Our star daily duo of Rory Delargy and David Massey are back with a look ahead to today's racing.
0.5pts e.w. Club Manager in the 3.40 Punchestown at 17/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) - no lower
0.5pts e.w. Captains Nephew in the 4.15 Punchestown at 28/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) - min 25/1
0.5pts e.w. Bbob Alula in the 5.15 Lingfield at 12/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3) - no lower
CLUB MANAGER is from a stout flat family and won twice in handicaps for Andrew Balding last year at up to 2m.
He didn’t make a huge impact in his early starts for Gavin Cromwell, but the switch to a handicap saw him take a big leap forward at Bellewstown last time, where he defied an opening mark of 104 with a bit to spare. The son of Nathaniel was strong at the finish having crept into contention there and looks well up to defying a 9lb rise for that win.
CAPTAINS NEPHEW has won tow of his four starts in handicap chases, with his fluent jumping a feature of those successes. The handicapper has hit him for his recent half-length defeat of Mount Frisco at Fairyhouse, but the pair were 31 lengths clear of the useful Figaroc in third and the rise looks justified.
John Ryan’s runner-up tries Grade 1 company later on the card and Captains Nephew was conceding 10lb to him, so there is plenty to like about his profile over fences. His best form has come on heavy ground but I don’t think yielding ground will cause him any problems, and he offers a bit of value in a competitive contest.
BBOB ALULA is an old Pointers friend that can be relied upon to run his race at Lingfield, for all he doesn’t win that much, and he should reward each-way support again here.
In fact, he was unlucky not to double his tally here last October over this trip, finding trouble on numerous occasions but rattling home for third, only beaten half a length. He warmed up for this with a solid enough effort at Brighton a fortnight ago, and that should see him strip fitter for this.
He doesn’t need an end-to-end gallop, which is just as well as he’s not likely to get one here, he just requires a bit of room when making his challenge. Here’s hoping he gets a bit more luck in running than he did the last time he was here.
Teahupoo now bestrides the staying division like a colossus, and ought to confirm the form of his brilliant win in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham having been given seven weeks to freshen up. I’d not be keen to oppose him outright, but his presence does give the race an attractive shape for each-way betting, and I think Lantry Lady could be underestimated.
Lantry Lady has it to do on ratings, but she has raced only three times in her life and only just failed to get up for third in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on her latest outing. From the family of Annie Power, she preceded her Cheltenham run with a win in the Red Mills Trial at Gowran and gives the impression that there is plenty of improvement left. In a rather stagnant division, she may be the dark horse to shake things up.
Posted at 0950 BST on 02/05/24
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