Yesterday
the 4.10 at Catterick went to Emma Beag at 12/1. 3-1 Fav Bitasweetsymphony set a harsh pace and burst a blood vessel before weakening late on. The selection The Black Squirrel may have needed the run. Struggling throughout the final circuit he was pulled up before the last.
Today's Race
2:45 Wetherby
2m Sixt Car Hire Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-110)
Today's Contenders
En Couleur is a Mick Easterby trained 4yo. Only three races over hurdles so far and ran well on handicap debut at Doncaster last time. Good money for him early but slightly peculiar that he's been sent hurdling so early in his career.
Flamboyant Joyaux returns to hurdles from a good effort over fences last time. He's won over 2 miles at Wetherby before. Just 1lb higher here today. Stable a little out of form.
Llantara. Capable mare formerly with Tom Symonds. Ran well on return from wind surgery last time. 10 years old now, looks stoutly handicapped and trainer form has been better.
The Herds Garden. Very capable on a going day as when comfortably winning at Catterick last time. Excused the poor NH Flat run in a strange race. Abbie McCain well worth the 5lbs allowance but interesting still that Brian Hughes (who won on him at Catterick) rides Foxey here.
Foxey. Good form in the book but still without a win in seven starts. Wind surgery twice surrounding his last outing so he may still have some upside. 8/1 is being offered overnight on Betfair. The bookies are cautious; James Ewart stable has a good strike rate and Brian Hughes is a good jockey booking.
Ex S'Elance. Came good in a class 5 conditional jockeys handicap hurdle last time but had a 10lbs claimer on board there and is up 5lbs here. Drop in trip not ideal and, while stable is currently going well, looks likely to struggle.
Dubai Days is probably up against it off a 9lbs higher handicap mark today than when successful at Newcastle.
Smiths Cross. Pretty smart efforts early on over hurdles in novice company. His handicap mark got pretty high. May be up to running well off a mark of 112. By Westerner, he's nine years old and has no issue with soft ground. First time blinkers interesting. He does have a bit of ability and is a possible.
Cilluirid drops back to 2 miles and that could suit since Tim Easterby's 7yo has led but failed to stay home in his last two outings. Has only won an amateurs jockey race in nine starts over hurdles and little real market interest so far.
Western Rambler. Interesting profile. Unplaced in ten runs for Eoin Doyle in Ireland before scoring at Hexham on first of two starts for Keith Dalgleish (well backed). Swift move to new yard (0/21 for all runners). Market best watched but form-wise doesn't offer much to support fairly high handicap mark.
Drumochter. 7yo mare, formerly showed some promise on the flat but presumably beset by injury. Hasn't been out for a year now and handicapper sets a difficult task for Drumochter's first handicap hurdle start.
Wishful Thinking. Another Micky Hammond runner and Joe Colliver won for the trainer yesterday. Only second run for the stable but was sent off at 100/1 last time and ran poorly. Wind surgery since. First time hood.
Panic Over. Very disappointing efforts really, beaten a long way in all his starts so far.
Cuban Sun. Did have a little ability on the Flat and initial runs over hurdles for Kelly Morgan better than what came later. Alex Fielding claims 7lbs - a useful allowance. Probably is the stable second string but looks a bit overpriced at 25/1 actually.
Today's Tip
(To Win) FOXEY (8/1 Betfair, 11/2 General)
Recent Results
22 Feb: 4.10 Carlisle The Black Squirrel PU /12 @ 12/1
20 Feb: 3.00 Ascot Malaya 8th/15 @ 11/1
19 Feb: 6.30 Dundalk (AW) Poetic Choice 6th/14 @ 25/1
18 Feb: 4.15 Sandown Jepeck REF/10 @ 18/1
17 Feb: 3.35 Hereford Oakley Hall 6th/12 @ 12/1
16 Feb: 6.40 Newcastle (AW) Chosen World 5th/10 @ 6/1
15 Feb: 3.55 Warwick Smarty Wild 5th/12 @ 7/2
Account (Level Stakes Profit)
Feb 2021 LSP: +12.8
All 2021 LSP: +12.8
