Thirteen have been declared for Saturday's Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton due off at 2.05.
Paul Nicholls has won the showpiece at his local track on seven occasions, three times in the last ten years. Tomorrow he saddles The Ould Lad and Benvolio with the former likely to start favourite, tipped up by Paul Kealy in the Weekender as a potential 'handicap blot'. I don't share that view; his chance is respected but there isn't much value in the price.
The handicapper doesn't appear to have done Drop Out Joe too many favours by raising him ten pounds for a win at Chepstow last month. The Rebecca Curtis trained Doing Fine was beaten under five lengths in that race and now re-opposes on eight pounds better terms.
Two declared for Tom George - Forgotten Gold and A Good Skin. The market suggests the former is the principal fancy on the back of an easy course win thirteen days ago but the jockey booking suggests the latter is the one to be on. I'm confused.
Wilton Milan wouldn't be certain to see out this trip so I'll take an each-way interest in Colin Tizzard's Theatrical Star. Fifth in a Cheltenham handicap chase a fortnight ago, he was only beaten four and a quarter lengths - further rain won't compromise his chance. At the time of writing he's 9/1 with several layers.
Last year Polly Peachum did me a good turn in the mares' hurdle at 2.40; this year I'm hoping Henry Daly's Tara Mist can repeat the trick but I'm more hopeful than confident.
Eleven are declared with the bottom two racing from out of the handicap.
Tara Mist held a five day entry for last week's listed mares' hurdle at Wetherby. Daly ran Bantham there; this race looks better suited.
A key piece of form is the listed mares' novices' finale at Newbury last March; in receipt of two pounds Kalane beat the selection some seven and three quarter lengths on that occasion but this time Daly's charge receives nine pounds.
Most of the market leaders are making their seasonal debuts - any hint of ring-rustiness is likely to be exposed by race-fit Kayf Willow who beat Lady Of Longstone with something in hand at Newton Abbot last month.
I received a tip for Tara Mist in a Ludlow hostelry some two weeks ago. Henry Daly's mare is the selection; she is currently priced at 5/1 with both Paddy Power and Stan James.
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No fireworks, I'm afraid, just a damp squib at Wincanton...
There were no prisoners taken in the Badger Ales. Theatrical Star (8/1) set off with leader Alfie Spinner on the first circuit but he had started to feel the pinch by the time the eventual second Royal Palladium (20/1) took up the running on the second circuit. Coming up the home straight the only viable challenger to Venetia Williams' free-running outsider was Drop Out Joe (11/1); Aidan Coleman bided his time to pick off the leader after the last and win half a length with A Good Skin twelve lengths third and selection Theatrical Star tailed off in eighth.
The soft ground saw Kayf Willow declared a non-runner in the mares' hurdle. Kayane, 2/1 favourite, blundered and unseated Aidan Coleman at the fourth but they finished well strung out behind Lily Waugh (10/1) who scooted clear two from home to win in something of a common canter. Lady of Longstone was thirteen lengths adrift in second while selection Tara Mist (3/1) couldn't keep tabs on the leaders, staying on for a modest third a further ten lengths behind.
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