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