GAVIN CROMWELL: An exciting weekend lies ahead for Brand Ambassador Gavin Cromwell with more than ten runners taking to the track across UK & Ireland, each of whom he previews below.
Newmarket Saturday
It’s very exciting to have four runners in the Cesarewitch (3.35pm) at Newmarket on Saturday. It’s one of the most cherished handicaps on the calendar in the UK and we’re really looking forward to seeing how they get on. They all travelled over safely on Thursday and hopefully they can all run well.
Jukebox Jive hasn’t been seen on the Flat since he won the November Handicap on his debut for us last year and a repeat of that run would see him in the shake-up. Given it’s such a competitive race it’s very hard to say he’s going to win because you can run a great race and finish 10th! That being said, he’s in great form and we’re looking forward to running him.
Whirling Dervish is another who has been running over obstacles this season and actually hasn’t run on the Flat since his days with Jessica Harrington. He’s never gone this far on the Flat but we’re very confident he’ll stay and the easy ground should also be in his favour. He’s in really good heart at home and like Jukebox Jive has the ability to go well at a big price.
It’s really hard to split the pair, but I’d probably just side with Jukebox Jive because he’s got that big-field handicap experience.
That’s not to say that our other two aren’t entitled to be there. Lever Du Soleil would probably prefer a slightly sounder surface, but he’s got a very low weight and he’ll stay the trip well too.
Mutadaffeq won a similar race for us at the Curragh at the first meeting back after lockdown and the form of that win has worked out well. It’s a big pot and he should run a nice race.
Fairyhouse Saturday
Over at Fairyhouse, we’re really looking forward to running Jeremys Flame in the beginners chase (1.35pm). It will be her first start over the bigger obstacles and we’re hoping she’ll be even better over them than she was over hurdles. She finished second in the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown in January so she’s already achieved a fair amount, but we’re very excited about starting her out.
We then run Peaches And Cream in the novice chase (2.05pm). He won his beginners earlier in the season at Wexford but that means he’s wrong at the weights with a few of his rivals. He’s entitled to take his chance but he might find one or two too good.
Moonball takes her chance in the handicap hurdle (3.50pm). She took a tired fall at Listowel the last day and we’re dropping her back in trip here to two miles. She should like the ground and hopefully she can run okay.
Limerick Saturday
Our only runner at Limerick is A Place Apart in the 1m3f handicap (4.05pm). It’s likely to be his last run for us as he’s off to the Doncaster sales after this. He was a little bit disappointing over fences last time, but back on the Flat he should run a solid race.
Curragh Sunday
We run Father Ailbe in the Irish Cesarewitch (3.40pm) on Sunday. We actually didn’t think he’d get in but a few have come out and he’s creped in a the bottom. He had a run last week at Killarney and so this comes quite quick after that which probably isn’t the most ideal prep, but we’re going to let him take his chance.
Limerick Sunday
We’ve got two in the handicap hurdle at Limerick (3.00pm). Clash Of D Titans hasn’t run since December 2018 where he won at Leopardstown. He’s had a few issues since and he’s finally ready to go. Given the lengthy absence we’re not expecting too much and a solid performance would be more than acceptable.
Tokyo Getaway makes her first start of the season. She might just be one to keep an eye on as we move into the winter. She ran some nice races last year and is definitely one to keep the right side of in staying races this term.
