Tossapenny rates a certainty for the six-runner Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles of ‘good’ Fakenham today but what odds are acceptable given Evan Williams’ charge has failed eight times under National Hunt rules and disappointed punters on several occasions? there has to be a limit to patience, and funds!
I’m discussing an eight-year-old which has been lightly-raced, why?
Perhaps Tossapenny has been injured and missed out on what promised to be a profitable career but, most interestingly, the 119-rated Presenting gelding achieved a time-handicap mark nine weeks ago which wins this-type race nineteen times out of twenty!
It’s not my intention to talk myself into wading in with a solid wedge, mine is about advising readers and achieving profit on a monthly basis; with no serious rivals Tossapenny, an Irish point-to-point winner fours back, does indeed represent an anchor for our daily patent and it’s just a question of jockey Adam Wedge negotiating ten hurdles successfully.
Rest of a six-race programme looks difficult but, on the flat, Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat should pay to follow, judged on an encouraging debut second over a mile of Kempton polytrack last month; this Awtaad gelding reappears in division one of a Novice Stakes on Lingfield ‘poly’, again mount of Jim Crowley.
Several well-bred newcomers will be closely monitored but hail from yards which aren’t particularly bothered about winning first-up and so it’s obvious previous winner Glentaneous is the only form danger to Anmaat, beaten four lengths by Rebel’s Romance 167 days ago, which is quite an absence.
No problem, Burrows trains privately for Shadwell Stud (formerly Hamdan Al Maktoum) and is allowed plenty of rein in the patience stakes; long-term former Sir Michael Stoute assistant Owen had a winner last week and, apparently, Anmaat has been working superbly.
Glentaneous, penalised for a course and distance success two months ago, needs to improve considerably on my time-handicap and is drawn ten, a ‘coffin box’ around the Surrey venue.
Anmaat has a solid opportunity and in division two what beats twice-raced Amanda Perrett’s runner Rebel Territory will win; don’t oppose William Buick’s well drawn mount.
Tomorrow sees the first of three days racing at Chester (behind closed doors) and I’m looking forward to ‘telly-watching’ what promises to be a cracking meeting.
I’d still love to be there but so would thousands of others!
A colossal vaccination initiative seems to be successful and we may witness a form of normality soon but my heart goes out to beleaguered India where the Coronavirus disease is proving outrageously deadly.
Selections, Lingfield, 1.00 Anmaat; 1.30 Rebel Territory; Fakenham, 3.20 Tossapenny.
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019