A dead-heat for Sandy Lane (2-1) on Thursday extended our winning run to four following Move In Time (9-1), Gabrial (4-1) and Garswood (5-2). It can’t possibly last can it? We are already on Global Village at 11-1 for the Newbury Spring Cup and he looks sure to give us a good run for our money.
Having looked at the final declarations for the Newbury race, I cannot understand why Justonefortheroad is freely available at 20-1 and as high as 26-1 on Betfair. He also ran a cracker in the Lincoln but did not quite have the finishing kick displayed by Levitate and Global Village. With such a large field, the draw is bound to come into play. Global Village is in stall 7 whilst Justonefortheroad is in 23. I think a bit of each-way support on the Fahey horse makes sense.
A fascinating card also includes Guineas trials and the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (better known as the John Porter). Sir Henry Cecil could hardly have had a better week and there will be plenty of support for Noble Mission on his seasonal debut. He faces some useful opponents including Guarantee, well beaten in the Leger last time, and Model Pupil. The latter has got the assistance of Ryan Moore and is being spoken of as a possible Cup horse this season.
The classic fillies on show include Rosdhu Queen and Maureen. The seventh furlong is unknown territory for both and these trials don’t always go to plan. I’m happy to sit this one out and the colts trial looks like a match between Olympic Glory and Moohajim. Richard Hannon’s colt will go off favourite after stable companion Toronado ran away with the Craven this week but I have a lot of respect for Moohajim. He looked likely to win at Newmarket last time but was just denied by the battling Reckless Abandon. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him enter the Guineas picture here.
The going has played havoc with running plans for the Scottish National at Ayr with my ante-post selections taken out after heavy rain this week. The going is currently officially soft and I can report a warm drying day up in Scotland today (Make a note of it, there aren’t that many!). After 50-1 and 66-1 winners in the Irish and English Nationals, it would not surprise me one bit if there is another upset tomorrow.
Of more interest from a punting point of view is the reappearance of Grumeti in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He was right up there with the best as a juvenile but has been kept off the track this season. Alan King would not run him here if he didn’t feel that he was fit enough to do himself justice and I think the 5-1 with William Hill looks good value.
Justonefortheroad 26-1 Betfair
Grumeti 5-1 William Hill
