Well I am now fully recovered from my disgusting virus and work today was a joy as I was looking out of the window counting the minutes until the weekend starts. Temps in the mid 20’s (degrees of weather not temporary workers not yet ready to celebrate their third decade). As well as that a full day’s racing on both codes on C4.
Tomorrow’s Classic trials at Lingfield are not exactly star studded and may not have a huge bearing on Epsom in a few week’s time but they could provide a double bonanza for Aiden O’Brien. He runs Seventh Heaven in the Oak’s trial and Landofhopeandglory in the colt’s equivalent.
Seventh Heaven looks an improving type who won well last time, she is not certain to appreciate the distance but if staying could have too many gears for the favourite Mountain Bell who won by 10 lengths last time at Windsor, the Windsor form has not worked out.
Landofhopeandglory looked slow last time out at Newmarket over 10 furlongs so the extra two furlongs should suit and a front running ride from Ryan Moore could help him stretch his rivals out and sap any finishing kick from them.
The well fancied Sign of a Victory will be well fancied to continue Nicky Henderson’s good form on the flat and he could be a blot on the handicap but I fancy the improving filly Perestroika who was a big rangy filly last year and may have done well over the winter. Henry Candy is more known for his sprinters but the selection ran very well at last year’s Shergar Cup meeting at this course and has a decent claimer taking 5lb off.
Elite Army looked a superstar two years ago and a few injuries have kept him off the track since apart from a disappointing run at Newbury last season. A gelding operation (Ouch!!) and a break may have done him the world of good and I take him to win a poor Listed race. I wouldn’t back Scotland with my worst enemies money.
It is not often you get decent fast ground this time of the year but that is what we will have at Ascot tomorrow and the big handicap at 4.15. A couple of horses that will love the ground and act on the track are Outback Traveller and topweight Mister Universe (below).
Over at Haydock the Swinton hurdle can go to the unexposed Gwafa. This former decent flat racer will appreciate the faster ground and looked to be progressive before unseating his rider at Aintree.
Summary
3.25 Lingfield – Seventh Heaven – 1pt Win at 3/1
4.00 Lingfield – Landofhopeandglory – 1pt Win at 4/1
2.30 Ascot – Perestroika – 0.5pts EW at 8/1
3.05 Ascot – Elite Army – 1pt Win at 9/2
4.15 Ascot – Mister Universe – 0.5pts EW at 28/1
4.15 Ascot – Outback Traveller – 1pt EW at 10/1
2.15 Haydock – Gwafa – 1pt Win at 6/1
racingahoy 