GAVIN CROMWELL: Twelve runners this weekend across both Ireland and the UK for brand ambassador Gavin Cromwell, including White Pepper at Aintree.
Saturday Navan
Western Run is our first of the weekend and goes in the 3m½f hurdle (1.08pm) and reverts back to the smaller obstacles having been chasing for a while. He’s been placed a few times over fences and he’s in good form. He may not be well handicapped but I’m still hopeful of a good run and there could be an each-way chance for him.
Saturday Aintree
White Pepper represents us in the Listed juvenile hurdle over 2m1f (1.30pm), and she has a good chance. She was good at Galway in her maiden and with a similar performance she should be bang there.
Sunday Cork
Just Jacob kicks Sunday off for us in a three-year-old maiden hurdle over 2m (11.40am). He jumps okay at home and hopefully he’ll run a respectable race, which he is certainly capable of doing. Vera Verto is the second of our three runners in this and she’s got some nice form on the Flat and on good to soft ground. She also jumps well at home and will have an each-way chance. Finally, Halycon Spirit is jumping well at home and we’re hopeful he can show something and then take it from there.
Limerick Lace is in the 2m maiden hurdle (12.40pm) and receives the four-year-old allowance along with the mares’ allowance which is obviously a bonus. She’s in good form at home and with a clear round of jumping hopefully she can run well.
Jeremy’s Flame runs in the 2m½f Grade 2 mares novice chase (1.45pm). She keeps bumping into one and there’s a good chance she’s up against it here again. She’s in good form at home, though, and hopefully she’ll be there or thereabouts.
Rightful Mind goes in the 2m4f hurdle (3.20pm) and is probably not that well treated, but we’ll have a go and see how he gets on here.
Sunday Punchestown
We kick things off withShantou Lucky in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle (12.25pm) and he’s in good nick. He’ll appreciate the ease in the ground and ran well the last day. Hopefully he has a good each-way chance.
Clonquile Way takes his chance in the 3m1½f handicap chase (3.05pm). He has his own mind and plenty of ability, so if he’s on a going day he’ll have a chance but you never know with him. Arverne goes in the same race and has been very disappointing really. He just hasn’t jumped with any fluency which has been very frustrating. He has plenty of ability and if he can put it together, he would have a chance. Bentham is our third runner in this handicap and steps a long way up in trip, he’s the type of horse that works really well at home but has disappointed so far on the track.
