Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S ROCKIE VIII
Alston’s star sprinter to prove a knockout in the Cup
JABBAROCKIE is ready to roll in the Betway Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap (3.00, ITV4) at Musselburgh and claim the eighth win of his career.
Eric Alston’s son of Showcasing goes well fresh, as when scoring on the rescheduled 1,000 Guineas undercard – after an absence of 291 days – last June.
That victory was gained from a handicap mark of 94 and, after defeats on his remaining five starts of 2020, the eight-year-old competes from a rating of 93 this afternoon.
Each of Jabbarockie’s seven career wins have been over the minimum trip of five furlongs, including a course-and-distance score in August 2019. His record suggests the start of the campaign is the ideal time to catch Jason Hart’s mount, and this £15,462 first prize will do very nicely as Jabbarockie makes his return.
REPUBLICAN (3.15) looks a Sher thing in the Betway Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final.
Oliver Sherwood’s (right) hope could be the best bet on Haydock’s rich jumps card.
He moved strongly for much of the race when finishing fifth behind subsequent winner J’AI Froid on his return from a three-month break at Ascot in February having previously been tried over fences.
That is sound form and Republican showed a decent amount of ability last season when beating Flic Ou Voyou in a Taunton novices’ hurdle as well as when finishing sixth behind top prospect Mcfabulous at Kempton.
The 12-1 on offer is too big so have 2pts each-way with one of the numerous bookies paying out on five places.
Musselburgh hosts an interesting Flat card. It usually pays to race somewhere near the pace around this sharp Scottish track and that should help THREE SAINTS BAY
(1.50).
He’s never been out of the first four in seven visits to this course and he’s well weighted on his best form.
This will be his first start for a new trainer having left David O’meara to join his former assistant Liam Bailey and that could easily freshen him up. Have 1pt each-way at 14-1.
With five last-time-out winners set to line up in the Royal Mile it looks a competitive race but I’ve a feeling the handicapper may have overreacted to a couple of those widemargin victories at the end of last season.
COLONEL FAULKNER
(2.25) went over to France to break his duck when successful at Deauville in December.
That was a nice performance and his earlier placed efforts behind a couple of Roger Varian’s smart prospects read well. He’s been gelded over the winter, the step up to a mile should be ideal and Archie Watson has his team in great form. Have 2pts to win at 9-2. The closing mile handicap wouldn’t be the day’s best race but it gives MERRICOURT (4.46) a good opportunity to add to last season’s course success.
He overcame a wide draw to win in September and this is a slight drop in class. A couple of spins on the all-weather should have put him spot on for today and this is not a strong race, even for this lowly grade.
Have 1pt to win at 4-1.