SATURDAY
NEWBURY
2.15 DUBAI DUTY FREE STAKES (GROUP 3) – 7 FURLONGS
Tiggy Wiggy was one of the smartest fillies around last season and she can carry on progressing this year.
She is rated at least 16 pounds better in the ratings than anything else in this contest and having won this race a couple of seasons ago with Maureen, Richard Hannon looks to have purposely targeted this race for the daughter of Kodiac - Richard Hughes is once again in the saddle.
Jellicle Ball has not been seen since making a winning debut at Kempton last October. This is a significant rise in grade for the John Gosden filly, but her trainer is shrewd. She remains completely unexposed and could well improve again on what we have seen so far and could well take full advantage if the selection is not fully primed for what will be her first start of the year. The likes of Russian Punch and Shagah have been found out in much lesser company and are readily overlooked. Tiggy Wiggy has the best form in the book - she can enjoy another profitable season this year.
3.10 BE WISER INSURANCE SPRING CUP – 1 MILE
Buckstay put up his usual brave performance when finishing second in an ultra-competitive Spring Mile at Doncaster.
The form of that race has already received a boost as the third placed Yourartisonfire has come out and franked the form subsequently. He will have a fitness edge on few of his rivals here and is reunited with Jim Crowley, who has gone close on him a few times in the past. He has been placed on both of his previous attempts at this track and he has to be high on any shortlist.
Gabrial was a convincing winner of the Lincoln - it was run in a slightly faster time than the Spring Mile. He comes here in peak fitness and should be fully capable of making his presence known in this line up. His trainer Richard Fahey has won this race twice in recent years and with the yard in red hot form he has to rate as a massive danger. Jack’s Revenge will strip a lot fitter having made his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last time. He was doing all of his best work in the closing stages. Buckstay has always threatened to win one of these big sprint handicaps.
AYR
3.45 CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE – 4 MILES 110 YDS
Carli King returned from a two month break to record a facile success at Warwick last time out. He managed to obtain an early lead and once in front he never looked like stopping.
He has won on good ground in the past and he clearly gets on well with Adam Pogson, who has partnered him to victory in two out his three previous rides. Despite being a nine year old Carli King has only had 14 career starts and he has managed to finish in the frame in nine of those occasions. Despite this being a massive rise in class, most of his rivals have endured long hard seasons and he may well be able to capitalise off his featherweight here.
Catching On was still travelling well until falling halfway through his most recent outing in the Midlands Grand National. He was backed off the boards on that occasion and had looked extremely progressive having won back to back races at Exeter and Huntingdon prior to that effort. Jonjo O’Neill is likely to have re-schooled him over fences and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him produce an error free round this time. Lie Forrit may be 11 years old now, but he has clearly been in the form of his life since joining the Lucinda Russell team. He is an out and out stayer and this popular veteran has won twice at this track in the past and he is another that can make the frame. Carli King can make the most of the weight difference that he receives from the majority of his rivals and he appeals at decent each way odds.
Selections:
Saturday Newbury 2.15 Tiggy Wiggy
Saturday Newbury 3.10 Buckstay
Saturday Ayr 3.45 Carli King
