Fixed Rate to deliver a fine return
IF Charlie Mann can get Fixed Rate back to the form of his second to Cosmeapolitan at Newbury in December, he’s worth an interest at Hereford this afternoon.
You have to forgive two disappointing efforts at Wetherby and Warwick since. Perhaps the Yorkshire effort came too quickly, just 13 days after Newbury.
But the Cosmeapolitan run was exceptionally good, given that Alan King’s gelding was rated 92 on the flat and they raced at level weights in his seven-length win.
The good ground and the flat, even track at Hereford will hopefully help the twotime flat winner in France, formerly owned by Khalid Abdullah, onto an upward curve.
Coole Cody carries a penalty in the novice hurdle over an extended two miles, five furlongs but that may not stop Michael Blake’s stable star, from following up.
He was a very eye-catching 12-length winner of a maiden hurdle at Wincanton three weeks ago. But perhaps his best effort from four hurdles runs, was in defeat.
He was just three lengths behind Neon Wolf at Exeter on New Year’s Day and he went on to be beaten just a head by Willoughby Court in the Neptune at Cheltenham.
The handicapper has relented with It’s Oscar and the result is that he goes to post on his last winning-mark of 85, in then closing twoand-a-half-mile handicap.
The Oscar gelding has won at Market Rasen and Southwell off 85 – and at Fakenham off 87 – so with Tom O’Brien up for Alistair Ralph, it’s up to the horse now.