Duty First, impressive, unchallenged winner of the ‘Fred Darling’ over seven furlongs of Newbury on Saturday, ran the distance at least 6lbs faster than Jonquil half an hour or so later; the latter has been backed to win the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.
Mine is never to persuade readers to venture forth into the ante-post market because ‘non-runner’ means lost money but don’t oppose Duty First in the ‘1000’ at which trainer, Archie Watson, has stated she will be targeted.
The manner in which Hollie Doyle’s mount ‘hit the line’ suggests the extra furlong will probably suit Duty First but it’s the way ‘the pocket’ rocket’ rides so positively which excites me most because most of my own personal success were gained from front-running tactics.
Jonquil is unlikely to be good enough even though improvement is expected, I’m of the mind runner-up Rashabar will improve past him down the Rowley Mile which, incidentally opens its doors for the 2025 turf-flat season this afternoon.
A cracking card should prove most informative with ‘gold dust’ data but, as mentioned, I’ll be patient in the first few weeks; that doesn’t mean there wont be any selections but they will be few and far between, given the National Hunt season has so much to offer at the ‘bread ‘n butter’ racetracks like Southwell where, this afternoon,
Sorceleur SO – 3.15
(Paul Nicholls) and Kientzheim (Nicky Henderson) will doubtless battle in the five-runner Novices’ Hurdle over two miles.
Serious Challenge will be well-backed and is fancied by the Fergal O’Brien camp but my time-handicap indicates firmly Sorceleur, from a bang-in-form yard and mount of champion jockey, Harry Cobden, will be just too strong; great entertainment awaits, which one will suit the ‘mini-fences’ best?
On Kempton polytrack tonight twice-raced Marcus Tregoning-trained
Little She KM – 5.30
is fancied to recoup last time losses in the shallow-looking Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over seven furlongs under Billy Loughnane who will fire his mount from the outside to prominence.
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