Fine Form
Dan Skelton can toast
Getawhisky’s UT – 2.37
first run over fences with a victory as the champion trainer continues to build on his rapid start to campaign at Uttoxeter.
Earlier this week, the Alcester handler broke his own record for the fastest century of National Hunt winners in a season and his six-year-old Getaway mare should continue that momentum in Staffordshire.
She was last seen finishing fifth in the EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Finale at Newbury in March, although that two-and-a-half-mile trip appeared to stretch her.
A return to two miles is a positive for the 100 Punting Feats And Bad Beats ‘Chasing Excellence’ Mares’ Beginners’ Chase and connections could have a real contender for top honours in this division should she take to fences.
Service Minimum UT – 3.12
could provide a quickfire double for the Skeltons in the following D&M Groundworks Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old will have to defy top weight after a 6lb hike for her success at Newton Abbot in September, but she appears to still have room for improvement, despite five wins from 12 appearances over hurdles.
She could have some more valuable contests in her sights with another triumph here and it is hard to look past Lodge Hill in their current vein of form.
Nicky Henderson’s
Madam Speaker UT – 4.53
can put her near-misses behind her in the concluding Quinnbet Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race.
Second on debut at Wincanton in February, the four-year-old Harzand filly came within three-quarters of a length of winning the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper at Newbury a month later when finding only Lady Hope too good.
Royal-bred and owned
La Torre HY – 1.42
can pick up the winning thread in the opening British Stallion Studs Future Stayers EBF Maiden Stakes at Haydock.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, the Lope De Vega filly finished a four-and-three-quarter-length third behind Sweltering on debut at Leicester, but that form has since been franked.
The winner was last seen coming within a neck of Group Three honours in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket and that is a boost in La Torre’s direction.
Venetian Lion HY – 2.52
is targeting a fourth win from just six runs on the turf for William Haggas in the second division of the M6Toll Road To Victory Handicap.
Since being gelded in June, the three-year-old son of St Mark’s Basilica has been in tremendous form, racking up a hat-trick at Nottingham, Pontefract and Newmarket and bookended with place honours on the all-weather.
His mark has risen from 65 to 81, a rating he remains on after finishing third at Kempton last month, and there could still be room for improvement.
At Redcar, Haggas’ juvenile
Extragalactic RE – 1.20
can shed his maiden tag at the third time of asking in the Join Racing TV Now British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Pipped by a head on debut at Yarmouth in August, the Space Traveller colt was Vegasmile’s closest pursuer on his last start, albeit four and a half lengths behind at Musselburgh.
Vegasmile won again on Monday at the Scottish venue, proving that Extragalactic sets the standard in North Yorkshire.
On the synthetics at Newcastle, Tim Easterby’s
Leading Times NC – 6.45
can collect a third victory on his fourth career start in the Northumbria Leisure For Jukeboxes Handicap.
The lightly-raced four-year-old began life with Roger Varian before switching to the Great Habton handler, where he won on his stable debut last month at Southwell following a 303-day absence.
An opening mark of 80 appears low after two wins and a second on his three all-weather appearances to date.
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