LION SET TO ROAR AGAIN
COEUR DE LION should be fit for the Bettinggods.com Value Racing Tips Handicap at Nottingham.
Alan King’s charge returns to the Flat after a rewarding spell over hurdles, where he won twice and was far from disgraced.
He ran subsequent Triumph Hurdle hero Defi Du Seuil to less than two lengths at Cheltenham in December and finished seventh to the same horse in the big one at the Festival in March.
It is no surprise to see him go back on the level, as he has useful form in the sphere, including a second to London Prize, who went on to win the Imperial Cup, over a mile and six furlongs of this circuit.
That run in October was his last one on the Flat and he is back off just a 1lb higher mark and also over two miles, which can only play to the strengths of this strong-staying sort, who should love the ground.
Di Alta has been found a good opportunity to making a winning reappearance in the shape of the bettinggods.com Sports Guru British EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
The Ed Walker-trained threeyear-old was seen just once as a youngster but made a decent impression winning at Newbury in October.
The winning margin was a narrow one and runner-up Dal Riata has not done anything for the form but Walker’s charge did strike as one with more to offer this season
●In-running punters got their fingers burned at Carlisle when Seyaady became one of the most expensive losers ever for exchange traders at the minimum price as he was caught in the final stride by Ventura Dragon.
The Richard Fahey-trained Ventura Dragon was sent off 5-4 favourite in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.
Seyaady hit the front for Franny Norton inside the final furlong and appeared to be doing just enough to hold off Magic Mark on his outside.
Ventura Dragon was seen to be making ground on the far rail but he had hit a high of 390-1 in the Betfair in-running market, looking like he had far too much to do.
As all three horses flashed across the line together, Seyaady looked to have held on.
However, Ventura Dragon got the verdict by a nose, and the total figure of £85,952 matched at 1.01 on Seyaady in-running and in the photo finish took a spot in Betfair’s top 10 of the most expensive losers for those who trade at the minimum price.