The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Distance makes up for drying ground for Winged Crusader
While the drying ground may be against him, the longer distance is very much in his favour. NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES
Nigel Twiston-Davies is looking for a big run from WINGED CRUSADER in the feature race at Perth today.
The Gloucestershire raider, ridden by Jamie Bargary, faces nine rivals in the £20,000 Deeside Timberframe Highland National Handicap Chase.
Twiston-Davies, who landed the 3m 6f event 12 months ago with Bally Braes, said: “While the drying ground may be against him, the longer distance is very much in his favour, and that should help overcome the negative factor.”
Among those ranged in opposition to Winged Crusader are six Scottish horses including Nakadam, who impressed recently at Kelso for Ayrshire trainer Mike Smith.
UN NOBLE can claim the McCarthy & Stone Chase at Perth.
He looked a fine prospect for Nicky Richards in winning at Southwell and Ayr, but a trip to Naas in February yielded little joy as the six-year-old was never going and pulled up.
Un Noble bounced back with victory at Newcastle earlier this month and, even with a 5lb rise, still looks reasonably treated off 128.
MIDTERM’s planned Newbury run was scuppered by the weather last week, but that cancellation could prove to be a fortunate twist of fate as the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown looks an ideal opportunity for an early Group Three win.
This son of Galileo has quite a tall reputation as the first foal of multiple Group One winner Midday and he created a favourable impression when winning on his only start in a Newbury maiden last term.
That might not have been the strongest contest but he overcame his inexperience to run out a cosy winner for Sir Michael Stoute, who knows a Classic calibre horse when he sees one.
DUTCH CONNECTION can make a perfect start to the season by turning around previous form with Toormore to land the bet365 Mile.
One of three Group Two events on the opening card of a two-day fixture at the Esher venue, this mile heat has attracted a fine field with Toormore one of two previous Group One winners in the line-up along with Belardo.
While Dutch Connection has yet to score at the highest level, Charlie Hills’ four-year-old is second only to Belardo in terms of ratings, having enjoyed an excellent campaign last year.
Beaten in the 2,000 Guineas, he bounced back to land the seven-furlong Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot before going on to show he is just as effective over a mile when second in the Prix Jean Prat.
Dropping back to seven did not really seem to play to Dutch Connection’s strengths when beaten by Toormore in the Lennox at Goodwood, while a subsequent trip to America ended with a fifth place at Keeneland.
He was staying on at the death that day, suggesting a mile is the minimum requirement and, while soft ground would not be ideal, the weather is set fair in the interim and could well turn out a bit quicker on the day.
WESTERN HYMN took the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes last year and John Gosden’s charge can double up in the Group Three event.
The five-year-old beat Postponed by three-quarters of a length last year and, given that rival’s subsequent exploits, it was a very good performance indeed.
Western Hymn went on to claim a fine third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot but has been off the track since finishing a well-beaten third behind stablemate Golden Horn in the Eclipse at this track last July.
Clearly there was no shame in that effort and, while it is not ideal that he has been out of action since then, Western Hymn has proved more than capable first time back before. SELECTIONS PERTH: 2.00 Mardale, 2.30 Monbeg River, 3.05 Naburn, 3.40 Un Noble, 4.15 Harry The Viking, 4.45 Seldom Inn, 5.15 Glingerside.
SANDOWN: 1.20 Von Blucher, 1.50 Western Hymn, 2.20 Midterm, 2.55 DUTCH CONNECTION (NAP), 3.30 Riflescope, 4.05 Atone, 4.35 High Hopes, 5.05 Gambit.
DOUBLE: Dutch Connection and UN NOBLE.