Top tip Garbanzo looking to cash in
ALL roads lead to Crossford for today’s Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and Eglinton fixture at the Overton Farm course where a seven race card with 69 entries starts at 1pm.
It is the most valuable meeting of the season in the North with total prize-money of £4,000 on offer, including a £1,500 Mixed Open, and a bumper crowd in excess of 3500 is expected.
Garbanzo is a confident selection to come out on top in the NPPA Conditions Race.
Joanna Walton’s mount produced a career-best effort on his reappearance at Friars Haugh last month when runner-up to Ex S’Elance in course record time and the winner franked that form when striking again at Alnwick and Hexham.
The pick of the other eight entries is Watch Law, who landed a Restricted contest at Friars Haugh but is rated 10lb lower than Garbanzo.
Commis D’Office took a big step in the right direction when finishing third in Ex S’Elance’s race at Friars Haugh after being ridden positively by Nick Orpwood and looks sure to build on that in the 2m4f Conditions Race.
This track suits horses who like to be up with the pace and Torngat ticks plenty of boxes in the Restricted Race.
After finding only one too good in Maiden contests at the Border and Berwickshire meetings, Tom Greenwood’s mount went one better at Bangor-on-Dee where he
stayed on well from two out to beat Shady B by three lengths and is guaranteed to give another good account here.
The inaugural running of the Novice Riders Mixed Open can go to Fightfortheroses in the hands of Charlotte Tailford.
He posted a career-high mark over fences when beating Ballydonagh Boy in record time in the Berwickshire Ladies Open and, on paper, this looks a weaker affair. Of the others, Bintheredonethat finished five lengths fourth that day and re-opposes on the same terms, while 94-rated chaser Tokaramore has won six times under Rules but prefers a sounder surface.
Takethepunishment is the one to beat in the featured £1,500 Mixed Open.
All five wins from just eight starts in the last three years have been on left-handed tracks and the 13-yearold
looked as good as ever when landing the Berwickshire Open on his return from nine months off.
The main threat comes from Denbigh raider Thyne For Gold, while winning hurdler Kingrullah hinted that better times lie ahead when finishing a close fifth at Friars Haugh last time out.
The drop in trip will suit Fly Awhile Johnny in the 2m4f Maiden Race. Jack Teal’s charge was badly off at the weights when beaten four lengths by debutant Pragnell at Dalton Park and is open to further improvement against a maximum of 5 lower rated rivals.
Cadell carries the colours of Cheltenham Festival-winning owner Ronnie Bartlett in the concluding 3m Maiden Race and will be the most expensive purchase ever to make his debut between the flags in the North.