Whatmore do you need?
A MID-SEASON break will have reinvigorated WHATMORE (NAP) after a couple of disappointing runs.
He looked a promising novice hurdler in the early part of the season and was unfortunate to have his winning run ended at Haydock when undone by a muddling pace.
Both runs after that have been a shade underwhelming but perhaps the big occasion at Cheltenham and Ascot could have got the better of him as he is a highly strung individual.
Henry Daly has freshened him up since and has booked champion jockey Richard Johnson to take the ride which must be a sign of confidence. Despite the burden of a double penalty I think he can make his presence felt in a race of this nature.
Later on the card, Robin Dickin can notch up another Warwick success with GALACTIC POWER.
At the age of eight he seems to keep improving especially now connections have found out how best to ride him and which trip is his optimum.
This intermediate distance seems to suit him down to the ground providing he is ridden to sleep at the back of the pack.
Granted a good pace to run at here I would hope he could go in again here as the form of his last win is working out well.
The opening race at Wincanton looks an intriguing encounter and I fancy DARCY WARD to come out on top.
Jack Barber’s horse ran out a cosy winner of a good race at Taunton last time out and he has kept him fresh since which could pay dividends.
Barber has enjoyed a decent first season under rules and this horse could turn out to be one of his stable stars next season so with that in mind I quite rate his chances here.
The Hunter chase at Wincanton could turn out to be a duel between Unioniste and CARRAIG MOR and both were classy horses at their peak.
My preference is for the latter as he didn’t quite realise his full potential while under the care of Alan King as he endured a luckless run of injuries. Now switched to hunter chasing he could well make up for lost time as he doesn’t have a great deal of miles on the clock.
In receipt of 8lbs from his main rival I fancy him to take a bit of beating.