Coningsby is ready to come of age
CONINGSBY can belie all of his inexperience in the Gg Racing Podcast Handicap Chase at Exeter.
Tom Lacey’s six-year-old is the youngest contender in a 13-strong field but is also by far the most unexposed and brings with him some handy credentials.
Coningsby bears the hallmarks of a successful graduate from the stable, having begun his career with a pointto-point win on debut at Larkhill as a well-backed favourite 15 months ago.
That was a staying performance on a stiff track, and it is to Coningsby’s credit that he then went on to show promise in three heavy-ground starts over hurdles last season.
He demonstrated a quirky side too, however - as in his first two attempts over fences this campaign, in which he failed to get beyond the 10th fence, and duly acquired headgear for his trouble.
On his first completion last time out, blinkers had replaced cheekpieces - and he led until the last before giving way over an extended three miles at Carlisle.
He returns on a similarly testing, right-handed course and may prove well-treated against rivals who have no such secrets from the handicapper.
Esprit De Somoza got back on track in game fashion at Taunton last month, and is worth supporting in the Follow At ggcouk On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.
The five-year-old kept on well to hold Thistle Do Nicely by a neck, and that victory will done him a power of good after a few disappointing efforts.
Ian Williams has done well with Cracking Destiny since acquiring him from Nicky Henderson’s powerful stable.
The six-year-old has won two of his last five starts and been placed in the other three for the Midlands handler.
Successful at Leicester earlier this month, Cracking Destiny can overcome an 8lb rise by doubling up in the GG Fast Results Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Conas Taoi found Fakenham too sharp when third at the Norfolk track earlier in the month, and will be much more at home back at Carlisle.
The three-mile race was virtually over by the time the 10-year-old got going, but he plugged on to take third place behind Fifty Shades.
Conas Taoi had previously seen out the three and a quarter miles at Carlisle in great style to score by a length and a quarter from Achill Road Boy, after leading a long way from home.
Trainer Christian Williams sends him back to Cumbria for the Cotehill Handicap Chase. The move can be rewarded with another victory.
Rayvin Black has been set some stiff tasks in his time, over hurdles and fences, and takes a slight drop in class in the Dalston Handicap Chase.
Oliver Sherwood will not have taken the decision lightly to run the 10-year-old in this qualifier for the Challenger Middle Distance Chase Series Final.