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