Paul Ferguson has another selection for us on Wednesday; Akmal in the 3.50 at Nottingham, trained by John Dunlop.
Just the one selection again today, on the eve of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, and it comes in the day’s feature contest, the totesport.com “Further Flight” Stakes at Nottingham.
Improving stayer Free Agent is bound to popular for the already in-form Richard Hannon and Ryan Moore, but he is taken on at the prices with Akmal (3:50) who relishes good-to-firm ground and is un-penalised for his Group 2 Henry II Stakes at Sandown last April.
That day, the five-year-old led all the way and had too much for Saptapadi and Darley Sun, with Goodwood Cup winner Illustrious Blue back in fourth (Free Agent finished fourth in the Goodwood Cup, incidentally).
John Dunlop’s Selkirk chestnut failed to get home in the Ascot Gold Cup and didn’t get his ground on his final two starts last term, but there will be no excuses for him here so he looks set to go very well for Tadhg O’Shea, who twice won on him as a three-year-old.
Wednesday’s selection:
3:50 Nottingham Akmal
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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
