Tuppence has plenty going for him
At ten years of age, John Berry’s gelding is hardly likely to take significant steps forward on previous form but has very few miles on the clock, has had just six outings over fences, and is certainly not totally exposed.
His most recent run, which came at this track, was just his second of the season, and he ran a fine race to finish third behind Valours Minion. That was over two and a half miles, and today’s longer trip should certainly be in favour of the winning pointer.
With winning form at this venue, the quicker ground no issue, the stable in good form, and a little improvement anticipated, there’s every reason to expect a big run. He can land the spoils at the expense of Illtakeitfromhere, who has stamina to prove, and Tulsa Jack, whose jumping has proven very costly in the past.
The opening race – a maiden hurdle over two miles – can go to Comehere Hi, from the in-form stable of James Nash. The five-year-old didn’t set the world alight in three bumper outings, but his two runs over hurdles have shown him in a much better light.
On the first occasion, over this course and distance, he finished runner-up behind Troubled Soul, and then ran another fine race, when taking third place behind Rocky Court, on testing ground at Bellewstown.
Back on a quicker surface, and with improvement likely, he can account for what looks a modest field. The danger may come from Sam King, who was runner-up to Cillian’s Well at Tramore recently.
John Monash should take beating in what looks a decent bumper to close the card. The four-year-old was very well backed on his debut, at Stratford, where he was just touched off by War On The Rocks. He was beaten at odds-on at Downpatrick on his next outing, but returned from a lay-off to push All The Answers to a length at Ballinrobe last time.
The ground was probably softer than ideal on that most recent outing, but he was finishing with purpose and arguably a little unlucky. While the winner didn’t do much for the form when well beaten next time, the selection is entitled to improve for the run, will appreciate the quicker conditions, and can get off the mark at the fourth time of asking.
Among the more interesting of his rivals is newcomer Truegazer, a full brother to Shoegazer, who reached a high of 146 over fences in Britain.
