22/11/14

****KEEP WATCHING - MORE TO COME IN THE MORNING****

Barry Gerraghty
Vasco De Ronceray
12.10 Haydock
On the face of it this one hasn’t yet reached the heights that were once predicted for him but this is a very good option.

A race that looked tricky at the five-day stage has broken up to be very winnable and Vasco has the right profile.

He missed a year then came back in April, had two outings that month then one in June but seemed to be struggling with two and a half miles.

The break plus a drop back of half a mile should be the right way to get him back on track.
★★★★☆

Harry Fry
Fletchers Flyer
12.25 Ascot
The plan is for Fletchers Flyer to run at Ascot on Saturday in the opening race on the card, the two-mile-six novice hurdle. He's come out of the Ffos Las race in good form and the winner that day, Shantou Bob, has gone and won since and upheld the form so hopefully we can do the same. Going right-handed will probably just help him slightly and the step-up in trip should suit him as well. It was a solid start at Ffos Las but we want to build on that and hopefully he can run well on Saturday.
★★★★☆

Aiden Coleman
Parish Business
12.25 Ascot
If you put a gun to my head for my best chance, then I would plump for Emma Lavelle’s Parish Business in the opening (Mitie Events & Leisure) novices’ hurdle.
I rode him on his penultimate start when we won at Chepstow and then he built on that with a very impressive win at Aintree.
It will be interesting to see if Hunt Ball can translate his chase form to hurdles – that’s a big if - but if he can, then he might be a danger, as could Fletchers Flyer.
I do think mine will take some beating though.
★★★★☆

Aiden Coleman
Astigos
1 00 Ascot
Astigos, who runs in the (Bam Construct UK) novices’ limited handicap, is a solid enough horse and ran quite well at Carlisle earlier this month. He is reasonably consistent but usually finds one or two too good for him as his record of only one career win to date proves.
★★★☆☆

Barry Geraghty
Dawalan
1.15 Haydock
He couldn’t get myself and Sign Of A Victory off the bridle at Ascot earlier this month but that was no surprise and I doubt that there is anything in this field that’s on such and upward curve as that one.

The third was beaten over three lengths so it was no surprise that Dawalan got a lift of 2lb but that shouldn’t be enough to stop him, especially as he’s now moving up half a mile which should bring him even further into the game.
★★★★★

Aiden Coleman
Woodland Walk
1 30 Ascot
Emma’s Woodland Walk ran well when third at Wincanton a fortnight ago and is a very consistent sort; she’s only finished out of the places three times in her 10 starts.

She always puts in a performance and should be in the mix, but there is a worry that she could be vulnerable to a speedy type in the (Trisoft) Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
★★★☆☆

Aiden Coleman
Fox Appeal
2 05 Ascot
Fox Appeal, my third ride for Emma, lines up for the big race of the day, the Amlin 1965 Chase.

He’s a horse I’ve always really liked and has shown he’s in great heart with his two runs this season. He finished fourth on his reappearance at Market Rasen and then dead-heated in a graduation chase at Kempton. He looked all set for a comfortable win that day but idled a little before showing good spirit to force his way back up.

He’s a very talented horse and has always been highly regarded but as you’d expect for a race like this, it is a very classy renewal and you’d have to be fearful of Al Ferof and Wishfull Thinking.

I am particularly wary of the latter, given the white-hot form of Philip Hobbs’ horses.
★★☆☆☆

Alan King

Araldur

2:25 Haydock

The old boy had a few issues last season and did not run after November, but, despite that long absence, he seems in very good form and he won't mind the soft ground.

★★★☆☆

Malcolm Jefferson

Oscar Rock

2:25 Haydock

Oscar Rock makes his seasonal reappearance in the Fixed Brush hurdle at Haydock. The weights went up which was a shame but he is in good form at home and has schooled well. our only concern would be very testing ground over three miles. Last time he tried it at Haydock he never travelled and was beaten a long way but we had to take him to the physio after which told us he was sore at the time. It is as usual a competitive race but hopefully he is a well handicapped horse

★★☆☆☆

Barry Gerraghty
Taquin Du Seuil
3 00 Haydock
He took the Grade 1 JLT Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles at Cheltenham in March when Oscar Whisky and I came down at the first and I got a good view of him when we crossed swords at other stages of the season.
He was clearly very smart and his Cheltenham form has been given a lift this season by the horse he beat that day, Uxizandre.
Taquin Du Seuil hasn’t exactly fired in his two starts so far this season and has ground to make up on Menorah while he’s 13lb behind Cue Card on official figures and another two off Silviniaco Conti. But this is a second-season chaser - and a very good one.
With those two runs under his belt he could well be up to making an impact over a track that he’s won over and a trip that should help him.
★★★☆☆

Alan King

Medermit

3:00 Haydock

Obviously the formbook suggests we cannot beat Menorah, Taquin de Seuil and Silviniaco Conti, all of whom finished in front of Medermit in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, but we were only half a length behind the runner-up which was very satisfying, especially as our fellow would have preferred the full three miles! The race looks to have sharpened him up, and he deserves his chance.

★★★☆☆

Simon Dow

Clear Praise

3:10 Lingfield

Clear Praise is likely to take his chance on Saturday at Lingfield in the 15.10 Unibet Handicap, over 5f. This seven year old gelding is a eight time winner for Clear Height and still obtains all of his old enthusiasm in his work. He has been slightly out of form in recent months but did show and improved performance last time out at Wolverhampton. He broke well and was soon settled towards the rear of the field, on the rail by Seb Sanders. He was still travelling very strongly three out and was asked to quicken two from home. He got very short of room when turning in to the straight which put pay to his chances and he stayed on well enough when clearly beaten. He has come out of that race in good form and is training nicely. We are hoping that with a bit more luck he can run a good race.

★★★☆☆

Aiden Coleman
Brick Red
3 15 Ascot
Brick Red was highly-tried last season, including when second in the Kingmaker at Warwick and seventh in the Arkle at the Festival. He ran well at Ascot on his final start of the season but I am probably more hopeful than confident ahead of lining up for the (Country Living) Handicap Chase.
★☆☆☆☆

Alan King

Midnight Appeal

3:35 Haydock

Another who will enjoy the soft is Midnight Appeal, who runs up there in the staying handicap chase. He ran well at Ascot three weeks ago and was dropped another 2lb, so, hopefully, he'll be competitive

★★★☆☆

Julia Feilden

Honeymoon Express

5:45 Wolverhampton

Honeymoon Express goes to Wolverhampton. She too is unproven on the all-weather but her season has been a bit stop-start due to the weather so she is still pretty fresh for a go through the winter.

★★★☆☆