Bally holds aces
Ballyboley looks to hold all the aces in the Richmark Racecourse And Trainer Supplies Maiden Chase at Sedgefield.
The Richard Phillips-trained nine-year-old did not make his debut until February of last year but showed he had plenty of ability in finishing a close second in a decent contest at Warwick.
He has been seen in racecourse action three times since, and while he is still looking to get his head in front, Ballyboley has yet to finish outside the frame and looks to face a simple task here.
Not disgraced behind classy sorts According To John and Fair Question, it will be disappointing if he fails to deliver on his undoubted promise in what looks a very winnable event.
Gunadoir is fancied to get punters off to a flying start when she tackles the opening Touchline Event Management Mares’ Only “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.
This Nicky Richards-trained mare looked set to score at the Durham venue last time but just found herself outpointed late on.
She is probably nothing out of the ordinary but three successive seconds at least confirm she possesses a fair dose of ability, which ought to be enough to see her home in front this time.
The richest race of the day is the £17,500 (€26,680) pontins.com Handicap on the all-weather at Southwell, where Prince Tum Tum can take the honours.
The seven-year-old is pretty consistent for his trainer Derek Shaw and his latest run was given a timely boost when the winner Qadar followed up at Lingfield on Saturday.
He only went down by a length and a quarter and this former smart performer in his younger days when trained by John Dunlop can get his head in front in the seven-furlong feature.
Polish Power can also take a decent prize back to Stan Moore’s Upper Lambourn yard by landing the £7,500 (€11,400) Pontin’s Book Early Handicap.
The seven-year-old has done his recent running at Lingfield where he has been thereabouts and even beat Eva Soneva So Fast there in early December only to go down to the same horse last time.
Four of the entire’s seven successes have come over this distance of mile and a half, so it is fair to say he will be suited by the trip and does not have too much to fear from the opposition.
The Mark Prescott-trained Dramatic showed definite promise on his debut when sixth to stablemate Rosa Di Ma Corazon here earlier this month.
He should have come on a ton for the run and can waste no more time in opening his account in the Go Pontin’s Maiden Stakes.
