Alverton
Bangor, Newbury, Stratford and Doncaster
Year upon year the flat racing world gets increasingly smaller as Meydan gets set to stage its first Dubai World Cup,there my interest ends.Changing scenes at home as our turf flat season starts on Lincoln day at Doncaster and the traditional Easter handicaps the Rosebery and Queens Prize at Kempton coincide with the turf opening on their all weather track,racing is certainly changing,if the maximum amount of runners for todays Lincoln at Town Moor looks difficult,imagine the 1948 Lincolnshire handicap where the now never to be beaten 58 runners took part on the Carholme,will the Spring mile shed any light on draw preference for the big event,more likely to complicate matters.
At Bangor Malton handler Malcolm Jefferson sends four,two in the handicap hurdle,the other two,home bred full brothers for one of his main patrons Mr and Mrs Davenport, Betterthanlikely and The Panama Kid,a possible family double as both hold good chances.
As usual Newbury’s mares day coincides with the Lincoln,Carole’s Legacy has proved admirable all season over fences,but it is only eleven days since she beat all bar Quevega in the mares event at Cheltenham over hurdles,the mares hurdle final is both strong in numbers and quality,the improving Miss Nightshade will be suited to a likely strong pace and a light weight combined with a big figure quote is my idea of value.
The selling hurdle at Stratford features my main fancy for the day,after chasing all season,and pulling up over fences last time after a break,Irish Legend’s previous hurdles form is head and shoulders above anything his rivals have to offer,expect to see a revival in form and if the market speaks in his favour confidence will increase,backed Canshebemine at 14’s last sunday,backed down to joint favourite and duly obliged.it was a poor event so preference today is for Jeanry.
