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12:25 Hexham
I start the day with a very obvious selection with course and distance winner ON THE WILD SIDE aiming to add to his success here earlier in the month. I must admit with the likes of Blazing Port, Sophie Fatale and Rockmann in the line up I’m shocked Dr Richard Newland’s charge is now odds on but perhaps with good reason despite having to carry more weight he looks the one to beat in Hexhams opener.
ON THE WILD SIDE
12:40 Galway
The first of three selections from Ireland comes in the first race on the card from Galway where I side with an outsider who looks massively overpriced at 16/1. DERAMORE PARK produced a solid performance to finish fifth in a sixteen runner race at Limerick and should have learnt plenty from that sole start. The trainer bagged a winner here at Galway yesterday and with the addition of jockey Sean Flanagan booked for the ride she’s too big a price to ignore.
DERAMORE PARK
15:20 Wexford
GETADAY is a speculative selection over at Wexford but despite never winning in his eleven race career to date he’s still been ultra consistent having finished in the top four on seven occasions. A major stumbling block could be the fact he’s been away from the racecourse for over a year but he did return from a lengthy absence to claim third in a similar contest last season. He should relish the ground and the trip shouldn’t be an issue. Obviously others hold stronger recent form but I’m happy to take a punt on the seven year old who could sneak into the money.
GETADAY
15:35 Galway
With perhaps the best form in the book COQOLINO demands seriously close attention as a second behind Bob Olinger on his only start under rules looks very impressive given hindsight.
Of course Lieutenant Command and Hammersmith shouldn’t be disregarded given their connections but JP McManus looks to potentially have a serious horse in his ever expanding ranks.
COQOLINO
15:42 Aintree
For my next selection we have to take a trip to Merseyside to what looks a massively competitive handicap hurdle. We have a mix of handicap stalwarts and some young unexposed types. I think the first thing you have to do is look for a horse who’s already got a run under their belt, that way we know they at least have fitness on their side. That being said I do feel if you were looking for outsiders both Mohaayed and Jolly’s Cracked It could go well despite a lack of a recent outing.
Never the less STRONG GLANCE finished a decent third in a listed event at Market Rasen on return and now drops down to handicap company. I actually feel this race is tougher than his last contest but he should also improve for that effort. The seven year old likes to come from behind and with there likely to be plenty of pace it could be laid out for Olly Murphy’s horse to pounce late on.
STRONG GLANCE
16:37 Wincanton
We have to wait until the last race on the card to take in a contest from Wincanton and I’ve certainly picked a tough one to decipher. Some major owners are represented with the likes of Pasley, Guradia Top and Kannapolis being adorned with infamous silks but my eye is caught by the fact that one of the UK’s best trainers in Oliver Sherwood sends just the one horse out today in the form of WORKING CLASS. He was way out the back when returning at Bangor last month which would be a worry but after what was a 321 day absence I’ll forgive him that run. Two wins and a second from four starts at the end of last season showed the six year old has ability and hopefully with fitness not an issue here he could go well at a decent price of 8/1.
WORKING CLASS
written by Rory Paddock