Sternrubin Can Take Starring Role

It would probably be unfair to say that Richard Johnson is glad to see the back of Tony McCoy, but the absence of the perennial Champion Jockey does greatly enhance his chances of winning the British Jump Jockeys’ Championship for the first time. He’s made a decent start to the new National Hunt season, which began on April 26, and can extend his lead at the top of the table on Sternrubin in the Anchor Inn Cockwood Maiden Hurdle (5.55) at Exeter for his boss Phillip Hobbs.

The 4-year-old has chased home Lil Rockefeller in valuable juvenile handicap hurdles at Ascot and Sandown in recent months and, although still a maiden, appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to open his account. The prevailing good, good to firm in places, going is slightly faster than the son of Authorized has encountered for a while, but he was only narrowly beaten in a maiden at Thirsk on good going last summer, so shouldn’t be unduly inconvenienced by faster underfoot conditions.

Granted his high-profile connections, as well as his outstanding chance on the form book, it’s unlikely that the bookmakers will allow him to go off at anything but a very short price, but he should be very hard to beat.

Exeter 5.55 Sternrubin to win

Sporting Boy Looks Worth a Gamble

In the Exeter Interactive Handicap Hurdle (2.00) at Exeter on Tuesday, Sporting Boy has done all his winning with ‘good’ in the going description so, unsurprisingly, has a much better record in the spring and autumn than in the depths of winter. Johnny Farrelly’s 7-year-old is 4lb higher in the weights than when winning a similar race at Taunton earlier this month but is, in fact, chasing a hat-trick in this grade, having won over 2 miles 4 furlongs at Wincanton in November. Indeed, the third, fourth and sixth in the Wincanton race all won next time, so the form looks even stronger than it did at the time.

The son of top-class miler Barathea was outclassed in three better races – in which he started 25/1, 50/1 and 66/1 – in the interim but, back on top of the ground, in this grade, he should remain a force to be reckoned with. Jockey Brendan Powell Jr. presumably had the choice of riding Jumps Road, on whom he’s won four times over hurdles, for Colin Tizzard, so the fact that he sticks with Sporting Boy could be significant.

Selection: Exeter 2.00 Sporting Boy to win

Music Maestro!

In the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes (3.30) at Newmarket on Thursday, it’s difficult to get away from Music Master, who returns from an absence of 222 days, but has won on his reappearance for the last two seasons running and is officially the highest-rated horse in the race. The son of high-class sprinter Piccolo won the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last July, but also ran creditably in defeat in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, on good to firm going, and the Sprint Cup at Haydock, so could, conceivably, prove a cut above this opposition.

His nearest market rival, Astaire, has 5¾ lengths to find on their running in the Sprint Cup and is just 2lb better off at the weights. Kevin Ryan’s 4-year-old made a promising reappearance in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster, but didn’t find as much off the bridle as seemed likely at one stage and it may be asking too much for him to reverse the form. Music Master is fairly lightly raced for a 5-year-old and, on balance, looks fair value at 5/2 in the early price lists to make a winning start to the campaign.

Selection: Newmarket 3.30 Music Master to win

Rejuvenated Ballyegan Can Keep Up The Good Work

In the Bet Totetrifecta Handicap Chase (4.10) at Newton Abbott on Wednesday, it’s interesting to note that Ballyegan is unbeaten over fences this season and, although all four wins have come at Taunton, he should be equally at home around the tight, left-handed circuit at Newton Abbott as he is at the Somerset track.

Bob Buckler’s 10-year-old, who won off a mark of 99 in his heyday, steps up to 0-115 company under a 7lb penalty, but he’s at the top of his game at present and looks to have a decent chance of completing a hat-trick. He faces five thoroughly exposed rivals, none of who appears obviously well handicapped and, having already officially improved by 27lb since November, can continue his rejuvenation.

The son of Saddlers’ Hall appears versatile with regard to distance, so stepping back up to 2 miles 5½ furlongs should be no problem and he’s won four times on the prevailing good to soft going. Jockey Liam Heard has an impressive 4-9 (44%) strike rate on Bob Buckler’s steeplechasers and, having won on Ballyegan the last twice, comes in for the ride once again.

Selection: Newton Abbott 4.10 Ballyegan to win

Monday Preview - Satchville Flyer Can Take a Leap Forward

The racing on the Monday immediately following the Cheltenham Festival inevitably has an air of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’, but Satchville Flyer was only just touched off on his hat-trick attempt at Kempton last time and can resume winning ways in the Bet Toteplacepot Handicap (3.00) at Chelmsford City. The Compton Place gelding had previously won over 6 furlongs at the Essex track, making all on both occasions, so the drop back to the minimum trip may actually be in his favour.

Brett Johnson’s 4-year-old steps into 0-70 company for the first time, but races off the same mark as at Kempton and, although he may be harried for the lead by the likes of Billy Red and Roy’s Legacy, has a quietly progressive profile. Bizarrely, he was tried at up to 1 mile 2 furlongs as a 3-year-old, but – unsurprisingly, given his pedigree – dropping back to sprint distances has been the making of him and he may not have stopped improving yet.

Jockey Pat Cosgrave is 2-5 for trainer Brett Johnson on the all-weather (both wins courtesy of Satchville Flyer) and he appears to have every chance of improving that record.

