The Journal

Teorie has the jump on his Musselburg­h rivals

-

MUSSELBURG­H serve up a Friday evening jumps feast tonight – and Teorie can take top honours in the Go North Grey Bomber Juvenile Hurdle Series Final.

Fergal O’Brien’s charge was a Flat winner for Jim Bolger last year before joining his current team and making a winning hurdles bow when hacking up in a qualifier for this contest at Catterick back in December.

He then headed to Musselburg­h for another qualifier under a penalty, although that run ended with a disappoint­ing fourth as his jumping was not so slick and he drifted across the track in the finish.

Teorie then took on older rivals at Southwell, where he secured a convincing victory, but the Fred Winter at the Festival proved a step too far and this lesser company can see him get back on track.

Sunday Soldier has been steamrolle­ring her way through mares’ and novices’ company and has a five-timer in her sights in the Go North Lady Buttons Mares’ Hurdle Series Final.

The six-year-old kicked off her winning spree over just short of two miles at Musselburg­h in December, adding another course-and-distance success in January before making a swift reappearan­ce and slight leap in trip to follow up at Sedgefield.

She was 7lb well in that day but showed her revised mark of 106 was still highly workable when winning a Doncaster qualifier for this by 10 lengths.

Sunday Soldier has a further 8lb to contend with here and a longer twoand-a-half-mile trip, but she is firmly on an upward curve and, having proven her ability to handle testing ground, another victory does not look beyond her.

Call Me Harry has a fine Musselburg­h strike rate that can be further enhanced in the Go North Brindisi Breeze Hurdle Series Final.

Winner of two of his four starts at the track, he did not sparkle on his most recent spin in February when his jumping let him down a bit, but he cannot be dismissed lightly.

Arthur’s Realm returned to form when third in Doncaster’s Spring Mile last month, and the Trustee Fire & Security Ltd Handicap at Lingfield looks another fine opportunit­y.

Ed Dunlop’s runner hit the frame on a number of occasions last year but has not actually got his head in front since April 2022.

However, there was much to like about his three-quarter-length third in a competitiv­e heat on Town Moor, particular­ly as he did not enjoy a totally clear run, and a 2lb rise might not be enough to anchor him.

 ?? ?? Fergal O’Brien
Fergal O’Brien

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom