Loup can hunt foes down for Welsh wizard
Loup De Maulde (4.50) looks like yet another Christian Williams special at Plumpton.
The Welsh trainer is having a terrific season capped by his magnificent one-two in yesterday’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
He is rightly best known for his staying chasers having had the first two home but he can also get the younger ones ready over hurdles.
His Stringtoyourbow bolted up off bottom weight at Ayr on Friday and he’s got another one at the foot of the ratings for this race in the shape of the five-year-old.
Loup De Maulde travelled nicely into the race last time out and just failed to get up when finishing second at Taunton.
The extra three furlongs today looks sure to suit and Williams can get on the board with the talented Jack Tudor in the plate.
Another one who seems destined to appreciate an increase in race distance at Plumpton is
(3.40). Chris Gordon does well at this venue and his seven-year-old ran an absolute stormer to charge into fourth place in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
That was a major performance in hot company and Lord Baddesley manages to get in here off the same mark.
The step up to 2m 4f looks ideal for Gordon’s yoke and he has to go close with a repeat.
Many will feel that he will provide the second winner of the day for Gordon because Hiway One O Three is fancied in the second event.
However, HIT THE ROCKS (2.30) was a pretty unlucky loser
LORD BADDESLEY
last time out and can gain recompense here.
Like Gordon, Gary Moore is mustard at Plumpton and the seven-year-old did well to get as close to Alan King’s Sword Beach when second last time out having been badly hampered at a key stage.
Moore has moved
Hit The Rocks up to the intermediate distance and that can pay dividends in this small-field affair.
There are seven races at Hereford and the best bet might come in the last with TWINJETS (4.30).
Trainer Milton Harris is having a magnificent season and this gelding was a scorer on debut.
Olly Murphy’s Bobby Socks seems to set the standard but Twinjets showed enough in victory to suggest he can repeat the feat.
I WILL FOLLOW
HER (3.55) does not immediately hit you as winning material in the contest beforehand.
However, Mel Rowley is a sharp placer of her horses and the eight-year-old has bits and pieces of form which are interesting going into this race.
There’s Jumping at Fairyhouse and the sight of Paul Townend on BERKSHIRE ROYAL (3.30) from three Willie Mullins runners gets the vote going in that direction.
The champion trainer also runs Bronn and Arctic Warrior but Berkshire Royal can prove the best of the talented trio.
There’s Flat action at Cork and TWILIGHT SPINNER (3.12) can win the Listed event.
Joseph O’Brien has made an excellent start to the campaign and the four-year-old looks a nice price.