Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Sunday; Perfect Harmony in the Aintree 12:40 and Sam Brown 13:35 at Wincanton. Compare odds and bet.
Aintree’s new season gets underway with a cracking maiden hurdle, in which a case can be made for several bumper or Point-to-Point winners, including Alan King’s Perfect Harmony (12:40) who impressed when winning at Newbury.
The five-year-old fell on his sole start between the flags, but got his career under Rules off to the perfect start, before shaping with promise in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. The step up in trip will help this afternoon and he is given the nod – hopefully at an each-way price – in a race that ought to throw up plenty of future winners.
Of the opposition Aye Aye Charlie showed promise in bumpers, Global Citizen was an expensive purchase who impressed in his Point-to-Point and won a three-runner bumper at Worcester, and On The Blind Side reportedly arrives here with a tall reputation. But, it could be that Enniscoffey Oscar improves on his debut fourth to throw down a serious challenge and the Grade 2 bumper runner-up (at the Grand National meeting) might well be overlooked in the market.
Later on the card, the Old Roan looks an absolute cracker, in which a personal favourite of mine Cloudy Dream returns to action. Malcolm Jefferson’s grey has plenty more to offer this season, but he will need to step forward considerably and looks tight enough in the market, whilst I will be interested in Ballyarthur in the novices’ handicap chase.
However, the day’s second selection comes from Wincanton and in the shape of another smart bumper performer Sam Brown (1:35) who runs here instead of in the aforementioned maiden at Aintree.
Anthony Honeyball’s five-year-old beat subsequent Aintree winner Lalor at this track in February, before winning in testing ground – another Aintree winner Dame Rose was back in fifth – at Newbury. His trainer believes he will improve for better ground and it looks as though he has opted for the easier assignment for this debut.
Later on the card Storm Home is worth noting in the National Hunt novices’ hurdle over shorter. He impressed me with the way he moved throughout his Point-to-Point, in which he fell at the last, leaving Getabird (won two bumpers and was favourite for the Champion Bumper until meeting with a setback) to capitalise. He has a lengthy absence to overcome and faces a nice type in Diamond Guy, but he could be yet another smart youngster from the Colin Tizzard yard.
Sunday’s selection:
12:40 Aintree – Perfect Harmony 7/1 Bet365
1:35 Wincanton – Sam Brown 6/4 PaddyPower
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