Selection: Chelmsford City 3.00 Satchville Flyer to win (5/2 with Sky Bet)

OLBG Mares’ Hurdle Preview – Awesome Annie Looks All-powerful

Willie Mullins apparently holds all the aces on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, with ante post favourites for five of the seven races, two of them odds-on. The Co. Carlow has farmed the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle since its inauguration in 2008, winning it six years in a row with the extraordinary mare Quevega, and has every chance of doing so again with Annie Power.

Initially trained by Jim Bolger, the Shirocco mare has tasted defeat just once in her 12-race career, when going down by 1½ lengths to More Of That in the Ladbroke World Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. Certainly, she wouldn’t appear out of place in that race, which is one of the few where Willie Mullins isn’t strongly represented, this year, so the decision to run her in this race instead could be highly significant.

As it stands, Annie Power officially has 7lb and upwards in hand of her rivals, she has won over 2 miles 4½ furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham and is equally as effective on the prevailing good to soft going as she is on soft or heavy. The only negative against her appears to be the fact that she’s been off the course for 311 days, since winning the Mares’ Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last May, but she won on reappearance last season and Willie Mullins clearly knows how to ready one for this race.

Selection: Cheltenham 4.00 Annie Power to win

Monday Preview – Dontcallmeoscar for Bravura Performance

The nature of racing on a typical Monday makes life difficult when it comes to providing a ‘confident’ selection, but Dontcallmeoscar appears to have an outstanding chance of defying a 7lb penalty in the Ladbrokes Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (4.50) at Southwell. The son of high-class jumps stallion Oscar is clearly thriving on his return to Dorset trainer Mark Gillard and was completing a hat-trick when keeping on well to beat Bach On Tow, by 2¼ lengths, on heavy going at Wincanton last week.

The 8-year-old is almost unrecognisable as the horse that lined up at Wincanton on Boxing Day – a maiden after 16 starts, off a handicap mark of 78 and, justifiably, 33/1 – and looks one to follow until beaten. Of course, adding weight will eventually stop any horse, but he’d already gone 18lb when he returned to the Somerset track last Wednesday, so it’s debatable whether a further 7lb rise will make much difference, especially against limited opposition.

His inexperienced rider has only had five rides over obstacles, but won on one of them and Dontcallmeoscar seems a straightforward, honest type, who’s been ridden to victory by conditional jockeys on his last three starts. He does, however, like to race on, or close to, the pace, so hopefully he won’t become embroiled in a battle for the lead with the likes of Zero Visibility or Santo Subito, who’ve both made the running in the past.

Selection: Southwell 4.50 Dontcallmeoscar to win

Thursday Preview – It’s Not Rocket Science

Michael Wigham’s 7-year-old Trojan Rocket has really taken off in recent months and can defy another 5lb rise in the weights in the Olswang LLP Backing Winners Handicap (8.10) at Chelmsford City on Thursday evening. The Elusive City gelding only prevailed by a neck over course and distance last month, but was always holding the runner-up on that occasion.

Furthermore, the second, third and fourth from that race went on to fill three of the first five places in a similar, but more valuable, handicap at Wolverhampton earlier this month and the fifth, Glen Moss, was only just touched off in a Listed event at Lingfield last Saturday, so the form looks significantly stronger than it did at the time.

Trojan Rocket has been raised a total of 11lb since returning to action at Kempton in November but, in light of subsequent events, the latest 5lb rise is probably neither here nor there and he looks to have an outstanding chance. It’s unusual for a horse to find significant improvement at the age of seven, but improve he most definitely has and looks one to follow until beaten. George Baker, who has an excellent 5-18 (28%) strike rate for Michael Wigham on the all-weather, for a level stakes profit of £18.63, comes in for the ride.

Selection: Chelmsford City 8.10 Trojan Rocket to win

Wednesday Preview – It’s Oscar Time Again

Although now a 14-year-old, Oscar Time proved he was no back number with game win in the Becher Chase, over 3 miles 2 furlongs, on the Grand National course at Aintree in December and, although 6lb higher in the weights, must have every chance of winning the Betbright Cheltenham Festival Fund Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3.25) at Doncaster on Wednesday.

Robert Waley-Cohen’s charge remains 3lb lower in the weights than fourth in the 2013 Grand National and, having won all three of his completed starts since, is a confident selection to beat his fellow senior citizens. The weight rise is offset by the drop back into 0-150 company and, although he’s been off the course for 74 days, he’s won after much longer absences in the past and presumably doesn’t take much getting ready.

Three miles on the prevailing good to soft going should suit him admirably and, with regular partner Sam Waley-Cohen taking off a useful 3lb, he’s frankly hard to oppose. Robbie, Reaping The Reward and Aachen have their stamina to prove, Burton Port and Shoegazer appear woefully out of form and last year’s Grand National fourth, Alvarado, has an absence of 319 days to overcome.

Ikorodu Road, on the other hand, is 1lb lower in the weights than when third, beaten just 2 lengths, in this grade over course and distance in December and looks the principal danger if none the worse for his fall at Catterick last month. Graham McPherson’s 12-year-old has been lightly raced in recent seasons, but one win from his last thirteen starts hardly inspires confidence.

On balance, Oscar Time looks the one to be at 9/2 with Betfair Sportsbook.

Selection: Doncaster 3.25 Oscar Time to win (9/2 with Betfair Sportsbook)