Dear All

As promised, I have spotted six likely sorts to keep onside for the foreseeable future; one of them will now be put away until the new Flat season rolls back into view in early Springtime...

The first a novice to follow from the McCain yard - Super Duty - had already won a decent bumper on racecourse debut at Donald McCain's old stamping ground, Bangor-on-Dee. On this day, at one of my favourite tracks for identifying young talent, Carlisle, this grand stamp of a chaser achieved an outstanding RPR of 136 on his hurdling debut pulling 17-lengths clear of some useful types. Watch the video!

The second a fancy for the Paddy Power - there is an infectiousness about the confidence of David Bridgwater and Tom Scudamore about The Giant Bolster's chances in Saturday's big 2 and a half mile handicap. There is definitely more to come from this Black Sam Bellamy gelding. He ran in what I believe will prove to be a highly significant 3-mile + Novice Chase at Aintree back in April; a contest won by Quito De la Roque (winner of the G2 JN wine Chase at Down Royal last Saturday) who was followed home by Sarando (more of him later). The step back in trip will suit and a big run is expected...

The third a Ballydoyle inmate to keep the flames burning through the long, winter evenings is Twirl. She was strikingly impressive when winning an 18-runner maiden at Leopardstown by 6 and a half lengths on the final day of the Irish Flat season. Another daughter of the mighty Galileo; she exudes class; the Ballydoyle juveniles look a bit useful this season. She is unsurprisingly entered in next year's Irish Guineas and Irish Oaks...

The fourth an early Hennessy selection - the aforementioned Sarando - looks a tad under-rated even after his impressive seasonal debut in a Graduation Chase at Carlisle beating the promising Aikman with a large degree of comfort... I had taken some decent prices for the big about the Hernando gelding for the big Newbury handicap, even before this contest, with a view to laying off. In my humble opinion this one will be a serious contender on 26th November if he can lie up with the early pace; stamina is not in doubt...

The fifth a staying chaser primed for 2012 Festival glory perhaps - Sue and Harvey Smith's chasers are schooled until failure is not an option. The stable has come out of the blocks flying this season; the horses appear healthy and Mr Moonshine is my idea of this season's RSA Chase winner even at this early stage.
Another to have performed admirably at Carlisle recently; he was relentlessly backed into second favouritism on the day and left Charlie Longsdon's Hidden Keel (the apple of his eye it would seem!) toiling in its wake; achieving an RPR of 150. Comments from the Smith yard suggest that any amount of improvement is expected when the Double Eclipse gelding steps up to 3 miles - he ran several times at the distance over hurdles...

Fnally, the sixth - much darker but showing immense promise during last weekend's Wincanton fixture is Theatrical Star...Having won a Class 4 Novice Hurdle last month over 20 furlongs (not a maiden as I erroneously stated in yesterday's post) - clearly improving for the step up in trip - this imposing son of King's Theatre out of an Ardross mare (therefore sumptuously bred for chasing!) was never going to be suited to dropping back to the minimum trip and finished a promising 4th behind some useful (and speedier sorts) last weekend including Molatof who has form with the best of last term's Triumph Hurdlers...
The Tizzards have yet to hit form this season but when they do Theatrical Star is going to be one of the yard's flagship performers and may well be a player in one or other of the two Festival staying novice hurdles...

I hope these serve you well. Keep them in mind!

Happy punting...

Rm(Mark)