Monday horse racing tips: Ross Millar's three best bets
As a proud Welshman, and big rugby fan, my patriotism is currently being severely tested. Happily, though, my fellow Welshmen, Sam Thomas and Christian Williams, were able to deliver winning performances as, between them, they landed the two big handicap chases on Saturday.
The Christian Williams-trained Cap Du Nord was well supported to land back-to-back victories in the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase, just a week on from winning the Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot. He wasn’t able to oblige, with it very likely those previous exertions were the reason for this below-par effort.
The prize still made its way across the severn bridge, though, as Our Power, off the back of a 119-day absence, powered to victory under a typically all-action Sam Twiston-Davies, meaning he’s now won both starts this season.
I believe this demonstrates what a talented trainer Sam Thomas is becoming as a look back through the form of Our Power would show that this is a horse that usually takes a run before finding top form, yet twice this season he has won off elongated breaks. A superb effort by Sam and his team.
Our Power holds entries in both the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and the Randox Health Grand National; it’s hard to believe that he won’t be on everyone’s shortlist for both.
The disappointment for Christian Williams and his team will have been short-lived as just twenty-five minutes after the Kempton disappointment, stable favourite Kitty’s Light finally landed a big Saturday staying handicap having run so valiantly to be placed in many previous attempts.
I’m sure it is a victory Christian will have taken great satisfaction from. Not only as he nurtured Kitty’s Light since buying him for moderate money as a yearling, but he’s also done the same with stable jockey Jack Tudor since he joined the yard as a teenage conditional.
After the race, Christian suggested they’d contemplated not running on the heavily watered ground, and the softer than expected ground certainly saw Kitty’s Light deliver a few less than fluent leaps.
However, his jumping passed the test when it mattered up the home straight and he ultimately ran out as a cosy winner, with his ears pricked inside the final 50 yards.
I’m sure all roads will now lead to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National, as it did for the yard’s Eider winner last year, Win My Wings.
Better ground at Ayr will suit Kitty’s Light far better and, provided the handicapper is fair, he looks to have an outstanding chance of landing the double for his shrewd trainer.
Monday’s racing comes from Ayr and Plumpton, from where I have three selections, with every race from the former live on Racing TV. Best of luck.
The front two in the market, Doyannie and Shaw’s Cross, clash again after battling out the finish over this course and distance at the end of January.
On that occasion, a finely judged ride by Nick Scholfield saw Shaw’s Cross head Doyannie in the final few strides.
On 2lb better terms for just a one-length defeat, Doyannie should be capable of reversing the form. However, I thought she finished weakly last time and I see no reason why that will be any different now.
Shaw’s Cross finished exceptionally powerfully there and would have won by further but for getting in tight to the second last.
The presence of Line Of Descent and Clondaw Robin should insure that a strong gallop is set, and I’m confident the excellent Nick Scholfield can pounce late once again.
Blue Bikini looked good when she bounced back to form on her last start at Taunton, staying on strongly over 2m3f.
Her jumping was scrappy over the last two hurdles there, but that was her first outing for 279 days.
If she is sharper for that experience, a 4lb hike from the handicapper shouldn’t stop her with this extra trip, and the stiff Plumpton finish, likely to bring about more improvement.
Since losing his claim, Connor Brace has found rides harder to come by, with just five rides in the past two weeks which is a symptom of having to compete for rides with talented, and stylish, claimers Liam Harrison plus Jack Hogan, as well as the experienced Paddy Brennan.
But he’s always a jockey who has impressed me with his strength in a finish and I have no doubt that, given the chances, he’s more than capable. I’m confident Blue Bikini can get him off the cold list here.
Patrick Neville is enjoying a stellar season, with stable star The Real Whacker a genuine contender for Cheltenham Festival glory.
However, it is his strike-rate over the past two weeks that is most impressive as he is currently operating at a staggering 57 per cent.
Glentruan is yet to win for him, but was a shade unlucky not to do so at Catterick this month in a race Neville won with Kavanaghs Cross.
Glentruan appeared to be travelling supremely well approaching the second last but a clumsy leap there saw him on the back foot. He was rallying again, although made another error at the final flight before flying home to finish a never-nearer second.
The longer straight at Ayr should suit him better, as will the extra furlong in trip. Gavin Sheehan makes the long trip to Scotland for just one ride, and I’m hopeful it will be a worthwhile one.
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