REVIEWING THE UK & IRELAND THIS WEEKEND: It would be great for racing if Victoria could pull this one off today at Fakenham, especially with Cheltenham right around the corner. A brilliant way to attract a non-racing audience to our sport. Pacha Du Polder is in a different league to the rest of the field, but it’s racing so you never know what could happen!
COUPLE OF CHOICES FROM LINGFIELD
I’m spending the afternoon in the At The Races studio. We’ll be covering Lingfield and Slovak is my pick of the card there.
He got a very easy lead when winning round here last week but it likely to improve from that as he hadn’t run for a while and now he has fitness on his side. I don’t think the 3lb rise will be enough to stop him.
Tomorrow at Lingfield I think we should give Franklin D another chance. I actually think drawn 1 didn’t work in his favor Lingfield last time. He’s top weight in a 0-95 which means he’ll be stepping up in class next time if he bags this one but he is a lovely horse and just need things to fall right.
MY PICK FROM DUNDALK TONIGHT
Tonight at Dundalk we have another Fast track qualifier. It’s another small field but a competitive one and Turbine is the pick for me he’s bound to have wintered well and no doubt would be fancied by the team, Dundalk isn’t just down the road for them!
GRAND NATIONAL TRIAL
I’m going to be sticking with Mountainous in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, he’s at his best when the ground is heavy and it looks like that’s what he’s got again.
REVIEWING THE ASCOT CHASE
The Ascot Chase is the other big race on the day and it’s probably not the strongest renewal of a Grade 1 that we’ll see this year. Silviniaco Conti has a lot to prove now that the’s getting on in years and it would be nice to see him winning, but there needs be a little more spark from him to win this, dropping back in trip. The same can be said about Dynaste so it probably leaves a space for a possible improver.
This is probably as good an opportunity that Phillip Hobbs can find for Royal Regatta. While he’s a little way off on the ratings, he’s got age on his side and course form where he beat Mala Beach by 11 lengths. He then went on to finish second in the Thyestes in Ireland so that form is pretty good so I think, at the prices, Royal Regatta could be the one to follow.
MY WEEK AHEAD
I’m off the Val Thorens on Monday morning. Im a confident skier so to step out side my comfort zone I decided to Snowboard which, I am useless at. I’ve had two lessons so far, I have fallen more then I have off a horse in my whole lifetime which as you all know, is alot!! Wish me luck!
