Espoir can be ace in the pack at Carlisle
ESPOIR De Romay appears to hold all the aces in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle.
Plenty of attention in the two-and-a-half-mile heat will be focused on fencing newcomer Ahoy Senor and the Colin Tizzardtrained Fiddlerontheroof, but Kim Bailey’s charge comes out on top in the ratings and showed more than enough ability last season to take a race like this.
The seven-year-old made a perfect start to his chasing career with victory at Huntingdon last November and was then unfortunate to bump into Royal Pagaille on his next start.
Conceding 5lb to that rival, he was beaten seven lengths which was a fine effort in hindsight, given the winner went on to win the Peter Marsh in style before ending his season with a decent sixth place in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Unsurprisingly he was a short price next time out, dishing out a cosy beating to The Bay Birch at Leicester in March before Bailey upped his sights to Grade One level at Aintree.
Espoir De Romay set out to make all that day in the Mildmay and was still in front with a handy advantage over eventual winner Chantry House when coming down at the penultimate fence.
Obviously it is hard to say with any certainty whether he would have won had he stood up, but the handicapper thought the performance was worth a 5lb rise nevertheless and his mark of 160 puts him in the top ranks in his second season.
Dropping back in distance from three miles at Aintree looks sure to suit and Espoir De Romay is primed to underline his potential.
Dreams Of Home boasts a perfect record in his three runs under rules and will be a popular choice in the Gordon Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase for Donald McCain.
The five-year-old was an Irish point to point winner in October last year and made rapid strides after moving to Britain, bagging three novice hurdles while looking as though a move to fences would further play to his strengths.
McCain has wasted no time in switching disciplines and this looks a nice starting point for the year.
Cadzand has missed a number of engagements in recent weeks due to the ground, but he will finally be in action in Huntingdon’s MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Chase.
The six-year-old ended last term on a mark of 138 after winning three of his five hurdles outings, with his most disappointing effort coming when well beaten in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
He did sign off with a victory in a moderate Southwell heat, showing plenty of heart to give 12lb and a length-and-a-quarter beating to Nickle Back, but is interesting now sent over fences with a points win on his record before joining Dan Skelton’s team.
Next Left can make a winning start under rules in the second division of the Free Replays On attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle.
Now with Gary Moore, he showed a glimpse of ability when finishing second in a point to point in Ireland back in May.