Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Thursday; What Lies Ahead in the Leopardstown 21:00 and Second Step in the Newbury 21:10 Compare odds and bet.
It’s a case of saving the best until last at Newbury on Thursday evening, with the concluding three-year-old handicap looking a pretty warm contest and it can pay to focus on those towards the head of the weights.
Well-supported overnight, Fun Mac should bounce back from his Haydock fifth, while Godolphin debutant winner Arabian Revolution could well have been let in leniently on an opening mark of 84. The grey looked useful when winning at Lingfield, but preference is for top-weight Second Step (9:10) who also looked one worth following when winning a maiden at the track in late May.
That race has worked out pretty well and the son of Dalakhani looks sure to appreciate the step up to 1m4f. Luca Cumani’s gelding was trading at 5-1 overnight and, with the race looking pretty deep, he should be backed each-way.
Over in Ireland, smart bumper performer What Lies Ahead (9:00) is an interesting runner in the 1m6f maiden that rounds off Leopardstown’s card.
A winner at Punchestown in February, the Saffron Walden filly shaped well when runner-up here on debut and rounded off her National Hunt campaign by finishing third in Listed company at Limerick.
Expected to appreciated this better ground, Wayne Lordan’s mount is the youngest in the field and, potentially, open to the most improvement. She looks a useful filly in the making and should be one to look out for under both codes as the year goes on.
Thursday’s selections:
9:00 Leopardstown: What Lies Ahead; 6/1 William Hill
9:10 Newbury: Second Step; 4/1 Paddy Power
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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
