Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, picks out four to follow at Newbury, Kempton and Wolverhampton on Saturday.
WEIRD AL (3.05) fits the profile of a fast improving young chaser and he can bag the Hennessy Gold Cup for trainer Ian Williams at Newbury on Saturday. The seven-year-old dug deep to dead-heat with subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Little Josh at Carlisle last month and he receives lumps of weight from the redoubtable Denman. Burton Port is another exciting prospect on my shortlist.
On an excellent all-weather card at Kempton, ATLANTIC STORY (3.15) should be all the better for his comeback run behind Dream Eater at the course last week, his first in more than three months. Mick Easterby’s eight-year-old scored twice at Lingfield last January and can pay his way once again this winter.
In the other William Hill-sponsored Listed event, NIDEEB (3.50) is a horse at the top of his game and is fancied to complete a quick hat-trick. He got first run on favourite Summit Surge at Lingfield last Saturday but stayed on stoutly and the step up to 12 furlongs should be within his range.
JOIN UP (9.20) is worth the long wait at Wolverhampton. The four-year-old operates at a modest level but is very consistent. He has suffered from a couple of indifferent rides lately, with Ross Atkinson trapped wide and kicking for home too early at Lingfield 10 days ago. Join Up is probably better around Wolverhampton and the drop to seven furlongs shouldn’t inconvenience him.
Tally Ho
Alan
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