 Worcester – Bet Totequadpot At Betfred.com Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat (16f)
All about pedigree and with Saint Des Saints progeny’s having a excellent strike rate with first time bumper runners, this is an opportunity for Francky Du Berlais to give Peter Bowen his first bumper runner since April. It’s not the greatest of contests even though a few of these have had the benefit of a run. Beyond The Clouds has run well on both NHF starts which resulted with a win on debut, but with both runs coming at Musselburgh, maybe that is where his next success will come.
Neil Mulholland’s Mac Tottie has had every opportunity to get his head in front, but has failed now on three occasions, I am not a fan of bumper runners that take this amount of time to hit the winning enclosure at this level. He blew his chance at Newton Abbott last time when beaten to two and a half lengths, but the winner has gone on again to win around the same sphere at Fontwell, won’t mind the ground and is a major player under Noel Fehily.
FRANCKY DE BERLAIS : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)
15.30 Brighton – British Stallions Studs EBF Fillies Handicap (9.9f) (0-85)
A very competitive contest here with Roger Varian’s Great Court being one of the principles, she looked really smart when landing her maiden against her own sex on the all weather in good style. Her two career runs on turf have seen her run well when third in a 0-75 handicap at Sandown and was probably given a tame ride by Andrea Atzeni who for me has been doing this too much this year, not disrespecting the jockey, but it just seems he is not riding mounts out to their best possible finishing position. She has been beaten over this trip on turf this year quiet convincingly, however the winner has gone on to compete at pattern level.
The third has won a 0-95 recently and the fourth Nathalie has won her maiden since, her mark of 78 I do not think does her justice considering she has been running up to mid eighties, young 3lb smart claiming jockey David Egan takes the ride. Recent course and distance winner Impressive Day got the better of Marie Josephe three weeks ago, she gets 1lb back here and the form looks to be solid enough that she can hold her ground once more.
Michael Bells Jive Talking never seems to run a bad race, course and distance winner back in July in a 0-70 handicap and to be fair has kept that level of form when runner up in a 0-80 at Windsor under a penalty, she did not run that badly in a 0-100 handicap at Salisbury two weeks ago, but the trip was all wrong over the 12f index, she drops back to 9.9f once more and has to be feared under Lewis Steward.
With already a good level of form, Kitty Boo has run well since coming out of the maiden ranks, her handicap bow saw her go close at Newmarket under Jamie Spencer, she goes up another 1lb and even though she is consistent I feel she has not had the breaks with the ground issues, Luca would not have her here now unless she has been crying out for quicker ground, with her age allowance she can take this race under Luke Morris. three year old’s have one all four renewals.
KITTY BOO : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)
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