HUGHES DARES WINS
Bri can bring the mud and thunder on Bents Hollow
Bents Hollow (1.50) can get punters off to a super start at Musselburgh.
It’s Sunday fun in East Lothian with a six-race card.
Field sizes are not great again, which is a shame given the rain in the past 48 hours has put a bit of moisture into the track.
That’s instead of the he concrete roads that t have brought a raft of non- runners south of the border in the past fortnight.
Finding value and big prices is not easy with so few w runners but Bents nts Hollow can put someme cash in the pocket early doors in the mares novice hurdle.
The six-year-old was a simple winner at long odds- on at the
um Minim ce and distan turns zippy ideal looks
track earlier this season. While beaten at Catterick then over two miles three furlongs at Carlisle this month, that was just too far last time up that hill in Cumbria. Back to the minimum distance around these zippy turns looks ideal withw the fearsome ccombiom na t i o n o f DoDonald McCain and BrBrian Hughes.
The final race hhas to be a golden oopportunity for CABOY CA (4.30). Now 11, Lucinda Russell’s charcharge is an honest grafter who often runs wellll whilehil stillst finding one or two too quick. Two-and-a-half mi les around Musselburgh leaves Caboy susceptible to a speedier sort but it’s a poor race and he may just get away with it.
Stephen Mulqueen knows the veteran well and this can be the day for the Arlary raider to profit.
The inabi l ity to water at Newbury has led to firm being in the going conditions, which has kept many away.
Finding horses who cope with sound underfoot conditions is key and TINTINTIN (3.0) has done well on good ground twice.
The four-year-old has been first and second in two starts with Fergal O’Brien’s team in top nick so suggests a win at a short price.
No stables are going better than the Chris Gordon crop.
The handler was jubilant at Newbury eight days ago when Aucunrisque landed the Betfair Hurdle and DIAMOND EGG (2.30) has a solid chance in the maiden hurdle. Owned by Henrietta Knight, she would have taken it as a personal insult this one fell at the second last time.
With a clean rump of jumping, the Diamond should sparkle.
Punchestown stages in Ireland with HARMONYA MAKER (2.40) strong in the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott’s charge needs to fight off the Willie Mullins squad with Eabha Grace and Hauturiere both dangerous.
But Harmonya Maker looks to be improving and should deliver under Jordan Gainford.
Elliott is mob-handed in the Grand National Trial, which DEATH DUTY (2.10) won off 138 last year. The 12-year-old is here again off the same mark with brilliant claimer Michael O’Sullivan taking five pounds off.