The National Hunt season is in its final stages and the clock is running down on Tony McCoy’s magnificent career. The twenty times Champion jockey produced a power-packed finish to win on Un Ace at Ascot recently and he has a chance to repeat the dose on Wednesday.
Kim Bailey’s gelding looked well beaten until Royal Regatta began to tie up in front of him. This is a very quick return to action for Un Ace but he only has three rivals. The pick of them looks to be Cloud Creeper who was very impressive last time out at Leicester on softer ground.
The feature race is the Teenage Cancer Trust Silver Trophy at 3.50. There are three course winners in the field and preference is for Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Caid Du Berlais. He can be forgiven his pulled up next time as he slithered to a halt after jumping the water. He is better judged on his big race form and the Nicholls team are ending the season in fine form.
The best bet of the day could be Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite in the opening novices’ hurdle. He won very easily at Newbury last time over a similar trip and looks one to follow. Financial Climate doesn’t know how to run a bad race and represents the Grand National winning trainer Oliver Sherwood in the 2.40.
Sean Bowen enjoyed his first Grand National ride aboard Mon Parrain for Nicholls on Saturday and he has a winning opportunity on San Benedeto in the 5.30. He was long odds-on when getting off the mark last time out and this is a lot more competitive but he seems to have got in on a lenient weight.
Bowen qualified to ride in the National with only days to spare but rode two trebles to show that he is a young rider going places. He can enhance his reputation with a Cheltenham winner here.
Races don’t come much tougher to sort out than the twenty-runner Novices’ Hurdle at 4.25. The bookmakers were going 8-1 the field on Tuesday evening and that says it all. New Horizons stuck on well last time out for Henderson and is a tentative selection while Polamco would not be out of it if you forget his poor run last time.
Might Bite 2.05 @11-8 Ladbrokes
Financial Climate 2.40 @6-1 BetVictor
Greybougg 3.15 @13-2 BetVictor
Caid Du Berlais 3.50 @6-1 Ladbrokes
New Horizons 4.25 @6-1 Ladbrokes
Un Ace 5.00 @5-4 Bet365
San Benedeto @7-4 Coral
