Tuesday Lays: Yarmouth 2:20Nickels and Dimes (Laid at 1.68/1) Promising enough debut at Leicester but my question is really about how strong a maiden that was. Mark Johnstons horse won it by a cosy 3L and I'm not sure Nickels and Dimes will necessarily improve a massive amount for that run. Improvement does beckon howver for ELIK who was very green at Nottingham but showed plenty ability. Heavy ground will play to the stamina perdigree too and I think the Teofilio tenacity might get lost in the mud for this Gosden favourite. Forgiving a poor run in a sales race, OF COURSE DARLING would not be out of this and is proven on testing ground at Newmarket. At bigger prices, Michael Bell doublers up with KENSINGTON GARDENS and MADAM DEFARGE, with slight preference for the former. However the stamina will play into the hands of the apparant second string Madam Defarge. All in all a trappy little contest where I would not want to take 6/4 on a fav in heavy ground. 2.10 Exeter: Vintage Kid (Laid at 2.75/1) I'm much more interested in the other former pointers here- mainly HIGHLAND RETREAT who i think will land the spoils for Harry Fry in this. Tim Vaughan usually does better in handicaps and I think is favourite here is worth taking on in the expectation he will be learning today. Another danger is Venetia Williams' MARKET OPTION, who shaped well in a bumper behind a Willie Mullins favourite. The form is very ordinary but it is good form in the context of this race if the pointers fail to fire. The jockey is nicely experienced in the context of this race, too. 2.40 Exeter Melodic Rendezvous (Laid at 0.88/1) Sounds terrific to have finished 2nd to Champagne Fever but we cannot take that Punchestown form seriously because they actually had to swim up the home straight. Won very nicely on debut but the form isn't there to warrant being an 8/11 shot and the Nicholls/JP McManus combination in MR MOLE look very interesting. Nicholls thinks Mr Mole is a chaser in the making but he was as green as grass at Hereford and still won by 12 lengths. Reminded me a little bit of Sprinter Sacre in his action- a little buzzy, but massive engine and will go on any ground. Slick jumping will be the key though. Don't fully discount Charlie Longsden;'s DOM LUKKA either, who is already the winner of two chases in France so jumping hurdles should be okay for him on British debut, and is an interesting £33,000 purchase.
Took a bitchslap from AOB and Kingsbarns yesterday. Taking on Pipes FRANKLYNROOSEVELT in the opener at Wincanton as we look to bounce back. Narrow winner last time and 8lb rise is big given the other LTO winners in the race
1.40 Aintree FOR TWO laid at 1.95/1 The experience will not have been lost on Alan Kings HANDAZAN and I expect him to prevail at the second time of asking. That said, COUNSEL good be a bugger to pass if Maguire can dictate on him. However Handazan will be that bit smoother this time around, and Nicholls won't rush For Two.
1.25 Ascot: HADRIANS APPROACH (Laid at 1.96/1) Both ROLLING ACES and SWINCOMBE FLAME have more potential over fences for me personally and therefore the Henderson horse is opposable having fell when due to finish 2nd last time out. Not a fan of the breeding for a chaser either. 12:45 Newmarket: BEAUTIFUL VIEW (Laid at 1.52/1) A pleasing debut but not the strongest race I feel. I think Society Pearl from the Hills yard might go very close on his Doncaster debut form but more so I think Godolphin are dangerous with newcomers at the end of a flat season and ZAHARA fits the bill for me perfectly here. Nicely bred and usually they are ready to roll. 2.35 Ascot: IL DE RE (Laid at 3.3/1) Bit of a risk as the liability is towards the higher end of my scale (maximum 4/1 remember) but I think with sound reasoning here. IL De Re did not go too well when outclassed here in the Champions Day heat on the flat and maybe he found his mark when beaten into midfield in the hot Sandown hurdle earlier in the year. I think by far the most dangerous horse in the field is TED SPREAD (NAP) who with Harry Derham's 7lb claim and a breathing op completed, could turn out to be a handicap plot in the early part of this season. RAYA STAR ran some superb races last year in very good company and is respected here, CAPE EXPRESS is improving and STREET ENTERTAINER not overlooked for the Pipes after a promising run in a handicap a few weeks ago.
