3 minute read
Phil Turner discusses his best bets ahead of Saturday's racing at Sandown, Wetherby and Musselburgh.
14:25 Sandown - MIDNIGHT SHADOW
There is some tremendous racing in store at the Dublin Racing Festival, though one high-profile Irish performer who'll be missing at Leopardstown this weekend is Laurina as she heads to Sandown instead for the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. This imposing mare could hardly have been more impressive when lowering the colours of Minella Indo on her chasing debut at Gowran Park back in November, but comes here on a retrieval mission after flopping at Leopardstown over Christmas (when she reportedly bled). That made it two disappointing runs from her last three starts and, all in all, she probably isn't one to be taking short odds about at present.
By contrast, Northern raider Midnight Shadow looks overpriced and represents by far the best value of the home-trained challenge. Admittedly his only chasing win to date was a fortunate one, when left clear by Champ's fall at the second last in the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, but he's taken better to this new discipline than the bare form figures might suggest and his hurdles' form suggests there could be better still to come. He looks a sporting bet at 8/1, with "without the favourite" books also worth exploring.
14:45 Wetherby - DOMINATEUR
The fast-improving Dominateur has won his last four completed starts and holds excellent claims of adding to that sequence in the Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby. Indeed, a fall on his chasing debut is the only negative when assessing his chances in a race which doesn't look particularly strong for Grade 2 level.
Happily, his jumping has looked largely assured on both starts since then – so much so that connections were considering running him in the valuable staying handicap chase on Sandown's card - whilst the step-up to staying trips has suited this likeable gelding down the ground. He's a strong fancy at 5/2.
15:15 Musselburgh - CAROLE'S DESTRIER
Carole's Destrier shaped as if competitively handicapped for much of the way in last season's Scottish National (eventually lost his chance through a late mistake) so could be worth a second look at rewarding odds off 3 lb lower for this latest venture North of the border. In truth, old age is likely to catch up with Carole's Destrier (now twelve) at some stage, but he's largely contested stronger races than the Edinburgh National (run over an extended four miles at Musselburgh) in recent years and was still sprightly enough to win two nice prizes at Newbury last season.
The in-form Neil Mulholland is a dab hand when it comes to staying chasers, with similar comments applying to regular pilot Robbie Dunne, and Carole's Destrier represents decent each-way value at 16/1.
