After Willie Mullins trains the winners of the first four races on Thursday's card, here are two selections for Ladies' Day...
On New Year's Day I bet Lounge Lizard in a race at Cheltenham - watching his jumping there was no cure for anyone's hangover and certainly no way to celebrate the new year.
However five weeks ago he bounced back to form to win on good to soft ground at Huntingdon.
The Topham (4.05) has been the long-term target; he missed last year's renewal after he banged himself and went lame 24 hours before the race.
Trainer Henry Daly said his charge jumped well and enjoyed himself over these fences in the 2023 Becher (prominent, weakened from two out) but he never got home in soft ground.
The step back to two miles five and drying conditions here are positives; he's quirky but, if he's in the mood, I think he can be competitive.
Lounge Lizard is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 20/1 with bet365 and 18/1 with William Hill, both paying six places.
The concluding conditional jockeys' and amateur riders' handicap hurdle (5.15) looks monstrous but two have piqued interest.
Afadil appears well handicapped, having finished third in this last year off a mark of 130 and racing off 124 tomorrow.
Last time out he looked a tad unfortunate to be mugged close home by Go Dante in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, losing second spot to Wreckless Eric in the shadow of the post. Connections fit cheekpieces for the first time to help the cause.
Handicap debutants include Celtic Dino, Diamonds For Luck, Jack Hyde and Grimaud; Dylan Johnson prefers Celtic Dino ahead of top weight Lump Sum.
Fiercely Proud brings strong handicap form to the table, having finished sixth in the Greatwood, and then winning the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas. Ben Pauling's charge was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat when pulled up in the William Hill Hurdle (formerly the Betfair Hurdle) at Newbury in February.
Moon Chime has been well backed during the day and is now 10/1 generally, 12/1 with Ladbrokes.
After beating Balhambar nine lengths at Stratford last month, joint trainer Graeme McPherson said they were pleased to see Moon Chime back to the horse they thought they had following recent wind surgery.
The handicapper raised him 11 pounds for that effort; connections hinted that the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock might be next on the agenda after this.
He needs a good quick two miles and I'd imagine that's what he'll get here; Nick Slatter had been pencilled in to ride but I see Mr Tommie M O'Brien, claiming three, is in the saddle.
I had an each-way interest in Alnilam in the Morebattle at Kelso last time, when I also happened to learn the horse is named after the central star in Orion's belt, located between Mintaka and Alnitak.
Anyway, Olly Murphy's star looked the winner turning for home but was collared by Cracking Rhapsody on the climb to the line (Old Gregorian noted with a career best in third, Slugger fourth and Cormier sixth).
This flat track and drying ground will suit and Beau Morgan's five pounds allowance means he's effectively competing off a mark two pounds lower.
Having missed the fancy prices about Moon Chime, I'll take an each-way interest in Alnilam, 14/1 generally with most layers paying five places.
7 comments:
The system likes Alnilam, career high 136 rating but conditions should suit, yard in fine fettle and jockey claim a plus. If he drifts to 14’s I might step in, though 16’s to 20’s would be a nice bet.
Horse, System Rating, Tissue
Afadil [FR], 162, 17/2
Alnilam [FR], 161, 10/1
Old Gregorian [GB], 160, 12/1
Manuelito [GB], 159, 12/1
Celtic Dino [FR], 158, 14/1
Jack Hyde [IRE], 158, 14/1
Slugger [GB], 157, 18/1
Country Park [IRE], 157, 20/1
Luttrell Lad [IRE], 156, 25/1
Diamonds For Luck [IRE], 153, 25/1
Fiercely Proud [IRE], 154, 28/1
Hamsiyann [IRE], 153, 28/1
Moon Chime [GB], 152, 28/1
She's A Saint [IRE], 153, 28/1
Tapley [GB], 154, 33/1
Washington [GB], 153, 33/1
Dominic's Fault [GB], 152, 33/1
Grimaud [FR], 150, 50/1
Cormier [IRE], 151, 50/1
Kings Hill [IRE], 146, 100/1
In the Topham I gone a bit left field, there’s no guarantee Soul Icon will relish these fences but if he does take to them he’s capable of wining of a mark of 145, 50/1 6 places was too tempting.
