Big Jack to ‘Concer’ moderates at Fakenham!
was our headline tip yesterday, and didn’t he just with a sensational ride?
Gerico Ville, one of two Chris Gordon declarations for a twelve-runner Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles of ‘heavy’ Lingfield this afternoon, merits ‘special’ status but I’m always wary when an experienced trainer of such stature sees fit to confuse purpose, why?
Betting forecasts suggest Gerico Ville will trade around evens with Coolvalla a rank outsider but Gordon has bothered to book Nick Schofield, one of the best NH jockeys, and a real ‘favourite, for the latter which shaped interestingly on his hurdle debut eleven days ago.
Obviously it’s my intention to include Tom Cannon’s mount, Gerico Ville, twice-raced on demanding surfaces at this Surrey venue, where he posted strong time-handicap marks, in a solid trixie/patent; he’s vastly superior to all rivals but I’ll closely monitor any market moves and possibly have an each-way saver on Coolvalla.
Chris is worthwhile following, just wish his runners were ridden more positively; front-running makes good sense in set-weight hurdle races.
NH racing is also scheduled for ‘good to soft’ Musselburgh where recent Catterick ‘bumper’ winner River Walk needs only to get round in a shallow Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles to supplement gains under Brian Hughes. He’ll have been well schooled by the Don McCain camp.
Obviously a ‘twilight’ all-weather fixture commanded my attention and ex-Roger Charlton-trained, 78-rated Fozzie Bear, despite being absent for eleven weeks, rates a ‘professional special’ place proposition in a Novice Stakes over an extended mile of Wolverhampton tapeta where Sterling Knight was a resounding heavily-backed 11/4 winner for this column Saturday under Tom Marquand. Watch out for the strong-finishing runner-up, Streaky Bay, next time.
Jockeyship figures high in my modus operandi and with Oisin Murphy uncertain about his future, due to so-called ‘mental health’ issues, Tom looks an obvious contender for the 2022 championship backed by William Haggas and a plethora of other high-profile trainers. Exciting times ahead for Tom and his partner, Hollie Doyle; wonder when they will fit their wedding in!
Racing seems to be coping well against Covid-19 with firm, regulated rules in place and my sincere hope is it doesn’t worsen with lockdown, again!
Keep safe and heed advice of the scientists readers.
Selections, Musselburgh, 12.15 River Walk; Lingfield, 3.00 Gerico Ville (e.w); Wolverhampton, 4.30 Fozzie Bear (e.w).
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