Paul Ferguson fancies River D’Or in the 4:05 at Newbury: and Veiled in the 4:30 at Doncaster on Friday.
Though he has been off for a while and has yet to set the pulse racing in England, it is worth giving another chance to River D’Or (4:05) on his chasing debut at Newbury on Friday, which is also his first run since having a wind-op.
The Auteuil winner was pitched in to the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle on his British debut here in December ’09 and was subsequently send off favourite for a couple of competitive handicap hurdles.
The six-year-old has clearly had a setback at some point, as Paul Nicholls stated at the start of the season that he was targeting a novice handicap chase at the Hennessy meeting (a race he tends to do well in as a rule, so that is a positive) and off 119 he looks most interesting.
I have to say, it would have been nice to see Ruby Walsh booked on his first day back from injury, but it is understandable that he doesn’t want to return on a novice making his chasing debut.
Up at Doncaster Veiled (4:30) makes her first start for Nicky Henderson in a mares’ only handicap hurdle and, back on good ground, she is taken to strike off 111.
Rated 86 at her best on the level for Jeff Pearce and earlier Sir Mark Prescott, the daughter of Sadler’s Wells was a really impressive winner on her hurdles bow at Leicester, in what was a fairly poor race to be fair, and she finished fourth on her only other start over timber.
The five-year-old won three times on good-to-firm ground on the Flat during the summer of 2009 so she is likely to relish the conditions on the Town Moor.
Friday’s selections:
4:05 Newbury: River D’Or
4:30 Doncaster: Veiled
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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
