Aryal can deliver on debut promise
The son of Singspiel is bred to be pretty smart as a full-brother to Group-race winning mare Majounes Song and while it is clearly early days yet, it is certainly not out of the question Aryal could go on and make his mark at a similar level.
Carrying the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the three-year-old was favourite for his racecourse introduction, but it was clear early on that he was going to learn plenty from the experience.
However, despite obvious signs of greenness, Aryal finished off his race well to be beaten just a neck into third by a couple of horses who had already made a couple of appearances.
Mark Johnston’s charge displayed enough speed to suggest this drop to a mile from 10 furlongs should not be an inconvenience and he sets a standard the newcomers could struggle to match.
Lowther appears to have found a new level of consistency since joining Lee Carter towards the end of 2012 and he gets the nod in the BetVictor Non Runner Free Bet At Cheltenham Handicap.
The eight-year-old had a three-figure rating when he was competing in Dubai for Dandy Nicholls this time last year, but some indifferent efforts for both Nicholls and Brett Johnson during the summer saw his rating plummet to the low 70s.
He filled the runner-up on his debut for Carter at Lingfield in early December and has carried on in good heart since, registering a couple of wins and another fair second to reach a more respectable rating of 82.
He remains feasibly handicapped on the best of his form and his latest course-and-distance triumph suggested he has plenty more to offer.
Sohcahtoa made a winning return from a break at Wolverhampton earlier this month and should follow up on his return to Dunstall Park in the coral.co.uk Handicap.
The seven-year-old enjoyed a decent year after joining David Barron at the start of last season, with a narrow verdict at Musselburgh supplemented by clutch of placed efforts.
Returning from just over three months off, the seven-year-old travelled well and finished well to record the first all-weather victory of his career almost three weeks ago and given Barron’s usually excellent record during the winter, Sohcahtoa rates as a horse to follow.
Exning Halt should finally find the bullseye in the Free Bets Galore At bookmakers.co.uk Maiden Stakes.
John Quinn’s four-year-old is proving a frustrating horse to follow, finishing in the first three on five of his 10 starts but failing to get his head in front.
That said, he has been running consistently to a mark in the 70s in handicaps of late and if he can run to a similar figure on his return to maiden company, he will surely come home in front in what looks a particularly weak affair.
