Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Monday; River Maigue in the Kempton 1.05 and Tistory in the Ludlow 1.20. Compare odds and bet.
Willie Mullins and, to a lesser extent, Paul Nicholls stole the headlines over the weekend, but this is generally the time of year when Nicky Henderson begins to unleash his better horses and he can kick-off the week with a successful Monday.
Firstly, the Lambourn trainer saddles his highly-regarded West Wizard in Kempton’s opening novice hurdle for the second year in a row. Beaten at long odds-on by the smart Sgt Reckless 12 months ago, he was sidelined thereafter, but the trainer retains the faith in this horse. He may well go and win, but faces no penalty kick today and will be sent off at prohibitive odds, no doubt. His return to action is certainly the highlight of the day, however.
Just half an hour later River Maigue (1:05) makes his debut over fences and, though he also faces no easy task, the seven-year-old is fancied to return to the winners’ enclosure for the first time since Boxing Day 2012.
He was successful on similar ground at this track on the King George card and always appealed as the type who would flourish once sent chasing. Tim Vaughan’s Fayette County is another who should make up into a nice chaser, while the returning Tango De Juilley is another interesting opponent.
Later on the card, Henderson saddles both Polly Peachum and Mayfair Music in the Listed OLBG Mares’ Hurdle over 3m and, had the ground been a bit drier, I’d have taken a chance on the latter at an appealing looking 12-1. She has yet to encounter bad ground, however, and is bred to appreciate a decent surface. A lovely looking daughter of Presenting, she is another to watch closely with the future in mind.
Up at Ludlow, Henderson saddles another interesting newcomer to fences in the shape of Tistory (1:20) who should be too good for his five rivals.
The seven-year-old has long been well thought of among the many stars at Seven Barrows and his defeat of Court Minstrel (conceding weight) on his British debut, in a bumper at this track back in March 2012, is a strong piece of form.
Things haven’t exactly gone smoothly with the chestnut since, but he is built for fences and could easily leave his hurdles form behind, now he embarks on his career as a chaser.
Monday’s selections:
1:05 Kempton: River Maigue; 4/5 Paddy Power
1:20 Ludlow: Tistory; 10/11 Paddy Power
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