Tuesday's Meetings Lingfield A/W 9 Races 12:10-4:10p.m. Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 12:15-4:15p.m. Redcar Flat 8 Races 12:25-3:57p.m. Warwick N/H 7 Races 1:02-4:02p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 8 Races 2:52-6:40p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
The first 3 races at Warwick are what I really like about this part of the NH season - loads of unknown quantities and potentially a couple of stars lurking. Whilst the beginners chase has understandably (given the ground) only attracted a small field, the first 2 races over hurdles have very healthy fields. The juvenile maiden hurdle (12:02) has 14 runners with some very big-prices available. Current fav is Love You Back from Gary Moore's yard at around the 2/1 mark. Whilst the yard's record with juveniles is highly respected, Love You Back was sweating heavily and very keen on his last flat appearance at Brighton and I wouldn't be trusting him to settle at 2 mile hurdles pace today. He has been easy to back this morning. The one who has been interesting punters so far today is Westlain from the Jack Jones yard, currently 2nd fav around the 3/1 mark. The yard has had 4 winners from just 6 runners this NH season and shows a very healthy hurdles strike rate of 29% over the last 5 seasons, so clearly they know what is required. Westlain is a half-brother to Mark of Gold, who is doing really well for the Moore's and is currently rated 146 over fences. Whilst his flat form is nothing to scream about, he has been seen to better effect upped in trip recently and he is respected. Third best is Stardrop for James Owen and the Gredley family and, whilst he boasts a flat rating of 80 and clearly has talent, he has been far too keen on his 2 runs over hurdles thus far, pulling his chance away. If he can settle better today he will be a threat to all, but it is a big "if". Premier is one of a number of horses that couldn't live with One Horse Town this season (including the top one here, Banksman) but of more interest is Archie Watson's Scarlet Moon. He achieved a rating of 82 and was clearly expected to win on hurdles debut at Sedgefield, going off the 4/7 fav, but finishing only 3rd. I thought the jockey made too much use of him that day and if he is ridden more quietly today he could go close. The Skeltons run Ice Jet and, whilst he was disappointing at Chepstow on paper, he wasn't knocked about and could well take a big step forward here. I'll take a chance on WESTLAIN to prevail from SCARLET MOON.
I knew I should have stuck with Scarlet Moon. Westlain's flat form was very average but I got swayed by the trainer's strike rate.
