Get ready for another great week…!
Marsh Wren, winner of his only NH start (a bumper!) could prove a surprise package in the shallow-looking ten-runner Mares’ Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles of ‘good to soft’ Leicester today when running in tandem will be Plumpton; both are personal ‘favourites’ which regularly program challenging cards with the accent on set-weight races.
Seven months have elapsed since Marsh Wren, a 28/1 shot, travelled well before storming through from a prominent position to win easily first-up at Southwell where the Schiaperelli mare created a tremendous impression under Ciaran Gethings for Stuart Edmunds; it’s a jockey/trainer combination which has combined successfully several times in the last five years.
Stuart is a fine horseman, an excellent judge of thoroughbreds who knows Marsh Wren could prove a ‘special’ talent well capable of replicating an impressive introduction.
Scrutiny of rivals determines Marsh Wren needs only to hurdle satisfactorily and I’ll bet that’s the case because reports suggest this progressive five-year-old has schooled superbly; I’m looking forward to the opener on a six-race card which precedes an attempt by Gary Moore-trained Next Left to make it fourth time lucky in an eight-runner Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half of the ubiquitous Southern venue where jockeyship is a vital factor.
Jamie Moore again partners Next Left, promising when a never nearer third to Blackjack Magic at Lingfield fifteen days ago; there will doubtless be a deal more urgency this time.
Obvious danger is Kim Bailey’s consistent, hitherto luckless Harde Fashion but he’ll need to improve considerably to cope with Next Left if the latter replicates his last time out time-handicap mark. A solid bet.
Percy Jones (14/1!) just failed to land our nap Saturday when beaten by Andrew Balding-trained newcomer, Sea Grey, a magnificent type superbly ridden by David Probert.
‘The Probe’ was aboard ‘Percy’ previously!
Both, badly drawn, must be followed!
Selections, Leicester, 1.00 Marsh Wren (e.w); 2.30 Roger Rarebit (e.w). Plumpton, 1.15 Next Left.
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