Johnson to plunder Tolworth spoils
Some top-class youngsters have flexed their muscles in Sandown’s Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle and this year’s renewal looks sure to unearth a few stars of the future once again.
The Grade One affair promises to be as hotly-contested as ever but Howard Johnson’s Astarador looks the one most likely to leave the Esher venue triumphant.
Although he was only successful once in three bumper starts last season, the level of form achieved in a light campaign certainly hinted this son of Astarabad possessed an ample portion of ability.
Second on debut behind the smart Alfie Flits, Astarador then landed the odds as expected in a Catterick contest before finishing a highly-respectable seventh in the Champion Bumper at the Aintree Festival.
Two runs over timber this winter have yielded two emphatic victories, and while he is yet to run into anything as classy as he will meet at the weekend, it has been impossible not to have been impressed so far.
Proven on soft ground and clearly suited by two miles, Johnson’s charge is strongly fancied to fuel dreams of Cheltenham Festival glory by maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles.
National Hunt fans can also look forward to some decent action at Haydock, where Alphabetical looks to hold a winning chance in the VC Casino.com Handicap Chase.
He has been relatively lightly campaigned by in-form handler Charlie Mann, having won twice from just 10 outings to date, and looked capable of climbing the ladder another rung or two at least when scoring at Wincanton last time.
The very slight step back in trip will hold no fears for this strong-travelling sort and he appears very fairly treated off a handicap mark of just 118.
Another lightly-raced and apparently progressive eight-year-old is the Philip Hobbs-trained Private Be, who is taken to land the Letheby & Christopher Beginners’ Chase at Chepstow.
The Gunner B gelding was successful last time in a fair handicap hurdle at Exeter, which makes the switch to chasing all the more interesting.
The move suggests his powerful handler believes he will mature into an even better animal over the larger obstacles but a simple reproduction of his last performance ought to see him home in front this time.
For those who like to cast an eye over the potential stars of the future, it could pay to take a cautionary look at the market when Royal Crystalcadou makes his debut in the Letheby & Christopher Intermediate National Hunt Flat Race.
The five-year-old is a brother to former top-notcher Royal Paradise, a Grade One winner in his prime, and is also related to numerous other winners including the very smart Royal Rosa.
Although it can be far from guaranteed that Paul Webber’s inmate has inherited a similar level of ability until he proves it on the track, there is little doubt that he is one of the most interesting horses on the card.
He’s A Rocket can secure the eighth success of his career in the More Options With digibet.com Classified Stakes at Kempton.
Karl Burke’s charge is clearly nothing out of the ordinary but he is a capable sprinter at the right level and shaped encouragingly when fifth on his penultimate start over course and distance.
That more pleasing display came on his first visit to the track and he is expected to have benefited from that experience sufficiently to score.
Lingfield also stage all-weather action, where the ever-consistent Millville looks sure to go well in the Pontin’s “Book Early” Handicap.
He has won four times already at this track and looked better than ever when powering to a five-length success three starts ago.
