‘How about a couple of tips from Hereford on Wednesday?’, I hear you ask. Coming right up…
SAINT SEGAL was a horse I followed closely in his juvenile season. He clearly possesses a lot of ability, but inconsistency is his Achilles heel.
I will admit, I thought the decision by Jane Williams to send the five-year-old chasing after two bitterly disappointing efforts in handicap hurdles earlier this term was a desperate one, but maybe it was all part of the plan after his snug success in a novices’ handicap chase at Chepstow in mid-November.
That was a good performance from the son of Saint Des Saints, earning a 7lb rise in the handicap. I don’t think that should limit him, though, as he’s entitled to improve for that experience and I think this fella is a significantly better chaser than he ever was a hurdler.
At 13/8, I think he’s a good bet in the novices’ chase at 2.30.
Half an hour later we have a mares’ maiden hurdle over an extended 2m5f, and to me this looks a weak, exploitable contest.
If you’d told me before the season that Harry Fry’s FAIRY GEM was beaten out of sight on her first two attempts over flights and lining up in a race like this, I’d have been surprised.
She hasn’t even nearly lived up to the promise of her bumper form, but given the drastic step up in trip, soft ground and weak field, I think she deserves one last chance – especially given her trainer is in pretty good nick right now.
There’s been plenty of early money for Presenting Doyen, so she has to be a danger, but I’d imagine connections of Fairy Gem will be very, very disappointed indeed if their mare can’t at least go close in this.
She’s 2/1 at time of publication, which is very fair.
