With high quality action at both Ayr and Newbury, there's plenty of opportunities for punters to find a winner or two.
With high quality action at both Ayr and Newbury, there’s plenty of opportunities for punters to find a winner or two. Last season’s Greenham produced the eventual Guineas winner and the brilliant Kingman. We could see something similar tomorrow with some of last season’s best two-year-olds getting their seasons underway.
Dream price in Spring Cup
You’d be correct to think that the Spring Cup is one of the hardest races to predict at Newbury, but it seems Dream Spirit could be a great price. With only four starts so far he could improve significantly from last season. He ended the year finishing only a length behind Moohaarib, who went on to run a big race in the Lincoln at Doncaster. With four-year-olds winning the last three runnings of the Spring Cup, there’s plenty to like about the William Haggas trained four-year-old. The main danger could be Buckstay, who has some very good placed efforts in big handicaps. He seems to keeping finding himself slightly short of the mark and could come up short again. This season’s Lincoln winner Gabrial would have an obvious chance if replicating that performance, but could prove vulnerable off 6 pounds higher.
Estidhkaar to bounce back from his Dewhurst defeat
Richard Hannon holds a very strong hand in this season’s Greenham, but it might not be the obvious choice who wins. Estidhkaar seemed to be progressing nicely before disappointing when favourite in the Dewhurst Stakes. The Dewhurst was won by re-opposing rival Belardo who could also be given a chance of replicating that performance. Estidhkaar is preferred to favourite Ivawood. This is because Estidhkaar’s form comes over seven furlongs. The favourite, Ivawood, had been brilliant over the slightly shorter six furlongs before just being beaten in the Middle Park on soft going. The going could be a reason as to why he appeared below his best and a return to the quicker going should help.
Houblon Des Obeaux should not be discounted at 20/1 at Ayr
A very competitive Scottish Grand National could go the way of Houblon Des Obeaux who has some very good form this season. He has been unlucky and bumped into both the Gold Cup and Grand National winners this season and could finally have his big day. He started his season finishing second in the Hennessey at Newbury before two more placed efforts at Ascot and again at Newbury. He could be forgiven for a slightly poorer performance in the Gold Cup where Coneygree took many horses out of their comfort zone. He appears great value at 20/1. The newly acquired J P McManus runner Gallant Oscar will go to Ayr with a great chance after his good performance in the Thyestes in Ireland before running another great race when third in a big handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Another interesting runner could be last season’s winner Al Co who is due to be partnered by Sean Bowen who is in terrific form. He was unlucky to be hampered and unseat in the Grand National last week but he could show his wellbeing by winning the Scottish equivalent. He has been running well over hurdles during the winter and that could have lined him up perfectly for this test.
