News broke earlier in the week that Gordon Elliot’s brilliant Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner Samcro would remain over timber this winter and will be targeted at the Champion Hurdle for which he is the 5/2 favourite at BetVictor with dual champion Buveur D’Air out to 7/2.
At those prices the Nicky Henderson-trained Buveur D’Air strikes me as being worth an each way antepost bet. The champion has had a wind operation since last season and it is likely that Samcro may need further than the minimum trip on good or faster ground in the spring.
Samcro makes his seasonal reappearance at Down Royal this afternoon on good ground and must give 8lbs to the Galway Hurdle winner Sharjah. It promises to be a fascinating and informative contest but makes little appeal as a betting medium.
The Pertemps Hurdle winner Delta Work makes his chase debut this afternoon and will be a short price to land the Beginners Chase for Gigginstown. I just wonder if Moyross (2.55) can cause a bit of a surprise for Noel Meade with valuable chase experience under his belt as well as the return to a right-hand track which I feel may be pivotal.
I hope it is a good afternoon for the Meade yard as winning pointer First Approach (12.40) ran a very good race in a Winners’ Bumper at Cork last month under a penalty and he can make a winning start over timber. Gordon Elliot’s Diamond Turf would appreciate softer ground but looks the main danger.
At Wetherby I am looking forward to the seasonal reappearance of Kylemore Lough although there is a possibility that the ground might be a bit too quick for Harry Fry’s nine-year-old who went off 4/1 favourite for last year’s BetVictor Gold Cup. The winner of that event Splash Of Ginge makes his reappearance and is 20/1 to follow up in Cheltenham’s November meeting feature race with BetVictor.
The vote, however, goes to Copain De Classe (3.05) who has been raised 10lbs for scoring at Kempton last month, but runs under a 6lbs penalty this afternoon – the selection is thus 4lbs well in. One note of caution – most of his best form is on a right-handed track but underfoot conditions should be ideal. The selection is 20/1 with the sponsors for the BetVictor Gold Cup.
Dino Velvet appreciated two miles on good ground when scoring at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting back in the spring and can go close from an 8lbs higher mark. If today’s race were run 24 hours later Storm Rising (3.40) would be racing from a stone higher mark such was the authority of last week’s Cheltenham win. Charlie Hammond has a good record for Dr Newland and the talented conditional gave Settimo Milanese a terrific ride – albeit in defeat – at Aintree on Sunday.
Denmead (4.10) looked a novice hurdler to follow when scoring at Huntingdon last month and Dan Skelton suggested he would give him another start before raising him in class at Cheltenham later in the month.
Soft ground at Newmarket where the feature event is the listed Bosra Sham contest for two-year-old fillies. Lady Aria (1.40) landed a confidence building Haydock maiden on good to soft ground last time, having finished runner up in a Salisbury Gp 3 previously.
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