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Angus at the Weekend
By Angus Loughran
Last updated: 09:21 Saturday, November 22, 2008
Angus’ Best Bets
Haydock BBC/C4
12:30 – Alfie Flits 2pts win
Only five runners here, but still a cracking little contest. Paul Nicholls’ Font will be popular to bounce back after disappointing at Ascot earlier this month, and with the Howard Johnson horses in great form in midweek then his runner Doeslessthanme, with AP McCoy in the saddle, is interesting. However the one here for me is Alfie Flits. From the Alan Swinbank yard he’s a decent Listed class animal on the level and although his two recent stints over hurdles have been a little bit disappointing, I think he’ll have learnt a lot from those efforts and this smaller field will help too.
13:05 – Copsale Lad 1pt e/w
Plenty of old faces here, it what looks one of the most competitive races of the day. It’s good to see the classy Star De Mohaison back on the track, after almost a year off, and if he’s anywhere near his best he’ll win this with ease. However, a lot has to taken on trust and I’d be happier seeing him in action, rather than actually backing him. According to Pete is on a three-timer, but this looks tougher than his last assignments and I’ll take a chance on the oldest runner in the field, Copsale Lad. Nicky Henderson’s 11 year-old owes connection nothing after some decent days out and after a very creditable fourth of 15, behind Fair Along, at Cheltenham last weekend indicates there might be another big race in him still. Trip and ground look ideal and off 10-10 he might be able to sneak into the frame at what could look big odds after the race.
14:45 – Gold Medallist 1pt e/w
We are into Scoop 6 land here, with the only race of the six here at Haydock, and if you are still going by the time you get to this race then it might be your lucky day. Don’t get too excited though as this contest looks one of the tougher contests of the afternoon, but I’ll take a chance with Gold Medallist. The Hobbs team have shown in the first few weeks of the new jumps season that they are a stable in form, and although this will be my selections first run of the campaign I’m not expecting fitness to be an issue. He had a decent start of fences last season, with a couple of seconds and a win at Exeter, and despite a poor run in the Jewson at the Festival that was a much tougher race on ground that might have been a bit on the soft side for him. Yes, I’d be happier if the underfoot conditions were not so soft, but he’s had a nice summer break and can be another that goes well at a decent price.
Ascot BBC/C4
12:10 – Indian Pipe Dream 2pts win
The Pipe team pulled out a number of their runners at Cheltenham last weekend, so that is a slight worry, but they did still pick up a winner there and therefore the ones they do run at the moment are probably worth a look. Indian Pipe Dream is their entry here and after landing the hat-trick at Newton Abbot two runs ago he followed that up with a third at Cheltenham. That was a slightly disappointing run, but he’s been on the go for a while, winning those three races, and after a nice break he should be ready to go once again. Of the rest, Phillip Hobbs’ Barnhill Brownie looks his main danger, but my pick should have too much experience for him and can land the spoils.
13:20 – Leslingtaylor 2pts e/w
Jack the Giant will be all the rage here, for the Nicky Henderson team, but he’s no value and so I’ll side with John Quinn’s Leslingtaylor to cause a slight shock. This 6 year-old picked up a couple of chases last term and after a couple of pipe openers this season he looks ready to run a big race. Trip will be fine, having won over this distance before, and with just 10-2 on his back he can give the Henderson horse a fright.
15:05 – Oslot 3pts win
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Mahogany Blaze bypassed the Paddy Power meeting last week, so comes here nice and fresh after his Exeter second, but this could be another big Saturday winner for the Nicholls team. The promising Nick Schofield takes off a handy 5lbs from the saddle and he ran below par in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree I’m not sure the soft ground and the track suited him that day, and back on a sounder surface Oslot can land a race the Nicholls team are no strangers to winning.
Huntingdon (C4)
12:40 – Dantari 2pts win
The main focus at Huntingdon this Saturday will be on the 15:30, the penultimate Scoop6 race, but I’d thought I’d share some info I have on the opening contest. I’ve been told that Evan Williams thinks a lot of his new hurdling recruit Dantari and is expected to make a winning debut over hurdles. His flat form in Ireland is nothing to write home about, but this well-bred 3 year-old has since seemingly taken to hurdles and providing he transforms what he’s been showing at home to the track then his flat speed should be too much for his rivals here.
Lingfield (C4)
14:10 – Majuro 2pts e/w
Only 10 runners for the Scoop6 punters to pick between here, but that doesn’t make it any easier - with them all in with a shout. There are no fewer than seven course winners in field and with £11,000 up for grabs it’s not the worst race Lingfield will ever hold. My selection, Majuro, is one of the previous course and distance winners, but he comes here off the back of runaway win at Southwell in September. Yes, the Southwell fibresand is a lot different to Lingfield’s polytrack, but he’s shown he handles both and with the Kevin Ryan horses in decent form I’ll take Chris Catlin to steer this one home in front.
14:40 – Romany Princess 1pts e/w
Richard Hannon had a great season on the turf, but he can continue that form onto the all-weather here with Romany Princess. It’s interesting that he’s booked Ryan Moore to ride and after a run here on Wednesday, were she finished third, it’s also significant that the stable are sending her out again so soon.
15:20 – Baharah 2pts win
Gerard Butler is very selective these days with his runners, and therefore feared - especially here at Lingfield. One of his better inmates, Baharah, is the choice to follow up her win here last month. She only just got up on the line that day after a great ride from Hayley Turner, and with similar waiting tactics she can swoop late again to land the decent prize.
15:50 – Prohibit 2pts win
Well, good luck if anyone’s still in the Scoop 6 come this race, and although not a gimme it also doesn’t look the hardest race to end the bet with. Ceremonial Jade will be popular to follow up her two recent wins and the decent Chief Editor tries for the first time on this surface. However, John Gosden is another trainer that’s had one of his best ever flat campaigns and the yard can gain further success here with Prohibit. He got off the mark on the all-weather last time out at Great Leighs at 12/1 and with Jimmy Fortune making the trip they clearly feel she can follow-up over the same trip, albeit in a better contest.
Finally it’s worth giving Paul Cole’s Maltese Falcon a mention. He took this race 12 months ago and with four course and distance wins here at Lingfield and a whole host of other placed efforts, then despite him not being in the best of form of late I would not be surprised to see him return to form at a huge price.