Get in The Queue for a quality tip
GET IN THE QUEUE appears to be hand-chosen to help send veteran jockey Noel Fehily into retirement on a winner at Newbury.
Harry Fry’s unbeaten five-year-old was closing on Cheltenham Festival favouritism last week until a late change of heart from connections instead directed him towards Saturday’s valuable Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper instead.
It was a slightly curious set of circumstances which saw Get In The Queue surprisingly swerve the Weatherbys Champion Bumper after his owners Paul and Clare Rooney had settled qualms about having runners at Cheltenham.
Whatever the thinking, though, his consequent availability this weekend presents an obvious chance for the much-admired and well-liked Fehily to go out on an appropriate high.
This early-closing race is always targeted by the top yards, and there are sure to be some very worthy opponents for Get In the Queue.
Nonetheless, the impression he made in back-to-back wins at Uttoxeter in December and then foggy Exeter in February sets an obvious high standard.
This week’s decisive Wetherby success for Sheshoon Sonny, no match for the penalised Get In The Queue when 16 lengths adrift in second at Exeter, merely underlines the point.
Earlier on Newbury’s card, Groveman can make the trip south from Middleham pay off at a decent price in the Be Wiser Insurance Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Jedd O’Keeffe’s grey needs further over jumps than he has so far been granted - and although he has still managed a victory and two seconds in three attempts, he is therefore favourably treated for this handicap debut.
Drying ground, Newbury’s long straight and the move up to two miles and three furlongs will be right up his street if he can stay in touch early.
Millarville is another who may outrun her odds in the EBF & TBA Mares’ “National Hunt’’ Novices’ Hurdle Series Final.
Oliver Sher wood’s six-year-old was no match at Fontwell last time for the highly-regarded The Cull Bank. But that mare has since won with ease again, and former successful pointer Millar ville can be expected to improve for this step up in trip.
Gala Ball has so far been incapable of running a bad race at this track, and is back for more in the Doom Bar Handicap Chase. Everything points to another bold show.
Up at Kelso, Dalila Du Seuil can enhance her reputation in the opening EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase.
Fry’s long-distance traveller has run just twice in Britain since arriving for a tidy sum from France. She won at her first attempt for Fry and JP McManus and, despite since falling early when odds on at Warwick, she was considered for a Graded race in Ireland at the start of the week.