ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN
It has all been a bit quiet on the news front this week but with most of the racing abandoned that comes as no great surprise – the Great British weather eh? What I am very aware of is the additional all-weather cards basically added on as bookmaker fodder and something to bet on – I always remind myself that not a single runner can have been aimed at a last minute race – not one has been tuned for that afternoon or evening – and therefore any bets need to be downsized accordingly. You can tell it’s a quiet news day when everyone is talking about ante post suggestions for the Cheltenham Festival (not for me when so many targets are unknown),so I will go straight on to the racing this weekend – what’s left of it – with inspections planned left right and centre.
Saturday Racing
I am really stuck for now with the weather remaining the great unknown, so I will start with the all-weather to see what I can find – and add a risky one or two over the jumps if it looks like there might be a thaw (seems unlikely looking out of my window). The 5.30pm at Wolverhampton does look interesting with course and distance winner Roman Crown up against promising debut third Twenty Bob, who gets 7lb in what could be a closely fought contest. The fact that William Knight’s horse returns for his first start since a gelding operation and after an absence of 198 days may sway I the way of the son of Mehmas who is clearly well regarded having been sent off at the head of the market for his debut. Add in the fact that he was pretty green that day suggesting he has imrovlent to ocme, and he may be able to give the weight away, though both horses look as if they will win again in the near future.
Meanwhile, Ryan Moore in in action at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon, and he may well prove all the difference in getting Fire Demon home in front in the 12.50pm. He reappeared at Kempton over this trip in early January to win his maiden at the fourth attempt after making all over this trip to score by half a length despite hanging left and interfering with the runner up – the third was a long away adrift. If he continues to learn from experience and keeps a straighter path, he looks the one on the upgrade ahead of his handicap debut.
Amazing looked horse to keep on the right side of when stepping up in trip to win for the first time at Wolverhampton last month, and she has her first start of 2024 in the mile and a half handicap at Lingfield this afternoon with Hollie Doyle in the saddle. Although as a daughter of Siyouni you would expect her to be better over shorter, she kept well to get up late that day after being switched off out the back early doors over this trip. Upped 4lb by the handicapper, I am hoping there is even more to come from the lightly raced four-year-old, and with the Roger Varian horses running to form in recent months, she has as good a chance as any in the ultra competitive 1.25pm at Lingfield.
As I write (and these things change by the hour), Haydock look the likeliest National Hunt card to survive and if that is the case, I am happy to take a chance on the improving El Jefe in the 1.55pm. The seven-year-old has been a revelation recently, winning his last three in a row, each time held up and spotted travelling effortlessly before being unleashed to go and win, including over course and distance last month. Put up another 8lb by the handicapper, and upped another grade this afternoon he will need to take another step forward to come home in front, but I for one think that is more than just a possibility while he remains in form.
Lastly, just the one from Ascot in the hope that they get to go ahead, and I am looking forward to seeing the hurdling debut of Gary Moore’s Peking Opera in the opener at 12.40pm. Bought for 100,000 Guineas at the August sales, he was gelded shortly afterwards and starts his new career here. Obviously, we have no idea about his hurdling prowess just yet with the market likely to prove a credible guide, but his Flat form does stand out in this field. Rated 104, the son of the great Galileo was last seen finishing third to Vauban in a Group Three at Naas, with his last win at Navan in Listed company, and although he didn’t really live up to expectations for Aidan O’Brien, if Gary can sweeten him up for his new owners and get the best out of him, he could be quite a force at the winter game.
Sean’s Suggestion:
Amazing 1.25pm Lingfield
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