Paul Ferguson has two selections from Musselburgh for us on Friday; Clever Cookie in the 1.00 and Princely Player at 2.00. Compare odds and bet.
Musselburgh stages a decent card on Friday and division two of the novices’ hurdle looks a competitive heat, with Franciscan proving he can jump when winning on debut and Pulpitarian shaped with a deal of promise on debut at Aintree recently.
Both should have little trouble with conditions hailing from the Flat and, while that is a slight concern (that he maybe meeting a couple of fairly speedy sorts), a chance is taken on dual bumper winner Clever Cookie (1:00) who won on this card last year before following up at Market Rasen in June.
That lay-off proved he can go well fresh and Peter Niven described him as a “proper horse” after that fast-finishing success. Plain Sailing, a close up third, has given that form a boost by winning twice since and the son of Primo Valentino is taken to maintain his unbeaten record.
Later on the card, conditions look absolutely perfect for chasing debutant Princely Player (2:00) who Philip Hobbs sends on the long journey north from Minehead.
At his best held up on decent ground over this sort of trip, the six-year-old meets three horses who like to race up with the pace and the race should be set up for him.
If he jumps adequately under Richard Johnson, everything is in place for the King’s Theatre gelding to strike at the first time of asking. He opened up 6/4 with Bet365 on Thursday evening and was quickly attracting plenty of support.
Finally, I can’t let today’s column go by without a mention for the one and only AP McCoy, who registered his 4,000th career at Towcester yesterday. There isn’t much I can add about the ‘Champ’ that hasn’t already been written, but it was fitting that he reached this landmark with a typical ‘AP’ ride – the man is a genius!
Friday’s selections:
1:00 Musselburgh: Clever Cookie; 7/2 Skybet
2:00 Musselburgh: Princely Player; 11/10 888Sport
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Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2013-14
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New for 2013-14:
Grade 1 winning jockeys Nick Scholfield and Jane Mangan provide readers with their horses to follow
Last years results included:
* Leading Prospects, Arvika Ligeonniere (x3), Boston Bob, Captain Conan (x3), Champagne Fever (x2 inc Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Glens Melody, Melodic Rendezvous, Simonsig (Arkle) & Un Atout won 13 Grade 1 novice contests between them
* My Tent Or Yours won 4 times including the Betfair Hurdle and the Top Novices’ at Aintree
* Stable Round-Up included Neptune winner The New One, Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Court Minstrel and David Pipe’s Dynaste of whom it read “could follow the Grands Crus path of last year, starting in the Steel Plate And Sections before he is readied for the Feltham” – he won both races and also scored at Aintree in April
* Across The Sea – Mount Benbulben 14/1 winner of the Grade 1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival
* Under The Hammer – horses featured in this section included Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill (25/1) and The Liquidator, who won the equivalent Grade 1 at Punchestown – this section has been greatly increased for 2013-14
