Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DOUBLE CROSS
Bailey’s battling 2019 Eider champion looks primed to down his rivals all over again
CROSSPARK is fancied to make light of top weight and repeat his win of 2019 in the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase (3.15) at Newcastle.
Caroline Bailey’s 11-year-old is without a victory in eight outings since beating Mysteree in this stamina test two years ago.
But Crosspark is due a change of luck as he’s taken the silver medal from all four starts this season, going under by one length or less on each occasion.
Sean Bowen’s mount has edged up the weights as a result of the close calls, and is 2lb higher than when a length behind the decent Seeyouatmidnight in the valuable Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Sandown in January.
But going back up to this extended four-mile, one-furlong distance is a definite plus for Crosspark as he bids to regain the elusive winning thread.
At Kempton, GA LAW gets the vote for the first of three Grade 2 events, the Close Brothers Pendil Novices’ Chase
(1.50).
Having scored over the larger obstacles at
Fontwell and Exeter, the
Jamie Snowden trainee jumped his rivals into submission to capture the Grade 2 “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton, and shoulders a 3lb penalty as a result.
Ga Law wasn’t discredited when third to Allmankind in the top-level Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, but comes back down in class. After a pleasing debut over obstacles at Ascot five weeks ago, TRITONIC is a worthy favourite for the Close Brothers Adonis Hurdle (2.25).
A smart performer on the Flat in the hands of Alan King (left), Adrian Heskin’s mount marked his hurdles bow by overhauling Casa Loupi by a length, and has more to offer.
The Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3.00) looks a good opportunity for ATHOLL STREET to defend his unbeaten record over jumps.
Paul Nicholls’ son of Jeremy scored by four lengths at Taunton in November first time over timber, and extended that supremacy to 16 lengths under a penalty at the
Somerset venue 15 days before Christmas.
Nicholls has hardly scratched beneath the surface, and the hat-trick beckons.
Five horses line up for Lingfield’s Group 3 Betway Winter Derby (2.40), in which FATHER OF JAZZ stands out.
An easy four-and-a-half-length score in a course-and-distance handicap last time took the son of Kingman’s record on the all-weather to three from three, and this step up to Pattern level holds no fears.
John Quinn’s Yorkshire raider LORD RIDDIFORD has a pound or two to find with several rivals in the Listed Betway Hever Sprint Stakes (2.05), but the six-year-old travels south at the top of his game and should not be underestimated.
4.00: EVERYHOURONTHEHOUR (Sam Ewing, 7-2) 1; Never Mistabeat (5-1) 2; Nightly Wailing (22-1) 3. 14 ran. nk ¾. (W Ross). Tote: €4.70, €1.90, €2.20, €5.20. Tote Exacta: €32.80. Csf: €21.78. Tricast: €358.16. NRS: Tucson, Kalanoura, Chaparral Dream.
4.30: TARTLETTE (J A Heffernan, 15-8f) 1; Blackstone Cliff (10-3) 2; Spelga (9-2) 3. 8 ran. 3¼ ½. (Shane Crawley). Tote: €2.90, €1.02, €1.40, €1.70. Tote Exacta: €10.10. Csf: €8.04. Tricast: €23.69. NR: Longclaw.
5.00: TYRCONNELL (S M Crosse, 9-2) 1; Bobby K (7-2jf) 2; Koybig (16-1) 3. All 13 ran. 2½ ½. (Sarah Lynam). Tote: €5.00, €1.50, €1.50, €4.40. Tote Exacta: €22.80. Csf: €19.85. Tricast: €243.75.
5.30: SWISS SWOO (W J Lee, 10-1) 1; Newpark (100-1) 2; Skilled Warrior (5-4f) 3. 14 ran. shd ¾. (Mrs Denise Foster). Tote: €11.60, €2.40, €16.30, €1.02. Tote Exacta: €950.50. Csf: €696.16. NRS: Eloso, Rosa Dartle, Kilonova.
6.00: GOLD PHOENIX (Sam Ewing, 11-1) 1; Gegenpressing (5-2) 2; San Aer (181) 3. 14 ran. ½ ½. (Kieran P Cotter). Tote: €17.50, €3.90, €1.30, €4.00. Tote Exacta: €99.10. Csf: €39.78. NRS: Calvados, Karpen, Church Mountain.
6.30: SAN ANDREAS (H J Horgan, 5-2) 1; Confide (9-1) 2; Godhead (9-2) 3. All 6 ran. 5½ ½. (Joseph Patrick O’brien). Tote: €3.10, €1.50, €2.80. Tote Exacta: €27.10. Csf: €23.02.
7.00: SISTER LOLA (Dylan Browne Mcmonagle, 11-2) 1;
(3-1f) 2; Above (16-1) 3. 14 ran. nk ½. (Edward Lynam). Tote: €6.70, €2.50, €1.80, €4.50. Tote Exacta: €29.40. Csf: €20.43. Tricast: €260.17. NRS: Iseebreeze, Jackmel, Fascinating Spirit.
7.30: TOGOVILLE (C J Mcgovern, 4-1cf) 1; Jered Maddox (13-2) 2; Oh Purple Reign (20-1) 3. All 13 ran. 1¾ ¾. (Anthony Mccann). Tote: €4.70, €1.80, €2.40, €4.60. Tote Exacta: €34.90. Csf: €29.71. Tricast: €479.54.