Alverton
David Marshall's Blog, March 29
Looking ahead to Towcester
Attritional would be the best way to describe today’s conditions at Towcester with further rain forecast, two competitive staying handicaps are the feature races in the middle of today’s six race card ending with a bumper. The veteran grey, Woodlands Genpower fits the bill in the handicap chase, stamina will be at a premium ,and though I doubt it will be pretty, I expect him to slug it out up the unforgiving hill and the relatively light weight will also be an advantage. A decent staying handicap hurdle follows, Openide was my big price fancy for the cross country event at Cheltenham, sadly for connections, a four month plan was foiled when he just failed to make the cut, he is a moody sort, but if he decides to take hold of his bit coming up the hill anything could happen. The form figures of Mauricetheathlete are uninspiring recently, these are point to point runs, previous big price seconds to stablemate Love of Tara and Bobby Ewing reveal ability, a grand looking type he might be one to consider at a price. Quay Meadow is a thorough stayer and again his light weight could be crucial in today’s conditions.
Thought Doncaster provided a decent start to the turf flat season, it is this week where things turn somewhat stale, one turf meeting at Folkeston, Easter Saturday, a Kempton all weather card. At least the following week has a daily diet of turf flat racing and then the week after the classic trials start with the Craven meeting and Newbury’s weekend card. Not a great deal wrong, a gradual build up, horse racing is not like football where everyone starts with a clean sheet in mid August, tampering with the start of season’s is a futile exercise and is catering for the ignorant who have no more than a passing interest in the sport. For a definitive answer I suggest a few questions directed to the yard at Musley Bank would result in some interesting replies, a wonderful couple of days for all associated with the Fahey stable.
Daily Tip
15:30 Towcester – Woodlands Genpower
