WAD’ A FINE PROSPECT FOR WALKER
Uncle can take Mullins a step closer to glory
HAVING obliged at Fairyhouse in January, UNCLE PHIL (1.15) is going to take all the beating in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase run over two miles at Ayr racing off a ledge of 142.
Willie Mullins is sending him across the Irish Sea in his equine conquest of the western world.
Although he must carry a 3lb penalty mudlark HAMISH (1.30) is a confident selection in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free John Porter Stakes run over a mile and a half at Newbury.
William Haggas’ veteran is ridden out by his wife Maureen every day at home and boasts an amazing record of seven out of eight victories in this class.
Soft
In the CMPS Novices’ Handicap Chase run over three miles at Ayr, MONTGOMERY (1.50) can complete a fourtimer for Venetia Williams on his favoured soft ground. He is only 6lb higher than his last winning mark.
John Gosden saddled a nice three-year-old filly called Ten Dimes to score at Newcastle on Tuesday evening, which bodes well for the chances of REGAL JUBILEE (2.05) in the Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Fillies’ Stakes run over seven furlongs.
This daughter of Frankel snared a Listed affair on heavy ground at Newmarket on her last outing as a juvenile in November, where the fourth has won since.
L’EAU DU SUD (2.25) was second of 17 in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March when rated 135, so he must be on the premises racing off a perch of 138 in the Coral Scottish Champion Handicap Hurdle run over two miles at Ayr.
Dan
Skelton will be he’s a very difficult ride. At Cheltenham, he lost his head and my big worry is it’s too big a field for him, as he has to be dropped out, which is hard to do in a big-field handicap like that,” he said.
“Bialystok is a Flat-bred horse who I could see winning on the Flat in the summer.
“There’s a race in this fella; he was unlucky at the DRF, when he got brought down at the second last, and it didn’t happen for him at Cheltenham. If the ground isn’t too soft, he’ll have his chance.
“We also run Alvaniy, who is 8lb out of the handicap but desperate for the prize money in his quest to become champion trainer, so I hope he instructs his brother, Harry, to hold on to this horse until the last minute before making his winning challenge.
With 15 runners lining up, hunt down a kind bookie paying four places and back the beast at 4-1.
Heavy
Unbeaten in a trio of starts as a two-year-old ZOUM ZOUM (2.40) can pull another rabbit out of the hat in the Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes run over seven furlongs.
He accounted for Kikkuli – who scored at Newmarket on Tuesday – on heavy ground at Headquarters in November, before following up under similar conditions a fortnight later in a Listed affair at he’s a horse I think is better than his mark. While it will be difficult from 8lb out of the weights, he’s a horse that could pick up place money.”
Nicholls runs last year’s winner Rubaud off top weight and Afadil.
Stylishly
“Rubaud won this race stylishly last year off a mark of
135 on good ground and has a much harder task this time off 148,” Nicholls said.
“Afadil been running at the top of his form this spring, has a lovely light weight and has a sporting each-way chance.”
Saint-Cloud.
It’s obvious the son of Zoustar will relish the squelchy conditions this afternoon.
Willie Mullins is running three in the Jordon Electrics Mares’ Handicap Hurdle run over three miles at Ayr, but I’m backing LARCHMONT LASS (3.00) who has only 10st 4lb on her back.
Paul Nicholls’ lady was fourth of 17 off a perch of 113 in a hot handicap at Newbury last month, so she looks sure to go adjacent racing off the same rating.
Ed Walker has his horses in rare form, so back TERWADA (3.15) in the OLGB Spring Mile Handicap run over a mile at Newbury, so he must be the each-way pick at 11-1.
Surface
A winner on an easy surface at Newmarket in July, the four-year-old is drawn right under the stands side rail in stall 21 of 21.
If there was an award for the gamest mare of the season MY SILVER LINING (3.35) would get my vote.
Emma Lavelle’s lady has proud form figures of 122123 in her six runs this campaign, and on her last trip to the belts and braces she picked up the bronze medal in the Midlands Grand National 35 days ago.
With just 10st 3lb on her back in the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase, she will give us an each-way run for our readies at 16-1 with a layer offering six places.
STRIVE FOR FIVE: Hamish
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 final 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 fifth 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 five-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 first-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.