‘Golf’ to complete a clear round in Betfair Hurdle...
GASSIN GOLF is ‘thrown-in’ for the 16-runner, £155,000, Betfair Handicap Hurdle over two miles of ‘soft, heavy in places’ Newbury today, judged on his best form! We haven’t seen that since
Gassin Golf finished a creditable fifth (of 14) to Cheltenian in the Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle Limited Handicap over a similar distance last April, after which this Montjeu gelding was spelled for six months.
Richard Lee held the license but it was switched to daughter Kerry, already a serial ‘Saturday’ trainer with an uncanny knack of landing valuable handicaps; none bigger than this prestigious race, formerly known as ‘the Schweppes’ won by Persian War in 1968.
Persian War beat Major Rose in a memorable close finish, my firstever racing article, for the Derby Telegraph; seems like yesterday!
Ten months since that ‘careerbest’ by Gassin Golf but he finished fifth on this Berkshire course 77 days ago over an extended two and a half miles! Perhaps Kerry reckoned
Gassin Golf needed further, anything is worth a try but the eight-year-old will be racing over his optimum distance off a favourable mark under Jamie Moore, also aboard last time.
Jamie, brother of champion flat-race jockey Ryan Moore, is terrific, ideal for these wonderful fiercely-competitive ‘cavalry charges!’
Our time-handicap illustrates obvious opportunities for wellbacked duo, William H Bonney and Song Light, with several others fancied but at huge odds Gassin
Golf is an enterprising each-way selection with four places on offer.
Running in tandem will be a seven-race programme on Lingfield polytrack where once-raced Berryessa is a ‘special’ for the Maiden Stakes over five furlongs, mount of David Probert. Later ‘Probe’ will be riding Red
Hot Chilly, one of six ‘decs’ for a moderate Maiden Stakes over 12 furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta; look no further for the winner and it will be immensely disappointing if Dai Burchell’s charge doesn’t finally gain those elusive winning brackets.
SELECTIONS
Newbury: 3.35 Gassin Golf (nap); Lingfield: 2.35 Berryessa; Wolverhampton: 7.15 Red Hot Chilly (e.w.).