PADDOCK PICKS
Andrew Ayres with his latest selecton of eye-catchers
ASCOT February 20 (soft)
2m3f110y handicap hurdle (Class 2) CRACKING CONTEST
ARRIVEDERCI (Jonjo O’Neill) looked ready to rumble but got out-paced before plugging on to finish third. This fella’s dam won over 3m2f and he’s nailed-on to improve when connections bite the bullet and move up in trip. Long term, this is a smart staying chaser in the making.
2m7f110y handicap hurdle (Class 3) COMPETITIVE RACE RUN AT A DECENT CLIP
FAWSLEY SPIRIT (Ben Pauling) is granite tough and ran a nailer to finish second after attempting to make all. You will not find a braver horse than this hard-nut and he should be even more effective over fences.
NEWBURY February 21 (good-soft)
2m110y novice hurdle (Class 3)
RACE THAT WILL PRODUCE WINNERS
DEFINING BATTLE (Dan Skelton) hadn’t been sighted since winning on the Flat in July 2019. He was given an unusually quiet ride by Harry Skelton before running on strongly to finish fourth and is nailed on to improve for the run. Pace is this lad’s strong point, and he should nick a race or two this spring.
2m handicap hurdle (Class 1) HOTTEST HANDICAP HURDLE RUN THIS SEASON
FIFTY BALL (Gary Moore) looked in tip-top form and was unlucky to bump into the fast-improving Soaring Glory. He travels like a high-class horse, is open to further improvement and will bag a big pot soon.
KEMPTON February 24 (standard to slow)
6f handicap (Class 5)
MESSY RACE
ALBUM (Stuart Williams) was heavily backed (5-2 to 11-8) and looked a shade unlucky after meeting more traffic trouble than a cabby in Piccadilly. He is in cracking shape at present and will gain compensation.
LINGFIELD February 25 (standard)
5f three-year-old handicap (Class 6)
MESSY RACE
SWOOPER (Robert Cowell) attracted plenty of support but lost all chance by counting to five as the stalls opened. He was still detached at halfway but flew home to finish fourth and must rate an unlucky loser. He is relatively low-mileage for a handicap sprinter and worth following in this grade.
1m novice (Class 5)
RACE THAT LACKED DEPTH BRINGSTY (David Simcock) is a half-brother to the useful all-weather performer Star Archer. He was nibbled at in the betting and shaped with bags of promise to chase home the odds-on jolly Glentaneous. A step-up in trip will help and he is certain to win a race or two.
FONTWELL February 28 (good-soft, soft in places)
2m1f110y national hunt flat (Class 5) IMPRESSIVE WINNER
BRAVE KINGDOM (Harry Whittington) is built like a bull and bolted-up after making-all. He’s not really bred for this game – dam was a 5f winner – but looks the part and will be interesting over hurdles next season.
KEMPTON March 3 (standard to slow)
1m three-year-old novice (Class 5) RACE THAT WILL PRODUCE WINNERS
VELVET AND STEEL (Ralph Beckett) hails from a smart family (dam was Group 1 placed) and shaped with any amount of promise to chase the race-sharp Laos home. He is blessed with natural pace and will be hard to beat next time.
VICTORIOUS NIGHT (Richard Hannon) attracted support at fancy prices (22-1 to 14s) but had a mountain to climb after missing the break. He did well to finish third after that sluggish exit and will improve significantly for the outing. This fella has scope and will win races.
LINGFIELD March 6 (standard)
1m handicap (Class 5) RUN-OF-THE-MILL EVENT
NICK VEDDER (Robyn Brisland) looks in tremendous shape for a horse who has been busy and would have won this granted a clear passage. He’s got a cracking record at Southwell and will be hard to beat in a similar race back there.
NEWBURY March 6 (good)
2m4f handicap chase (Class 2) VALUABLE AND COMPETITIVE CONTEST
KILLER CLOWN (Emma Lavelle) was a stand-out in the prelims and travelled well throughout. He was slightly tapped for toe turning for home before staying on strongly to nick second spot. It’s hard to fault this slick jumper and he has a bright future in top-class handicaps.
2m110y handicap hurdle (Class 3)
ORDINARY RACE FOR THE GRADE HIGHWAY ONE O TWO (Chris Gordon) is a handsome individual and bounced back to form under an aggressive ride to finish second. He’s well treated on his best efforts, handles any ground and should be placed to advantage this spring.
LINGFIELD March 10 (standard)
6f three-year-old handicap (Class 3)
CRACKING CONTEST DILIGENT HARRY (Clive Cox) looks a proper sprinter and was only beaten by inexperience here. Still, the colt ran a blinder to go down in a photo-finish after fluffing the start and could be a live contender for the three-year-old sprint on AW Finals Day.
SANDOWN March 12 (good: good-soft in places)
1m7f110y novice handicap chase (Class 3)
IMPRESSIVE WINNER GREY DIAMOND (Sam Thomas) was heavily backed (7-1 to 3s) and turned this into a procession after jumping to the front turning for home. Connections are looking at a trip to Aintree or Perth next and, if he continues to progress, this gelding could take
high rank next term.
2m4f handicap hurdle (Class 3) RUN-OF-THE-MILL EVENT
ADICCI (Jonjo O’Neill) looked in tremendous shape and did nothing wrong behind the well treated Bard Of Brittany. He is a strong traveller, enjoys bullying inferior opposition and will surely be found a suitable opening soon.
SANDOWN March 13 (soft)
2m4f novice handicap hurdle (Class 1) RED-HOT CONTEST
GLADIATEUR ALLEN (Jane Williams) is a handsome individual and set a new personal best to finish third in this crackerjack contest. He’s still a touch raw but travels like a good horse and should develop into a smart novice chaser next winter.
SAM BARTON (Emma Lavelle) oozes class and ran a blinder to finish fourth after being held-up in rear. His yard specialises in staying chasers and it’s not difficult to envisage this lad making a real splash over fences. Follow him closely.
2m4f novice handicap chase (Class 1) RACE THAT FELL APART IN THE HOME STRAIGHT
UP THE STRAIGHT (Richard Rowe) is a strapping individual and looked all over the winner until he emptied halfway up the run-in. Jumping is this gelding’s strong suit and he is more than capable of picking up a decent prize this spring. Long-term, he would be interesting over the big fences at Aintree.
3m handicap chase (Class 3)
MODEST RACE FOR THE TRACK DEBECE (Dan Skelton) was making his debut for the Skelton yard after a wind operation. He attracted strong support and would have collected under a slightly less aggressive ride. This was a missed opportunity – he looked cherry ripe in the prelims – but the gelding is well handicapped on his best form and will be hard to beat next time.