Paddock picks
Andrew Ayres likes the look of Alan King’s mare as he opens his notebook
Andrew Ayres draws our attention to future stars
FONTWELL FEBRUARY 14 (SOFT)
2mf110y mares novice hurdle (Class 4) SMART FORM THE CULL BANK (Alan King) is a robust, well-made mare who won an Irish point-to-point before joining this yard for £50,000. She scored with a bit to spare after being held-up behind a taxing pace and is highly rated by connections. She’ll stay further and win better races than this.
BULLFROG (Gary Moore) looked in great shape but raced too keenly, made a couple of sloppy mistakes and did well to finish second. Her trainer thinks she’s smart and is planning a confidence booster before heading up to Aintree in April. 2m1f110y juvenile hurdle (Class 4) RACE THAT LACKED DEPTH CHRISTOPHER WOOD (Paul Nicholls) looked burly after a four month break, but was confidently ridden and won with plenty to spare. He went on to bolt-up at Newbury a fortnight later, is way above average and could bag a decent prize this spring.
LINGFIELD FEBRUARY 15 (STANDARD)
7f three-year-old novice (Class 5) FAIR FORM LESTRADE (William Jarvis) is a strapping individual who was big and raw for this debut. He would have won but for fluffing the start and looks a decent prospect for lucky owner Clive Washbourn. He’d be helped by stepping up to a mile and is worth following.
LINGFIELD FEBRUARY 22 (STANDARD)
1m three-year-old handicap (Class 6) COMPETITIVE LOW GRADE EVENT SHUG (Ed Walker) looked tremendously well and floated to post. He travelled strongly, but was stuck behind dead wood turning for home and didn’t get a run until the furlong pole. He rattled home in second, is well treated off 60 and will win one of these soon.
WHAT WILL BE (Olly Murphy) could not have been fitter and attracted heavy support near the off. He looked a tad one-paced in the straight, but wasn’t disgraced in fourth and will win when moved up in trip.
FONTWELL FEBRUARY 24 (GOOD-SOFT)
2m3f novice hurdle (Class 4) ABOVE AVERAGE RACE TARADA (Oliver Sherwood) already looks like a 3m chaser and showed surprising pace to win this competitive event readily. He’s got any amount of scope and is an exciting long-term prospect. This is a cracking chaser in the making.
ASHUTOR (Paul Nicholls) is a racey looking grey who travelled strongly in front and only gave best approaching the last. He’ll be suited by fast ground and a drop in trip and could make hay during the summer. 2m1f110y national hunt flat (Class 5) ABOVE AVERAGE FORM HUGOS OTHER HORSE (Paul Nicholls) looks a rugged individual and is certainly bred for the job (halfbrother to Cue Card). He was bang in the firing line from the off and showed a cracking attitude to get home in a driving finish. He’ll stay well and is one to follow over hurdles next term.
CORRANY (Nicky Henderson) was a tad backward and did well to finish third after hitting a flat spot as the pace lifted. He’ll win a bumper and should thrive when moved up in trip over hurdles.
PLUMPTON FEBRUARY 25 (GOOD, GOOD-SOFT)
2m1f110y national hunt flat (Class 5) ORDINARY FORM MARILYN MONROE (Anthony Honey
ball) is an attractive mare who started favourite on the strength of her pointto-point win. She looked green as grass under pressure, but kept on well to finish third and would beat these in a rematch. She’s in good hands and will win races.
Cull Bank scored with a bit to spare after being held-up behind a taxing pace and is highly rated by connections
KEMPTON FEBRUARY 28 (STANDARD-SLOW)
1m handicap (Class 6) COMPETITIVE LOW GRADE EVENT MULTITASK (Gary Moore) is a big, imposing gelding who continues to run moderately despite looking in rude health. He’s owned by a shrewd team and is definitely one to side with the late market moves speak in his favour. 6f maiden (Class 5) ORDINARY FORM THE NUMISMATIST (Jamie Osborne) looks the part but was miles off being fit and never figured. He’s been allotted a mark of just 46 and is definitely worth watching in Class 6/7 handicaps on the AW.
LINGFIELD MARCH 1 (STANDARD)
1m2f maiden (Class 5) RACE THAT LACKED DEPTH FLY LIGHTLY (Robert Cowell) is a handsome, robust individual who still looked a run off being fit. Bearing that in mind, he did well to bustle up the hot favourite Moonlight Spirit and is definitely capable of winning a race or two.
KEMPTON MARCH 6 (STANDARDSLOW)
1m three-year-old novice (Class 5) FAIR FORM IRONCLAD (Hugo Palmer) was the subject of positive reports and looked in tremendous shape for this debut. His supporters knew their fate when the colt fell out of the stalls, but he showed plenty of ability to run on into third and will be a different proposition next time.
POOR AULD PADDY (David Elsworth) caught the eye on his debut and looked the part again here. He had a nice spin round in seventh and is the sort who will come into his own when moved into handicaps. 1m three-year-old novice (Class 5) IMPRESSIVE WINNER EBURY (Martyn Meade) had a summer gleam on his coat and did well to win by clear water after flopping out of the gates. He’s got the scope to improve and looks a useful prospect.
LINGFIELD MARCH 8 (STANDARD)
1m2f handicap (Class 6) EASY WINNER AFFLUENCE (Martin Smith) is a big, imposing gelding who has only just started to strengthen. He won this with any amount in hand and can pick-up another low grade AW handicap. However, connections are keen to pop him over hurdles and he could be a real money spinner if switched to that job.
SANDOWN MARCH 10 (SOFT, HEAVY IN PLACES ON HURDLES TRACK)
2m4f novice handicap hurdle (Class 1) COMPETITIVE EVENT SOUTHERN SAM (Oliver Sherwood) is a slow maturing type who gives the strong impression he’s just coming to himself. He made a few sloppy mistakes before finishing a creditable fifth and is nailed on to win when dropped in class. Longer term, he’ll make a smashing chaser. 2m handicap hurdle (Class 1) RED-HOT EVENT MONSIEUR LECOQ (Jane Williams) was in fantastic shape and looked sure to collect when kicking clear before the last. Unfortunately he got stuck in the mud and was nailed close home. There’s no doubt this handsome gelding is improving at a rate of knots and he should win a top handicap this spring.