Aucunrisque can give Scholfield a victory tonic
NICK SCHOLFIELD has endured a torrid year, but the veteran jockey can make up for lost time in today’s Betfair Hurdle.
Scholfield rides AUCUNRISQUE (Newbury, nap, 3.35) in this afternoon’s hurdling feature, as he bids to put an annus horribilis behind him with victory in one of the season’s marquee events.
Sidelined with an ankle injury until the middle of last month, Scholfield has also managed to return from a bad leg break and various other injuries since 2020 so deserves a change of fortune.
In Aucunrisque, the Grade Onewinning rider appears to have a willing partner capable of giving trainer Chris Gordon a first Betfair Hurdle success following a couple of recent near misses.
The irrepressible Gordon has gone close in the last two renewals, with 66-1 outsider Lord Baddesley and Annual Invictus both reaching the frame, and the decision to switch his seven-yearold back to hurdles could be a shrewd move.
Both of Aucunrisque’s recent chasing starts have been career bests and his performance to finish within a length of the 150-rated Boothill at Kempton in Grade Two company over Christmas was a fine effort.
It is not wise to take that run literally, given the small field, but it suggests Gordon’s gelding is probably still improving, especially as his conqueror had chased home Arkle favourite Jonbon on his previous start.
Race tactics will be interesting this afternoon, given Gordon saddles Aucunrisque as well as Highway One O Two, both of which like to race handily and make the running.
Monviel, Rubaud and Teddy Blue also like to be ridden aggressively, so I am hoping there is no collapse of pace late on and common sense prevails.
Scholfield has been around the block enough times to know the difference between a suicidal gallop and a sensible pace and his mount will not mind if the ground is as quick as is feared, having won at Plumpton on a sound surface last spring.
It is not tough to make a case for the lightly raced Filey Bay either, given he remains well treated and operates well on good ground.
The Irish raider won with a bit in hand at Wincanton in the gloom last time out and represents a yard and an owner to be feared with his type.
The novice Master Chewwy also makes some appeal, given his trainer’s outstanding record in the race with Al dancer, Ballyandy and Splash Of Ginge all obliging in the last decade.
A mark of 124 may have underestimated a horse that would have won an Ascot novice hurdle last November in style but for tipping up at the last.
He has since been beaten by the promising and talented Attacca at Cheltenham before running a shade below par on soft ground at Plumpton, where he was beaten by a nice sort in Hansard.
This test on better ground may be more his cup of tea and he rates a major danger to the selection, given his stable’s pedigree in this afternoon’s event.