Paul Ferguson highlights two horses to follow in the antepost markets as snow and ice call off today’s racing.
Even Wolverhampton’s all-weather card is abandoned on Monday and it seems likely that we may once again need to brace ourselves for a short period without jumps racing.
Let’s keep everything crossed that Kempton are able to stage their big Festive fixture, which kicks off with three Grade 1’s on Boxing Day and, in the meantime, I will once again provide a couple of names for the notebook each day.
Cheltenham staged a fantastic eight race card last Saturday and the last race of the two-day fixture could work out well, even though it wasn’t run at a great pace.
Mossley (N J Henderson)
The four-year-old once again travelled like a potentially smart horse and maintained his 100% record under a confident Barry Geraghty.
The son of Old Vic fell when about to win his sole Irish point and made a winning debut for his current connections at Worcester on 5 June, when most racing fans would have been focused on Epsom and Workforce’s Derby success.
After making a successful hurdles debut at Huntingdon in October, he took the step up in class in his stride at Cheltenham and looks a lovely long-term prospect.
He should have no trouble in dropping back in trip in a more truly run race and Henderson nominated the EBF Final as a possible end of season target in March.
Teaforthree (Miss Rebecca Curtis)
A winner at the fourth time of asking in the Irish point ranks, this taking Oscar gelding then ran in a heavy ground bumper at Cork in April before joining Rebecca Curtis.
The six-year-old, who looks every inch a chaser, shaped well in a Cheltenham bumper and a Chepstow maiden hurdle on his first two starts for Curtis, before landing the odds in a 3m Ffos Las novice hurdle.
This was a big step up in class, but he put up a fine performance to finish third, especially as he would have been more inconvenienced by the sedate pace than the speedier winner.
He will make a smashing chaser next season, but can win a decent race over hurdles first when meeting a sterner test of stamina.
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Last year’s selections included:
Hurricane Fly: 3/1 winner of the G1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle
Copper Bleu: 12/1 winner of the Jewson at Cheltenham
Great Endeavour: 18/1 winner of the Festival Plate
Tranguil Sea: 11/2 winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup
Sizing Europe: 6/1 winner of the Arkle
Weapon’s Amnesty: 10/1 winner of the RSA Chase
