Hello, everyone. Hope you all well.
Haven’t had a bet since ‘Champions Day’ (I refuse, at the moment, to bet in any NH race with a prizepot of under £10k for reasons I’ve outlined before) but tomorrow will be changing into the punting pants, the betting boots and wait for it…even the wagering bally waistcoat!
Like 2 across the county line, at Ascot, where there is a very decent combined prizepot totalling in excess of £125k. Both are trained, incidentally, by Mr Henderson, the forum’s favourite trainer, its inspiration, its idol, its pin-up and its very raison d’etre.
KAYF GRACE (2.05) – this old girl won the Grade 2 Mares Bumper at Aintree back in April ’16 but injury meant she only had one run when transferred to timber last term. That was a very solid start to her hurdling career though as Kayf Grace stayed on well to win at Bangor-On-Dee. Its eye-catching that after her injury connections decided to keep the Graded victor in training rather than opt to take, perhaps, the easier option of retiring the 7YO to the old breeding shed – they obviously think her she can, and will, take high rank, as a hurdler, and ultimately in doing so become an even more valuable broodmare further down the line. I think she will win tomorrow and then go onto play a leading role in the mares division this term. The barn incidentally know what is required to win this heat having won 3 out of the last 6 runnings of the race.
KILCREA VALE (2.40) – something of an enigma who hasn’t, perhaps, delivered everything that was expected of him thus far. Does though look very well treated, if putting his best foot forward, off 139. The old boy won 2 out of his first 3 novice chases, last term, before disappointing somewhat at both the Cheltenham Festival and on the last day of term at Sandown Park. In May though Kilcrea Vale returned to form, at Haydock Park, with an excellent 2nd (beaten 2.5 lengths) to Hammersley Lake when giving him a pound. The latter has franked that form no end, in 3 subsequent runs, going up from 138 (when he ran against the selection) to his current 155. In comparison to this 17 lbs hike tomorrow Kilcrea Vale runs off the same figure (139) as at Haydock Park! I really do think that if everything comes together for Kilcrea Vale then he really does have the scope to make a similar climb in the perchings. Hopefully that ascent will start of the morrow.
Good luck all.
