NIN BETTER THAN MIDGLEY
Trainer Paul Midgley can finally saddle Ninjago to victory when the sprinter lines up at Wolverhampton tomorrow.
The North Yorkshire handler has made little secret of the admiration he holds for the sevenyear-old gelding, who was transferred to Midgley from Richard Hannon’s yard last May.
Ninjago has occasionally threatened to live up to the positive vibes, but the hard fact remains he has gone 12 races without success for his new trainer.
The son of Mount Nelson has, however, been aggressively campaigned in good company, so perhaps this descent into class three company for the 32Red.com Handicap might do for him.
There was, after all, just reason for optimism for the future over this course and distance on his last outing in late February when he flashed home for fifth place in a better calibre of race.
Ninjago was only beaten a length and a quarter by King Robert, but there is hope that form can be reversed as the Midgley horse was blocked for room inside the final furlong and was always chasing the game from there on in.
Running off the same career-low mark of 89, he really ought to be competitive in this six-furlong affair.
Beauchamp Opal has a fighting chance of breaking her maiden tag in the mile-and-a-quarter apprentice handicap at Chelmsford.
The three-year-old filly, trained by Charlie Fellowes, has shown bits and pieces of form in seven starts, without ever ripping up too many giant oaks.
But she made a fair step in the right direction last time out at Kempton, when a fast-finishing fourth over a mile, to suggest her time is near off what remains a workable mark.
There is also a fair realistic expectation that Beauchamp Opal should come into her own over this longer trip.
Chesterfield can be followed with a shade of optimism in the extended two-milehandicaphurdle at Taunton.
Trained by Seamus Mullins, having previously been in the care of John Ferguson, the seven-yearold chestnut made an encouraging return to form at Newbury.
Back down in class and in trip, Chesterfield was a little too keen in Berkshire, and while no match for the winner, Remiluc, he still gamely stuck at it to finish second.
Mullins’ inmate was also guilty of being too head-strong at Kempton, so that is something connections will be keen to address.
Before that, though, he actually turned in quite a heartening display in the Grade Three Wessex Youth Trust Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in December, when he recovered from a fifth-flight error to stay on for eighth place.
Chesterfield has done all of his winning over this sort of trip, while he races at Taunton off just 1lb higher than at Newbury.
A race like this must surely be within striking distance for a horse like this.
Evening Hush should be backed in the fouryear-old fillies’ handicap hurdle at Warwick.
Evan Williams’ representative is a really smart horse, with a Listed success and a Grade One runner-up place at Chepstow already on the CV.
She also travelled strongly for a long way in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but wilted late on and finished 12th.
It barely goes without saying that this is much easier.