Horse, System Rating, Tissue
Bad [FR], 173, 14/1
Soul Icon [GB], 174, 14/1
Blue Lord [FR], 173, 14/1
Excello [FR], 173, 16/1
Grandeur d'Ame [FR], 172, 18/1
Escaria Ten [FR], 172, 20/1
Marble Sands [FR], 171, 20/1
Ga Law [FR], 171, 20/1
Fantastic Lady [FR], 171, 25/1
Lounge Lizard [GB], 170, 25/1
Mars Harper [GB], 168, 28/1
Jetoile [IRE], 168, 33/1
Eldorado Allen [FR], 168, 33/1
Gemirande [FR], 167, 50/1
French Dynamite [FR], 167, 50/1
Ginny's Destiny [IRE], 165, 50/1
Western Zephyr [IRE], 166, 50/1
Shantreusse [IRE], 164, 50/1
James Du Berlais [FR], 160, 50/1
Latenightpass [GB], 161, 66/1
Dreal Deal [IRE], 164, 66/1
The King Of Prs [IRE], 162, 66/1
Minella Drama [IRE], 164, 66/1
Gentleman De Mee [FR], 162, 66/1
Lisnamult Lad [IRE], 162, 66/1
Amirite [IRE], 160, 66/1
Ash Tree Meadow [FR], 159, 66/1
The Goffer [IRE], 159, 100/1
Glengouly [FR], 146, 100/1
Adamantly Chosen [IRE], 155, 200/1
Good luck!
TW
Old Gregorian, third in the Morebattle, has been backed in the finale, TW. 16/1 (18/1 with bet365); think he was 33s last night.
Yes OG has been well supported [as low as 14’s] and ranks well on my system. Alnilam appealed that bit more because, as you noted, with Beau Morgan’s claim he is on a 2lb lower mark today where as OG is on a 2lb higher mark as his jockey also claimed 7lb in the Morebattle. Time will tell!
I’ve also taken a punt on Steel Ally, big weight but unexposed at this trip, made the favourite work in, on paper, a decent G2 LTO, back in a handicap Dylan can claim his 3lbs, 16’s 6 places looked to hold some value.
Horse, System Rating, Tissue
Steel Ally [FR], 162, 10/1
Hansard [IRE], 162, 10/1
Wreckless Eric [GB], 162, 11/1
Tintintin [FR], 161, 12/1
Wellington Arch [GB], 159, 16/1
Helnwein [IRE], 159, 16/1
Impose Toi [FR], 155, 18/1
Be Aware [FR], 156, 20/1
Blenkinsop [GB], 157, 20/1
Favour And Fortune [IRE], 157, 25/1
Off The Jury [IRE], 156, 25/1
Beacon Edge [IRE], 155, 25/1
Wade Out [IRE], 152, 25/1
Gin Coco [FR], 155, 33/1
Listentoyourheart [IRE], 152, 33/1
Tune In A Box [IRE], 153, 50/1
Ike Sport [FR], 153, 50/1
Serious Operator [IRE], 152, 50/1
Minella Missile [IRE], 151, 66/1
Kopeck De Mee [FR], 142, 66/1
Western Walk [IRE], 147, 66/1
TW
Good luck!
Having missed the fancy prices about Moon Chime, I'll take an each-way interest in Alnilam, 14/1 generally with most layers paying five places.
Decent effort by Alnilam, possibly set it up for the closers?
TW
Always think it's a long way from the last hurdle to the line at Aintree, TW. I see Old Gregorian (finished fourteenth) was subsequently disqualified after Conner McCann failed to weigh in.
In rear Gentleman De Mee (14/1) wasn't foot perfect at his fences in the Topham but at the business end he went by Lisamult Lad (22/1) on the run-in to win by threequarters of a length, with The Goffer (14/1) third and Amirite (18/1) fourth. Selection Lounge Lizard (20/1) found it all happening a bit too quick and was towards the rear of midfield for much of the race; he finished sixteenth, beaten the best part of 30 lengths.
Alnilam (15/2) led in the finale but looked something of a sitting duck from three out. He was passed at the penultimate flight where Slugger (12/1) looked all over the winner but Harry Derham's charge found nothing for pressure and finished second behind the only mare in the race She's A Saint (25/1), with Celtic Dino (9/4f) third, Jack Hyde (11/1) fourth and the selection a remote fifth.
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