Jun 05, 2023

Racing Preview - Weds 7 June 2023

Gloucestershire trainer Fergal O’Brien struck with a double at last Wednesday’s Newton Abbot meeting, taking his seasonal total to 18, and, although his eight runners since have failed to hit the target, he has three lives chances of adding to his score on Wednesday.

After finishing runner-up five times in a row, Basford finally got his head in front when winning at the last meeting and looks to follow up in the opening Racing Partnership Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs. He won well enough in the end, putting eight lengths between himself and Bala Brook, but has to give weight to all his seven rivals today including the mare Kylenoe Dancer, who was a further six lengths back in third.

Dancila, three times a winner on the flat in Ireland, got off the mark at the first time of asking for O’Brien at Musselburgh in February and now makes his handicap debut in the Class 3 Andy Blight And His Amigos Handicap Hurdle. Although failing to win in two subsequent races, he looks to have a good chance here, but faces a worthy challenger in Coolnaugh Haze, who was just touched off by O’Brien’s Glorious Zoff in a three-way photo at Warwick and will again benefit from Elizabeth Gale’s 10lb claim.

Investment Manager is looking to put a disappointing run over the course last month behind him in the Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. Sent off favourite, he was never travelling that day, finishing tailed off, and tackles a longer trip this time.

So, it may pay to look to Shortcross Storm, trained at Ashburton by Chris Honour, who was a 40/1 shot when making all the running to win at the same meeting, but is certain to go off a much shorter price this time.

A competitive field of eleven will line up for the Talk Tidy Marketing Handicap Hurdle in which Good Impression, fourth at Ffos Las two weeks ago, may be the one. He has won four hurdle races in all, being 3lbs lower than for his last win in October, having been runner-up from the same mark to Appreciate, a recent winner at Cartmel, at Newton Abbot the month before.

Having taken the lead three flights from home, Dancingontheedge was beaten a neck by Eaton Lady at Uttoxeter last month, her chance not being helped by less than fluent jumping at the last two flights and, although raised 1lb for that effort, could still come out on top in the longest race of the afternoon, the newtonabbotracing.com Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

O’Brien’s Chief Black Robe bids for a hat-trick in the Visit attheraces.com Novices’ Handicap Chase and, after his impressive win here last week, it is difficult to see him being beaten and Gregorian Diamond, third on his Rules debut at Stratford, could be another O’Brien winner in the closing Newtonabbotrace On Twitter Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race.

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