After a busy ‘Super Saturday’ at York, Newmarket and Ascot, the racing quietens down on Sunday with two jumps meetings from Stratford and Perth.
In the 2m½f Class 4 Milton Harris Owners Group Juvenile Hurdle (2:50), Two Past Eight will be favoured as a debut winner for trainer Alan King. The three-year-old was unable to make the frame on the flat but seemed to appreciate the switch to hurdles when scoring by two-and-a-quarter lengths at Aintree. He made a bit of a jumping error at the final flight and will have learnt plenty for the experience.
Nadim deserves a first hurdling win on his sixth attempt in the 2m2½f Class 5 CNRE NEC BU Family Day Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2:15). The Milton Harris-trained gelding has finished runner-up on his last two starts, including a narrow defeat as favourite over two miles at Southwell. He has been making some jumping errors and hanging in the closing stages, so the first time cheekpieces could make a significant improvement.
The Galahad Kid was a two-time winner in NH flat races and has his second start over hurdles in the 2m½f Class 4 Hook Norton Veterinary Group 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (3:25). The Fergal O'Brien trained gelding started favourite at Southwell on hurdling debut and produced a solid effort, finishing second behind Young Merlin. He's won twice in point-to-points and may prove hard to beat in this field.
A competitive field line up for the 2m½f Class 3 Bryan & Heather Boskett 40th Wedding Anniversary Handicap Hurdle (For The Stratford Summer Salver) (4:00) with Aliomaana expected to produce a big effort for the Milton Harris yard. The former course and distance winner returned after a lengthy absence with a solid third at Newton Abbot and looked like she would come forward for the run, having jumped to the left in the early stages.
Out of the top two in the market for the 2m3½f Class 5 National Racehorse Week 9th - 17th September Handicap Chase (4:35), Jet Of Dreams appeals for the Warren Greatrex yard. He has the assistance of Jonjo O'Neill Jr after regular rider Dylan Kitts had his license suspended by the BHA and produced a good second at Southwell over two miles last time. He has run over two and a half miles and further, but this interim trip is expected to suit.
Hunting Percival can be erratic but connections will be hoping he can complete a double in the 2m6½f Class 5 Ladies Day Is The 23rd July Handicap Chase (5:10). The Syd Hosie trained eight-year-old has a tendency to either go very well or be pulled up in recent starts, failing to complete on two of his last four runs but winning and placing second in the other two. He had to fight hard for his success at the track last run when scoring by half-a-length and they may have got the measure of him now.
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – NADIM
RACE 2 – TWO PAST EIGHT
RACE 3 – THE GALAHAD KID
RACE 4 – ALIOMAANA
RACE 5 – JET OF DREAMS
RACE 6 – HUNTING PERCIVAL
