Charm giving right vibe
Toby Lerone (2.05) has a good chance of adding to the tally at Chepstow today. He’s a similar sort of horse, doing similar work and in the same sort of gear.
He was a winning Irish pointer before disappointing last year but seems to have come on a bit for his summer’s grass. I saw him schooling the other morning. He jumped well and seems in good form so we’ll be hoping for a good start today.
Deireadh Re (2.35) was a fortunate winner of a hurdle race in Cheltenham last year when Sea Of Thunder fell. He had one run over fences at Fakenham in May when he was well over the top so you can put a line through that. The good thing is that he is a bit of experience.
I schooled upside him on Wednesday and he jumped well. He’ll love the trip, he stays well and he has to have a chance in what doesn’t look as good a novice chase as has been run in the last week.
We’re on a good run with the naps at the moment so here’s hoping that Wonderful Charm (3.40) keeps that trend going in the Grade 2 novice hurdle. He comes from France with a huge reputation and a massive price tag. His form there is very good, tying in with all the top hurdlers in the country.
This is the only novice he can run in, as from November 1, he’ll have to go into open company. It’s a nice pot and if he lives up to his reputation, earned by virtue of that top quality form in France, he should win. He’s giving the right vibe at home anyway. He just has to go to the track and do it now.
I was fairly happy to see Smad Place coming out of the Grade 3 handicap hurdle and the weights going up. Salubrious (4.15) was set to be three pounds wrong and ten stone for me was going to be a fair effort. Paul thinks he’s well enough handicapped and was pretty keen for him to take his chance. He’s improving and we’d be hopeful he could win.
Tataniano (4.50) isn’t an easy horse to train but he won this handicap chase last year off a four pounds lower mark. He’s in good nick. He likes to bowl along. He won a bumper in Chepstow and a novice chase at this time of year in Exeter before. I think he’s still capable of winning over two miles but I’d imagine he’d be able to win over further. He has top weight but he also has class and I’m looking forward to riding him.
Paul has a few runners in Aintree too and the one to look out for is Unioniste (4.35) in the novice chase. He’s an unexposed horse from France with a light weight on his back, getting ten pounds from Carlito Brigante. He’s a lovely looking horse that jumps really well and will put up a good show.
I won a novice chase easily on Twinlight (3.40) in Listowel when we went a good gallop and had them all at it in behind. It was good to see him get his head in front because he has always worked well at home but was failing to deliver on the track. He seems to be in good form and going right-handed will suit him better. The question is if he’ll climb the hill in Galway tomorrow.
I ride Muzak (4.10) for John Monroe in the 2m 1f handicap chase. He ran a cracker in Ballinrobe last month over 2½m but looked like he didn’t stay. Katie won the 2m 2f amateur hurdle at the Galway festival and he likes it there. John is a local trainer. It looks a winnable race and I hope he can win.
Looking at the entries, I think Champagne Agent (1.50) had a great chance in the maiden hurdle at Wexford. I rode work on him Thursday morning and he worked really well. He’s been consistent but he hasn’t been winning. He’ll run a good race.
