Coe looks good to claim gold
Hemmings teamed up with Coe’s trainer Sue Smith to bag the Blue Square Gold Cup with The Last Fling in 2000 and Coe looks the right type for this testing race.
The seven-year-old could be a fair way ahead of the handicapper and while he always looked a chaser in the making, it took him a while to get his eye in.
However, sent straight into handicap company at Haydock last time, he made a mockery of his mark of 123.
While only a novice against some hardened campaigners, hopefully Coe is a good deal better than his new rating of 132 and can offer a value bet.
Grade One action is on offer in the Betfair Ascot Chase and Tamarinbleu is another who appeals as a decent proposition.
David Pipe’s runners have not been totally consistent this year but his yard seems to have started firing again in the last few weeks which further raises hopes.
Tamarinbleu has been a great servant to the yard, winning the Boylesports Gold Cup and the Victor Chandler last year.
He was so very impressive back over two miles in the Victor Chandler that connections were tempted by the Queen Mother, in which he was hassled for an early lead and sulked.
First time out this year he ran an absolute screamer in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, looking to have the measure of Kauto Star when the triple King George hero came down at the last – only for Snoopy Loopy to come from the clouds.
We need to forgive him a disappointing run in the King George as that came at the time when the yard were well out of sorts.
Now Pipe is back among the winners, Tamarinbleu’s stamina can see him prevail over Voy Por Ustedes.
Breedsbreeze was a Grade One winner at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day and he can bag another big prize in the Sodexo Reynoldstown Chase.
Wincanton stage an all-hurdle card and the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle can go the way of Nicky Henderson’s Punjabi.
As long as his fall in the Christmas Hurdle has not knocked his confidence, he can emerge as a live outsider for the Champion Hurdle.
Ferdy Murphy’s soft-ground lover Tidal Fury has conditions in his favour in the £4m totescoop6 Lord Gyllene Handicap chase at Uttoxeter.
The Evan Williams-trained Double Act should win the Chestnut Claiming Stakes at Lingfield, while Marco Botti’s One Slick Chick looks a good thing in the Tonight Is 80’s Party Night Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Premier Lad got off the mark at Southwell last time pout and he can make a triumphant return to the venue in tomorrow’s Play Golf Before Racing
At Southwell Handicap.
The Tobougg gelding failed to strike in two starts as a juvenile but he made a promising three-year-old bow when lining up at the Nottinghamshire track just two weeks ago.
Racing in atrocious conditions, he saw off Iron Out by a decisive two and three-quarter lengths, suggesting there may still be something to come.
His initial rating of 71 looks a fair assessment and he could well score again for trainer David Barron.
