Raymond eyes Rasen honours
RAYMOND Tusk has had his attentions switched to the winter game late in life but can make up for lost time in the Racing TV Maiden Hurdle at Market Rasen today.
Unraced at two, he is related to winning hurdlers so it is something of a surprise it has taken this long for him to see an obstacle. However, that is mainly because he was very useful on the Flat. Having made a winning debut at three, on his third start he found himself taking on Roaring Lion et al in the Eclipse and while he never threatened, he was only beaten nine lengths.
He ended that season with a Group Two win in Italy for Richard Hannon and the following year connections hoped he would progress into a Cup horse, but it never worked out following a trip to Doha in February. There is an argument for saying his last run that year was a career best, though, beaten only five lengths in the Melbourne Cup.
Last winter he was ultimately disappointing and was sold to current connections, but as soon as Alan
King got his hands on him, hurdling was surely always in the offing and he seems to have come back to life on the Flat, too.
Second to Ilaraab at York in May, he was also second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot before a mid-season break. He blew the cobwebs away at Goodwood recently and we can assume his schooling has gone well given King is one of the best dual-purpose trainers around.
Nicky Henderson’s Casablanca Mix can turn the tables on last year’s winner Chilli Filli in the Bud Booth Mares’ Chase. Separated by just a length 12 months ago when the Henderson runner carried a penalty, this time around the boot is on the other foot meaning Casablanca Mix is 8lb better off.
Admittedly, she has shown little in two runs since, but everything looks in her favour this time.
Donald McCain and Brian Hughes are in irresistible form at present and look set for more success at Sedgefield where A Different Kind can get the day off to a perfect start. Second in an Irish point-to-point, he has won two bumpers already this season and rather than continue down that route with penalties, McCain has made the switch.
He looks to have Charles Byrnes’ Kendancer to beat, who has made the trip from Ireland.
Tim Easterby’s Cilluirid looks well treated in the Cavellos Italian Steakhouse Gin & Cocktail Bar Handicap Chase. A course and distance winner last week, the handicapper put him up 11lb but he gets to run here with just a 7lb penalty.
Data Protection is another useful Flat horse making his hurdling debut at Taunton and should he take to it, his class will stand him in good stead.
Trained by William Muir and Chris
Grassick, the six-year-old was rated in the low 90s as recently as this summer and begins his new discipline in the Jonathan Quinn Lockdown Quizzes Thank You Maiden Hurdle.
He never ran further than 10 furlongs in 46 outings on the level so there could be a stamina doubt, but the fast ground will assist.
Gin O’Clock looks sure to win races based on his debut at York and should take a great deal of beating in the EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at Chelmsford.
Second at York first time out to the promising Luna Dorado, the third that day - Mark Johnston’s Trojan Horse - came out and won at Redcar next time to frank the form.
That was over a mile but this drop down to seven furlongs should not hold any fears.
Johnston’s Dutch Decoy has always run like a mile would suit and he tries it for just the second time in the Racing Welfare Supporting Racing’s Workforce Handicap.
■ Funky Dady will bid to record an elusive Irish-trained success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday. Eight months on from the raiding party’s dominance of the Festival, Denis Hogan’s Funky
Dady could become the first Irishtrained winner of this weekend’s feature since the Tranquil Sea struck gold for Edward O’Grady in 2009.
Fourth in the Munster National at Limerick on his latest appearance, the six-year-old is an outsider at 50-1 - but Hogan believes his charge could outrun his odds.
“It’s a big ask, but the horse doesn’t know how to run a bad race in fairness,” said the trainer. “He gets in off a light weight. I suppose he’ll need to jump a bit better to be involved there won’t be any room for error round there. He’s very well in himself and has had a good freshen up since the Munster National. I’m looking forward to it - I think he’ll be running on well up the hill.”
Hogan is also set to be represented in Sunday’s Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, with Bua Boy an interesting contender after finishing second in similarly competitive handicaps at Galway and Listowel.
While 7lb claimer Shane Mulcahy is set to keep the ride on Funky Dady, Hogan himself will be on board Bua Boy as he bids for his first Cheltenham winner.
He added: “I’ll ride him myself, I’m really looking forward to it.”