Blackpool can tower above rivals
Ferdy Murphy’s nine-year-old is open to bags of potential over fences, and is unquestionably a major player for the Play Poker At victorchandler.com Handicap Chase.
Although he was decent over hurdles, Murphy said long ago that Blackpool Billy would only really come into his own as a tyro chaser.
That certainly looked the case at Kelso in November when, returning from a two-year absence, he stayed on for second behind Alfie Flits – despite having shown understandable naivety at one or two fences.
Unsurprisingly sent off favourite on his next start at Catterick, the Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding turned in another promising effort to fill the runner-up berth behind Heavenly Chorus, the upwardly-mobile mare who was in receipt of plenty of weight.
Sadly for Murphy and Hemmings, the handicapper has since had his say, with Blackpool Billy 5lb higher since his outing in North Yorkshire.
That still reads pretty well, however, as he is still rated 3lb lower than over hurdles.
Seven Is Lucky may also be a great deal better than his double-figure rating ahead of the Play Casino At victorchandler.com Handicap Chase.
Jim Goldie’s nine-year-old must admittedly contend with a 303-day absence, but his wise connections love a winner at Ayr and should have him cherry-ripe for this assignment.
Seven Is Lucky proved a fine yardstick over fences last term, signing off at Carlisle last April with a pulse-chasing neck success over Teerie Express over an extended three miles.
The form looks strong, with the third home that day, Roseneath, having since won two on the spin.
Seven Is Lucky has gone up 4lb since then, but that looks fair enough as he also looked booked for a huge run on his penultimate start at Kelso, before falling late on.
Simply Wings is also worth a concise inspection in the Plymouth Carvery Novices’ Hurdle at Ludlow. The seven-year-old gelding is still a maiden, but has exhibited fulsome improvement this term, especially when second to The Gripper earlier this month at Hereford.
It must be remembered that he was giving away chunks of weight to the winner that day and was a mile clear of the third home, Mauricetheathlete.
With a slew of big-hitting rivals noticeable by their absence, he may never get a better chance with which to finally get off the mark.
