WAD’ A FINE PROSPECT FOR WALKER
TERWADA (3.15) looks a huge price to be the Cup king at Newbury this afternoon.
Ed Walker’s (pictured) four-year-old was smart last year but his progress stalled on fast ground on his nal two runs.
Conditions will be more forgiving in the OLBG Spring Cup, and the last time he ran on this sort of terrain he beat The Gatekeeper, who is useful, a shade cosily at Newmarket.
He looks very well treated off a mark of 94 on that effort.
The in-form trainer originally had two entries for this big handicap and the other, Hafeet Alain, won at Newmarket on Tuesday, so a big run will be expected.
HAMISH
(1.30) has proven almost impossible to beat in Group Three company and can see off the classy Arrest in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.
Appeal
He’s going for a fth win on the bounce at this level and his 7-2 price makes more appeal than the favourite’s short odds.
Italian import FOLGARIA (2.05), an intriguing contender under Hollie Doyle in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, can extend his ve-race unbeaten streak while ZOUM ZOUM (2.40) is hard to go against in Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes.
The jumps card at Ayr should go a long way towards deciding the trainers’ title, and Willie Mullins is fancied to draw first blood with UNCLE PHIL (1.15) in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase.
This lightly-raced novice had tons in hand when making all on his handicap debut last time out and holds a Grade One entry.
Tricky
The CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase is tricky but DEEPER BLUE (1.50) wouldn’t be winning out of turn.
He chased home a subsequent Grade Two winner in January before going down to a well-treated rival with the pair ten lengths clear.
The step up to three miles that day clearly suited and rst-time cheekpieces could squeeze more out of him.
L’eau du Sud looks the right favourite in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle, but 25-1 shot CRACKING RHAPSODY (2.25) is hard to ignore.
The progressive youngster is on a hat-trick after running away with the Morebattle Hurdle.
Mullins runs three in the Jordan Electrics Mares’ Handicap Hurdle but his title rival Dan Skelton is fancied to come out on top with COCO MADEMOISELLE (3.00).
She was impressive last time and makes her handicap debut off a nice mark.