Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I’m diving into last week’s notebook for future winners.
It was a strong Friday on the betting front – Dark Kestrel (7/1) at Newcastle’s “Friday Night Live”, two seconds, and an 8/1 winner Dividend at Meydan. A proper solid start.
Saturday was quieter. White Noise finished second at Warwick, and with the same staking as Friday, the bank took no real damage.
Sunday made the difference. Navan raced, and it paid off. Three bets, two winners — Oscar’s Brother (6/4) and Westandtogether (9/1), advised to subscribers at 25/1 that morning. The big prices have been thin on the ground lately, so landing a 20/1+ winner felt especially sweet.
Victor’s Notebook
We lost Exeter to waterlogging on Friday, but Navan passed inspection and delivered a strong Sunday card, headlined by the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle and the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase.
Navan (Sunday)
Improving mare Zanoosh completed a hat-trick in the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares’ Novice Hurdle (2m4f). Her heavy-ground form now reads 3111, and she remains open to further progress when stepped up to three miles.
Gordon Elliott dominated the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle with a 1–2–3. Staffordshire Knot, well suited by testing ground, returned to winning ways with a battling success.
Better Days Ahead, back over hurdles on his belated seasonal return, shaped well in second and looks likely to head back chasing next.
Last year’s winner Maxxum made a bold front-running bid but emptied late after being headed at the last.
I rarely go back in on horses at 6/4 but I made an exception with Oscar’s Brother in the Ten Up Novice Chase. He looked an odds-on shot beforehand and proved it on the track. Sent straight to the front, he jumped soundly, dictated the pace, and was never in danger.
Now unbeaten in three starts over fences, he deserves his chance in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. Best-priced 14/1 with William Hill looks too big. I’d have him around 8/1 for the race. The Grand National could also be on the radar. He holds an Aintree entry and needs just one more chase run to qualify. At 33/1 with Hills, he’s of interest.
Future Winners
It wasn’t the strongest week for eyecatchers, but a few stood out.
Better Days Ahead caught the eye at Navan on Sunday. A return to fences looks likely, and he remains well capable of winning a decent handicap when he does.
The Wallpark will have gone into plenty of notebooks after his six-length second to Oscar’s Brother in the Ten Up Novice Chase. The step up to 3m for the first time over fences clearly suited the 8yo, and he was staying on strongly at the finish.
His jumping was better than we’ve seen previously over the larger obstacles, though there’s still scope for improvement. His best hurdles form came on better ground, and he looks the type whose jumping will sharpen up again when conditions are more favourable.
Unsurprisingly, he was cut for the Cheltenham Festival handicap chases after this effort. I suspect the National Hunt Chase which he is now the 6/1 favourite is the most likely target. It’s a race which trainer Gordon Elliott has a good record in 4 winners from 18 runners (+27), 7 places since 2011.
From Newcastle’s Friday all-weather card:
Fahrenheit Seven (Robert Cowell) returned from a 139-day break to land the Class 3 sprint handicap (5f). The drop back in trip didn’t faze him, and this was only his second start for the yard. A previous 6f winner at Hamilton, there should be more to come when he’s stepped back up in trip.
Maximising (Kevin Philippart De Foy) shaped better than the bare result when fourth to Benacre in a Class 4 handicap (7f). He raced keenly and would have preferred a stronger gallop. This was just his sixth career start, and he looks the type to progress when stepped up to a mile. There’s another all-weather race in him.
From Warwick:
A Path To Ronda (Jamie Snowden) did her best work late in the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (2m3f). A stronger gallop would have suited better and if the race had been run as it should have been at Sandown, she might well have got up to win. A step up beyond 2m4f should unlock further improvement. She’s one for the tracker and, like runner-up White Noise, is bred to do better over fences in time.
Tuesday Pointers
Ayr
Scottish Borders based trainer Donald Whillans saddles three last time out course winners in – So Many Roads (1:35), Shoeshine Boy (3:35) and Cowboy Cooper (4:05).
Both So Many Roads career wins have come at Ayr and he’s 2 winners from 4 runners, 3 places over C&D.
Four of Shoeshine Boy’s 7 career wins have come at Ayr and he’s 4 wins from 7 runs (+24) over C&D.
Finally, two of Cowboy Cooper’s three career wins have come at Ayr and he’s 2 wins from 4 runs (+14.5) over C&D after his win here last month.
All three are up in the weights from last time and vulnerable off their revised marks but I wouldn’t be surprised if they all ran well and won of them won.
Tomorrow’s column will focus on Saturday’ s William Hill sponsored Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John