3 minute read
Greyval can continue Fergal O’Brien’s excellent season by taking the Racing TV Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle at Huntingdon.
The four-year-old has made a pleasing start to her British career, finishing runner-up on her Doncaster debut to Arclight, who subsequently followed up at Kempton.
Greyval got the better of the same rival on her second start, thwarting the Nick Henderson runner's hat-trick bid, scoring by two lengths in a Listed event at Doncaster at the end of January.
That victory resulted in the assessor giving her a mark of 120, yet there could well be plenty of improvement to come, particularly with her hurdling, which was occasionally lackadaisical.
None of her rivals can match what she has achieved in two runs thus far and she looks the clear pick.
Le Tueur has been ultra consistent over fences since joining Sarah Humphrey, finishing runner-up twice and winning twice.
The improving eight-year-old was a 20-length winner over the same course and extended two miles and seven furlongs distance on his penultimate start, and followed up over three miles and five furlongs at Fakenham 11 days ago.
A 3lb rise seems fair as he bids for the hat-trick in the Racing TV Novices' Handicap Chase, with Jay Tidball again taking a useful 7lb off his back.
At Hexham, Grove Road can take the spoils in the Phil Addison 60th Birthday Celebration Novices' Hurdle for Archie Watson.
Winner of a Sedgefield bumper in December 2021, he did not reappear until the end of October, when he stayed on well on his hurdling bow to beat subsequent scorer The King Of Ryhope at Carlisle.
Upped in trip to just short of three and a quarter miles at Hereford in December, he followed up narrowly, beating a previous winner and a 125-rated runner-up who was pitched into Grade Two company next time.
Grove Road faces a solitary rival in Northumberland in Well Dick and is difficult to oppose.
Bingoo must be considered a major player in the Download The Ne-Bet App Today Handicap Hurdle.
Jimmy Moffatt's inmate has already won a bumper and a novice hurdle at Hexham, suggesting the testing nature of the track brings out the best in him.
He has had to make do with minor honours in his last couple of races, finishing third at Catterick and Ayr, but better can be expected on his handicap debut as he returns to a happy hunting ground.
Clovis Island ought to make a successful start to his career under rules in the concluding Horslyx Balanced Nutritional Support Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race.
The five-year-old was beaten a head in an Irish point-to-point in the autumn and appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to go one better on his first start for Nicky Richards.
Woolhampton will surely break her duck in the BetUK's Acca Club £5 Free Bet Restricted Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.
The three-year-old has earned herself a not inconsiderable rating of 84 without winning, with eight outings so far yielding four placed finishes.
She finished second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury and returned to that track to be beaten a little over a length in a Listed race in August.
She was last seen finishing third at this track behind Al Dasim, who has since won three times in Dubai, and will not need to improve much to get off the mark.
SELECTIONS:
HEXHAM: 2.15 Grove Road, 2.45 Kildrum, 3.15 Bingoo, 3.45 Marty Time, 4.15 High Moon, 4.45 Clovis Island.
HUNTINGDON: 1.30 Le Tueur, 2.00 GREYVAL (NAP), 2.30 Master Malcolm, 3.00 Tenfold, 3.30 Global Famenglory, 4.00 Shesupincourt.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.00 Skyblue Expert, 5.30 Macon Belle, 6.00 This Ones For Fred, 6.30 Mick Says No, 7.00 Shades Of Summer, 7.30 May Remain, 8.00 Billian, 8.30 Glorious Charmer.
DOUBLE: Greyval and Grove Road.
