JACOBS’ Crackers
SUNDAY SERVICE LOOKING WELL is well regarded by Nicky Richards and this lightly raced chaser can land the feature Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase today.
Winner of two starts over timber and once over fences, the eight-year-old ran his best race to date when second to Ziga Boy in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster.
The nap selection then flopped at the same track a week later but that run may have come too soon and he has been given a well-earned break since.
Off a mark of 136 and with more improvement in the locker, I expect him to
The squad, joined at the last moment by players who had club commitments, arrived for the 10-match tour on Wednesday and only trained twice together before they travelled to Whangarei for yesterday’s game.
“We would have preferred to have had a week in the UK with the full squad and a week in New Zealand before the first game,” said Gatland.
“We arrived on Wednesday and we are still recovering from the travel and the guys haven’t got into regular sleep patterns.
“Perhaps the schedulers need to look at that for future tours.
“Some players are still seeing the doctor for sleeping pills to help them sleep. You have just got to recover as quickly as possible.”
The jet-lag may have been a see off top weight Volnay De Thaix and the hat-trick hopeful Upswing.
Earlier, EASY STREET should get on the board for the McManus/O’Neill/ Coleman team in the two and a half mile handicap chase at 2.45, while I have heard a whisper for ARIZONA BOUND in the closing bumper at 5.15.
At Fakenham, OVERTOUJAY looks well handicapped in the opening novices’ handicap hurdle at 2.00.
But the best bet could be in the maiden hurdle at 3.00 when the 78-rated flat charge RITASUN makes his timber-topping debut for Harry Whittington. THE WEEK AHEAD I will have a decent wager on BOROUGH BOY in the opening sprint handicap at Wolverhampton’s splendid all-weather track on Wednesday at 2.20.
The seven-year-old is on a mark of 67 and looks too good to miss.
HOT TO TROT Old boy SUEGIOO looked a winner last Saturday at Haydock but was just run out of it by Yorkidding.
However, I think we can upgrade that run as he wouldn’t have been suited by the stop-start pace and is better in a fast-run affair.
ANTE-POST With Royal Ascot on the horizon, I have started to compile my ante-post account and my most recent addition has been GEORGE WILLIAM (16-1) for the Royal Hunt Cup.
He got going too late to be a threat in the Spring Cup at Newbury but the extra furlong should suit and he can reverse that form with Fastnet Tempest.