You can count on Kelly gang and Karibana to win

KARIBANA returns from a 129-day absence for a Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today, trained by Richard Hughes and mount of stable jockey, Shane Kelly (below); it doesn’t get any better!

When all jockeys were lined up for racing brains they were among the first in the queue and this column has nominated some real ‘beauts’ which have resulted in good profit from the deadly combination.

Richard was twice champion jockey, starved himself to achieve his objective but the son of late Dessie, a great Irish-based jockey/trainer, was always destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. He’s made a real fist of this profession and, with the aid of Kelly, against whom he rode for several seasons, has landed tremendous gambles during the three seasons holding his licence.

Sharp comes to mind when discussing them, and cute; I’ll bet thrice-raced Karibana, second over six furlongs last time, is good enough to see off two previous, recent winners, Clog Maker and Ahorsecalledwanda, unchallenged winning nap for this column, earlier this month, which ends today.

February has been hugely successful, we have consistently hammered the bookies (not enough!) and intend finishing the job in March which promises so much but is not bound to deliver with imminent scare of coronavirus looming and threatening to cause massize disruption to all sporting occasions throughout the universe.

Cheltenham is 10 days away, don’t book any holiday!

It seems my timely article a few days ago has provided a wake-up call, the BHA has responded by issuing meaningless assurances; the four-day(s) ‘Festival’ can’t be guaranteed, especially now Ireland is housing a victim who travelled back home last week.

Sorry If I’m sounding like a harbinger of doom but, realistically, this situation with so many ramifications, is a knife edge which, like the desperate floods in our beleaguered country, won’t go away anytime soon.

Any opportunity to back a potential Callum Rodriguez-ridden winner is always seized upon and Dazacam comes out best-in on actual time-figures for the opening ‘aged’ handicap over five furlongs.

Callum is first division and will be in it when some high-profile trainer is looking for a stable jockey sometime this year. Monitor him closely, advice given when Rodrigeuz was a 7lbs claiming apprentice with two winners to his name.

We can spot ‘em and noted Amarillo Star being negatively ridden and so unlucky at Newcastle 10 days ago; Charlie Fellowes’ charge is one of nine in the £45000 listed Spring Cup Stakes over seven furlongs and worth backing to go one better.

Lingfield, 1.25 Dazacam (e.w); 3.10 Amarillo Star (e.w); 3.45 Karibana (e.w).