O’Gara goes for glory at Newcastle
JOSEPH O’BRIEN brings Bachelor back over from Ireland for the 32Red.com Handicap at Newcastle and the hint should be taken.
A winner at Kempton last time out, O’Brien obviously feels it is worth the effort again, but he finds himself in a tight little race. The ratings band is 0-80, yet four of the five runners are rated within 4lb of each other.
Owned by former Irish rugby star Ronan O’Gara, Bachelor had threatened to show his ability on more than one occasion, but he needed gelding to coax it out of him.
The Kempton run was his first since the operation and given he won a little cosily in the end, there should be more to come.
Karl Burke’s Lumi made a very nice debut recently and gets the vote in what could turn out to be a decent 32Redsport.com Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
There are some well-bred fillies from some of the biggest Newmarket yards in opposition, but the Canford Cliffs youngster showed she will be winning races when third at Gosforth Park at the end of last month.
She was beaten just over a length by Good Boy Alfie and had a previous winner behind her.
Given nominal improvement and knowing how Burke’s team come on for their first run, she should be bang there.
David Simcock seems happy to pot hunt with Dragon Mall but he should not be beaten in the Play Jackpot Games At sunbets.co.uk/Vegas Novice Stakes at Lingfield after a recent confidence boost.
On the same card Ed Dunlop’s King Kevin is an interesting runner in the Betway Live Casino Handicap.
Not out of the first two in his last four outings, last time out he was doing his best work at the finish when second at Chelmsford over 10 furlongs.
Up to a mile and a half here, it looks like the extra distance can offset the 3lb rise.
Melangerie can take a steep hike in class in her stride by winning the Weatherbys General Stud Book Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.
Nicky Henderson has employed a patient approach so far with this sixyear-old, allowing her to build her confidence with a couple of novice hurdle wins at Ludlow after she surprisingly fell short on her first two outings over obstacles.
Melangerie was particularly impressive under a penalty last time, looking really good value for the official winning margin of three and a half lengths.
She is clearly progressing now she has got the hang of things and this Grade Two looks just the right kind of target for her, with testing conditions holding few fears.