Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, picks 5 to follow on Saturday; including the big Ascot meet, Haydock and Lingfield.
AFTER Kauto Star’s King George eclipse last weekend, Tony McCoy teams up with another Paul Nicholls superstar, MASTER MINDED (2.25), in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday and I don’t envisage any slip-ups. Sidelined Noel Fehily gave Master Minded two flawless rides when romping home at Ascot and Cheltenham earlier in the season, while regular rider Ruby Walsh steered Master Minded to a 16-length romp over Petit Robin in the 2009 running of the race. So, there is a bit of pressure on McCoy to deliver the goods here but it should be plain sailing over a course Master Minded clearly enjoys.
David Pipe has his string in impressive form and French import NOTUS DE LA TOUR (2.55) should go well in the Chandler-sponsored Grade 2 hurdle. Pipe has quickly stepped Notus De La Tour up in class after he ran second in the Fred Winter Juveniles’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and the five-year-old has scope for more improvement this season.
Hopefully, Haydock will pass its morning inspection, with PEDDLERS CROSS (2.05) continuing his Champion Hurdle preparation in this four-runner affair which sees the reappearance after a long absence of Alan King’s 2009 Triumph Hurdle runner-up Walkon. At a bigger price, MAKTU (3.15) must go well in the Peter Marsh Chase after finding the Welsh National too much of a slog at Chepstow. Maktu jumped and travelled superbly that day, if a little too keen for his own good, and this three-mile trip looks ideal.
At Lingfield, TRANSFORMER (4.15) is worth an interest now stepping up to 12 furlongs. Willie Jarvis’ five-year-old has an excellent record here (form figures of 221 on his last three visits) and he found only Lingfield Bound too strong last Saturday.
Tally Ho
Alan
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