WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
Nigel’s stayer can go the distance
THE lack of rain has caused many big guns to swerve their seasonal jumps debuts ahead of the wet stuff next week.
But there are still some corking races at Wetherby. Wholestone stays all day and punters have sided with Nigel Twiston-Davies’s gelding at 11-8 in the West Yorkshire Hurdle
(3.15).
But old-timer Old Guard is no slouch and could threaten. Black Corton, who did so well last season for Bryony Frost, tops the Unibet market at 7-4 in the Charlie Hall Chase (2.40) helped by the watered ground. Dan Skelton’s Virgilio, at
9-2, has a little to find on ratings but hails from a yard who have won with 11 of their last 50 runners and in a race that has cut up significantly, he looks generously priced.
In the Mares’ Hurdle (2.05), Irish Roe has been popular and the 15-8 originally available has now gone as Henry Brooke’s mount is guaranteed to handle the quicker surface.
But Oscar Rose has the benefit of fitness having won last month and she is at 9-2.
At Ascot, We ny er ready freddie is a solid 11-4 favourite for the 1.50 after a fine effort behind Lil Rockefeller at Uttoxeter last time and the form of that race has been franked.
Peppay Le Pugh has been a revelation since joining his current yard and looks great each-way value at 11-2 while Global Citizen (9-2) has been the one for cash in the Handicap Hurdle (3.00).
In Ireland, Balko Des Flos is
13-8 to win the JN Wine Chase at Down Royal (2.30) but he has never won over 3m and punters are looking to the improving Woodland Opera.
At the Breeders’ Cup, Wild Illusion, a 2-1 favourite in the Filly and Mare Turf, is one of many big European chances.
Enable is 1-2 to bag the Turf
(8.56) but the stats are against her so she’s opposable in favour of Magical at 7-1