Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
This One’s special
FLEURIE CAN SET CORKS POPPING
IT looks a vintage year for the Ladbrokes Trophy so it’s time to hit the Fleurie.
Lightly-weighted ONE MORE FLEURIE (3.00) is just the type of horse you need for this wonderful old Newbury contest.
He’s a great jumper and is happiest racing near the front. The way he notched up his fourth win as a novice last season, when charging clear of useful Mac Tottie at Ayr in the spring, was most impressive.
The decent ground will be ideal and he looked like he would improve a lot for his comeback run at Ascot last month. Have 1pt each-way at 33-1 with several bookies paying out on seven places.
It might be worth having a saver on last year’s winner CLOTH CAP
(3.00, right) in the same race.
He bolted up 12 months ago and he went on to brush aside a decent field at Kelso before breathing issues caught him out when favourite for the Grand National.
Those problems have been solved and he ran a lovely prep race at Cheltenham last month when the cheekpieces he usually wears were left off. Have 1pt each-way at 14-1.
The card kicks off with a Listed mares’ novice hurdle and I just can’t understand the way it’s been priced up.
Nina The Terrier tops the market but RAINYDAY WOMAN (12.10) beat her 12 lengths in a Huntingdon bumper last season. Paul Nicholls’ mare made a respectable hurdles debut at Ludlow three weeks ago and will be much better going left-handed on a more galloping track.
There’s also a fair chance she will get her own way out in front. The 10-1 on offer is crazy so have 3pts to win.
ESPOIR DE TEILLEE (1.15) is overpriced for the Sir Peter O’sullevan Memorial Chase. He beat Kalooki over 2m4f at
Newbury in March on identical terms so it’s hard to fathom why he’s three times the price.
The extra two furlongs should suit him and he didn’t run at all badly at Chepstow on his last start in early October. Tom George has his team in better form now.
Have 1pt eachway at 16-1 with
Sky Bet offering five places.