YOUNGBLOODS LINE UP FOR NATIONAL: Tomorrow’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr has a strong hand of junior marathon runners ready to make their name. Daqman investigates each one, how he got to the youngbloods line-up.
TODAY: Three bets from the Newbury card – each in a class 2 race.
STAR SIX-HIT IN AYR BIG RACE
PROFILE of a National winner; not just Saturday’s Scottish National winner at Ayr but a future Grand National hero at Liverpool is hidden here.
That’s my verdict on six proven stayers, aged seven bar one, who is only six.
I can’t recall such a fabulous collection of young-bloods in this; any one could win and any one could go on to further Grand National glory.
FAMOUS BRIDGE Takingrisks won this for Nicky Richards in 2019 off a mark similar to the 10st 2lb of champion Brian Hughes on Famous Bridge for the same yard on Saturday.
Famous Bridge, in the green and yellow of the late Trevor Hemmings, is a course winner bidding for a hat-trick. He’s one of five seven-year-olds.
KITTYS LIGHT Every race beyond 3m has been a revelation, including runner-up in the 2021 Sandown Gold Cup (3m 5f) and third last year.
Second in 2022 Scottish National and won the Eider Chase the last day. A dip in his form during the winter means he’s as low in the ratings as when second in the Kempton Trophy last February. Still only seven.
MALINA GIRL Grand National glory was so near and yet so far for Gavin Cromwell, as Vanillier chased home Corach Rambler at Liverpool. Proud to have had both in Fortune Cookies at one time or another.
Nothing for Fortune Cookies in the Ayr equivalent Cromwell’s Malina Girl is only six, has twice been placed in Grade 2 (mares) and took the Ulster National first time stepped up to a trip.
Only Earth Summit (1994) has won this Ayr National aged six in the last 60 years; he went on to win the Welsh National and then the Grand National at Aintree in 1998.
MONBEG GENIUS needs the showers to further soften the ground, after crowning a novice hat-trick stepped up to the Ultima at Cheltenham, third to subsequent Aintree hero, Corach Rambler. High in the weights now at age seven.
UNDERSUPERVISION Grimthorpe winner at Doncaster (3m 2f) last March, was immediately named for the Scottish National after being beaten a neck in the same race last month. The stable trained Earth Summit, the six-year-old winner in 1994; Undersupervision is seven but lightly raced.
YOUR OWN STORY Another seven-year-old, another to excel stepped up to a trip, winning at wetherby (3m 7f) and second in the Tim Molony Chase at Haydock. From the Corach Rambler stable which won this in 2021.
SENSE OF ORDER
⭕ 3.15 Newbury the first of three class 2 races at Newbury this afternoon where the going is forecast as soft.
The percentage call has to be the Charlie Appleby trained Military Order against the potential but unproven turf/ground form of Chesspiece and Exoplanet.
Military Order has some fancy entries including the Derby and followed up a Newmarket debut fourth (on good to soft) with a win back at the track in October where he narrowly landed the odds over stablemate Ancient Rules. The runner-up has yet to reappear but a couple further down the field have come out again since and won to give the form a reasonably solid look.
This is the same class 2 level for Military Honour so with normal improvement from two to three he should prove hard to beat.
All the market principals are reappearing after lengthy breaks including Chesspiece who was a debut winner at Newcastle for the Crisfords back in November. The son of Nathaniel is also well entered up and is likely to be seen to even better effect once stepped up to the Derby trip. He also needs to prove his prowess on soft ground turf.
Exoplanet won here on debut over seven furlongs but then disappointed when thrown in at the deep end on his next start at Newmarket – a Group 2 – where he finished last of the six runners. He’s another yet to face soft ground.
With Rajasthan now a non runner the only other one of interest is Arkendale who showed solid if not spectacular form in two starts last season and should be OK ground and trip wise.
NOVEL LOOKS FACT NOT FICTION
⭕ 3.50 Newbury The second class 2 of the day and the Betdaq Betting Exchange market is revolving around the James Fanshawe trained Novel Legend who arrives in good form after a win on the all-weather at Kempton over a similar trip. He hasn’t yet raced on soft but in two starts on good to soft his form reads 12.
He looks very much on the upgrade and capable of defying a hike in the handicap.
Prince Alex won five on the spin as a three-year-old but has yet to show anything like that level of form and now has his first start for Tom Dascombe. Best watched.
LORDING IT
⭕ 4.25 Newbury I prefer the chance of Lord Uhtred over likely market leader Tafreej here.
Both look progressive and are starting life in handicap company off similar marks but I just think Lord Uhtred achieved a little more last season and certainly improved on each start – finishing with quite an eye-catching victory at Kempton. His trainer Charles Hills is running at an impressive five winners from his last 13 runners.
If conditions worsen during the day then Tiriac could be there to pick up the pieces. Testing ground won’t hinder Jack Channon’s runner who scored by five lengths on heavy ground at Doncaster on his final start. I’ll include both for a WIN 15 return.
DAQMAN’S BETS
3.15 Newbury (win 10, nap)
BET 10.5pts win MILITARY ORDER
3.50 Newbury (win 10)
BET 3.2pts win NOVEL LEGEND
4.25 Newbury (both win 15)
BET 3.2pts win LORD UHTRED
BET 1.8pts win TIRIAC
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