Jumps racing continues to suffer at the hands of the freezing weather with Ascot and Uttoxeter wiped out on Friday and a blank weekend in prospect.
All-weather racing continues to hold the fort, with Southwell, Dundalk and Kempton providing Friday’s action.
Our fancies across the three cards include an unexposed stayer for trainer Roger Teal headed for Southwell and a marathon journey.
Selections
- Southwell 15.45 – Blazeon Five @ 11/10
- Kempton 17.15 – Haku @ 7/4
- Dundalk 17.30 – Scarlet Dancer @ 5/1
Tip 1
Kevin Stott continues to be the all-weather’s trailblazing rider this winter and he’s got an excellent opportunity on board BLAZEON FIVE (11/10) for the Roger Teal team in this marathon at Southwell over 2m2½f this afternoon.
The daughter of Indian Haven has made just nine career starts and was winless in the first seven of those before being stepped up to two-miles at Kempton in September on what was just a second all-weather start.
She won that contest in good style, beating a dozen rivals, and was back at the same C&D in late October to make it 2-2.
She comfortably got the better of next-time-out winners in second and third that evening and a 5lb ratings-rise will hardly ground her ambitions over this longer trip, assuming she relishes it.
Tip 2
It’s hard not to be enthused watching the fledgling steps of Billy Loughnane in his riding career for trainer and No.1 supporter, dad Mark.
The youngster had his first winner at Wolverhampton last Saturday evening on City Escape and has added a couple more on Starfighter at the same venue and Smith at Lingfield since.
He looked good on the latter, getting up in a tight finish to win a Hands And Heels Apprentice Handicap narrowly and can cap a superb week with a fourth winner at Kempton on HAKU (7/4).
The Dragon Pulse gelding hasn’t been with this yard long, just four starts, and has improved with each appearance. He went close in second at Southwell over this trip in November and then scored with something to spare here over C&D 12 days later under Stefano Cherchi.
The handicapper put him up 5lb for that 2¾-length win, but all that and more is offset by his talented young rider claiming 7lb in the saddle and Haku has scope to improve further after only two starts at this distance.
He’s on today’s Most Napped list via the Betfred Betfinder and can do his place justice for his father/son team.
Tip 3
A 7f Dundalk handicap in which trainer James McAuley saddles a trio of contenders, with SCARLET DANCER (5/1) preferred over stablemates and previous course winners Tai Sing Yeh and Pulse Of Shanghai.
The selection is 0-7 at this venue, but went very close when a head second over this trip in November behind the re-opposing winner Linus Larrabee – with whom he is now rated 4lb better off.
Scarlet Dancer has twice run well over shorter here since and the return to 7f plus the application of first-time cheekpieces and the booking of Wayne Lordan to ride are all positives.
