National Hunt fans can be forgiven to double-check their racecards on Sunday as Wetherby stages its first ever flat card after 123 years. The new initiative is apparently to diversify and attract new customers to the Yorkshire track and jump racing remains its staple diet.
The opening day has attracted 91 runners so no shortage of support from local trainers and also from those further afield. My two best bets on the card are travelling from down south with Barry Hills and Andrew Balding aiming to add Wetherby to their list of winning courses.
Barry Hills is well into the veteran stage and only returned to training following the tragic loss of his son. He will retire for a second time at the end of the season with the yard being transferred to Owen Burrows but he still hopes to make his mark. He can strike on Sunday with the maiden filly Wardat Dubai in the 2.35.
She ran a most encouraging race on her debut when a close fifth behind Aloft at Newmarket over a mile. She then came up against a very smart filly in Luca Cumani’s Pamona at the same track, fading in the closing stages to finish third in soft ground. She is by Mawatheeq out of an Efisio mare and should be up to winning in this grade with any normal improvement from two to three.
The feature race is the five-furlong sprint at 4.40 with Andrew Balding saddling the top weight Secret Hint. She raced five times as a three-year-old, winning at Doncaster and Newmarket. Both races were over six furlongs and she was also tried over seven at Goodwood in July. She was drawn badly that day and failed to last home but showed improved form on her next visit to the Sussex track.
She raced on her own for much of the race but was still only beaten a length and a half by the in-form Inciting Incident. She then won at Newmarket on good ground in September, holding off the persistent challenge of Remember to win by three-quarters of a length. She has only been raised 4lbs for that success and looks to have more scope than her rivals here.
If she continues to progress, Balding will be hoping to secure some black type later in the season with the daughter of Oasis Dream.
Wardat Dubai 2.35 @2-1 Bet365
Secret Hint 4.40 @5-2 Bet365
