Friday, April 06, 2012

Easter Saturday jumpers

A busy time ahead with the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday followed by Aintree's version the following Saturday...

Haydock hosts the main jumps card tomorrow; five go in the opener. Course and distance winner Charminster will be popular and the percentage call but Alan King must surely feel Lidar has never quite lived up to expectations - the fences have had a tendency to get in the way on occasions. If the gelding is allowed to take his chance, connections will be hoping first-time cheekpieces can bring out some improvement. I've been scalded before with this one and, although he's closely matched with Charminster on ratings, on balance I don't feel inclined to give him another chance.

The 2.25 looks difficult but fancied horses French Ties and Tiger O'Toole both come with questions marks around their jumping.

Brian Ellison saddles seven of the twenty runners in the 2.55 with Hada Men representing the handler's best chance if the market is to be believed - the past three favourites have all obliged. I'll take an each-way interest in John Ferguson's Monarch's Way.

Persian Snow (4.05) would be worth an each-way wager at around the 10/1 mark.

In the long distance chase at 4.40 Dom D'Orgeval bids to repeat last year's win and ran a fair trial over a distance shorter than ideal the last time at Newbury. However, at the age of 12, the chances are one or two will be too quick, especially if the ground remains good. Wide Receiver (registered owners - Girls Allowed) is guaranteed to stay but had a hard race last time while top-weight Drumbaloo and Emperor Concerto wouldn't be certain to see out the trip. Outsider Seize isn't totally disregarded but I'm focusing on Bradley, Jaunty Journey and Graduation Night - Graduation Night gets the vote with this small yard having recorded two winners in the past fortnight.

In the RP Weekender Alan King had a big word for Hindon Road (3.05 Newton Abbot) but the gelding will be priced accordingly. The same trainer saddles Oh Crick in the SIS Handicap Chase 35 minutes later, a two mile Class 2 event with over £20,000 added. Only eight in the field but they're likely to go lickety-split on the fast ground at this tight track - I'll watch from the sidelines.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Not the time to desert Lidar as Alan King's charge made all to win at 7/2...

Hada Men (4/1f) looked the handicap snip and so it proved; Monarch's Way (12/1) was held up but failed to get competitive, finishing ninth.

Persian Snow (10/1) didn't hurdle fluently, finishing a well-beaten seventh while Bradley (11/4f) took the long distance chase with Graduation Night (7/1) putting in an enigmatic performance, running in snatches to eventually come home fifth.