Get fortunate at Southwell
Fortunate Man has a good opportunity to get back on the winning trail in the Try The Racing App This Afternoon Novices' Hurdle at Southwell today.
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill went to E210,000 to secure the Irish pointto-point winner last year, but he did not get off to the best of starts, unseating Jonjo jnr on his hurdling bow at Ffos Las in December. He got the job done in fine style at Newbury next time, so it was a little disappointing that he could do no better than a moderate third in his bid to follow up at Wetherby.
That being said, the winner, Asta La Pasta, is a useful sort, while the runner-up Tedtwo bolted up at Sedgefield recently.
A step up in trip looks the right way to go with Fortunate Man and he is expected to reward those who keep the faith.
Great Samourai can make a successful debut for new connections in the Get The Inside Track With raceday-ready.com Handicap Chase.
The seven-year-old has shown a decent level of ability without setting the world alight for Dan Skelton, twice filling the runner-up spot from four starts under rules.
He was a firm favourite to make a winning start to his career over fences on his most recent appearance at Huntingdon in October but had to make do with the silver medal behind No Risk With Lou and changed hands in the new year for the relatively modest fee of 12,000 pounds.
Great Samourai is now in the care of Charles and Adam Pogson and the booking of three-time champion jockey Brian Hughes suggests the team mean business.
James Owen's Our Pink Lady can notch a second course and distance win in the space of a fortnight in the Tips For Every Race At raceday-ready.com Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle, with a 2.5kg rise for her impressive first victory judged lenient.
Anthony Honeyball has enjoyed a very good season and his Fortuitous Favour looks the one to concentrate on in the Rabbit Group, Plant, Toilets, Skips, Demolition Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell.
The six-year-old mare won on her debut in a bumper at Wetherby and while she has not prevailed again since, on more than one occasion she has hinted there is enough ability there to claim a race of this nature.
It often pays to keep Gary Moore onside at the Sussex track and his All Authorized could get punters off to a flying start in the opening V2 Radio "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.
A winner at this course on his debut last April, he has produced encouraging performances at both Sandown and Newbury recently and could have been found a winnable opportunity in this race.
Big Narstie looks well placed to complete his hat-trick on the allweather at Newcastle in the Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap.
The six-year-old has been performing creditably all winter for the excellent Mick Appleby and was good value for the winning margin of 1.75 lengths when scoring over this track and trip earlier in the month.
He struck again just two days later under a penalty at Southwell and, provided those exertions have not taken their toll, he has an excellent opportunity to extend the winning sequence in the north east. -