Law set to strike Gold at Doncaster
Law Of Gold should take charge in the Virgin Bet Open Hunters’ Chase at Doncaster tomorrow.
David Kemp’s stable star still has the potential and time on his side to rise to the top in this sphere.
Law Of Gold graduated through the ranks two seasons ago with four successive victories, following three verdicts in point-to-points with a command performance in the novice championship John Corbet Cup on his rules debut at Stratford’s hunter chase meeting.
He appeared to relish the near mid-summer ground that evening, and has been largely kept to a sound surface since his Irish debut on soft.
It is therefore very much in the eight-year-old’s favour that conditions are set to dry out on Town Moor, where he should have the measure of an admittedly decent field if returning at anywhere near his peak form.
Law Of Gold had jumping issues as a novice pointer, but has been assured in that department for the past two campaigns. He has won all but one of his last six, was fit enough for an easy win on his first start of the season just over a year ago and then beaten only in the highest hunter grade when he fared admirably nonetheless at the Cheltenham Festival – especially on ground softer than ideal.
His regular pilot is unable to join him here, given the ongoing halt in amateur-rider participation during pandemic restrictions, but it is no detriment that the talented Theo Gillard instead claims his 7lb.
Earlier on a good midweek card, Patroclus can uphold Nicky Henderson’s fine Doncaster record in the Virgin Bet EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle. The five-year-old broke his duck at the third attempt, in determined fashion at Exeter, having previously finished runner-up in both an Irish point-to-point and Warwick maiden hurdle.
He was a well-beaten oddson favourite at Warwick, but the winner went on to run very well in a course-and-distance Grade Two next time.
Significantly back in trip at Exeter, Patroclus rallied to justify favouritism – and although his nearest pursuer subsequently did nothing for the form, he too had previously twice shown himself to be useful, and third home Fletch won at Uttoxeter on Sunday.
This move back up in distance, at a track with a long straight but no uphill finish, looks spot on. The Virgin Bet Veterans’ Handicap Chase provides a showcase for several old favourites – among whom Beau Bay may have most in his favour.
Richard Newland’s Grand Sefton winner was in nothing like the same form at Wetherby on Boxing Day, already beaten when falling in a good edition of the Rowland Meyrick.