Catching Pigeons: Racing gossip and tips from the gallops
Cultivator features among this weekend's selections as our gallops guru rounds up the latest fancies runners.
Mister Fisher (3.10 Haydock)
Nicky Henderson made a flying start to the new jumps season with three winners at Punchestown and he has a sound chance of landing the first big race of the domestic campaign with Mister Fisher in the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.
A high-class novice last term, he was quietly fancied to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle last month, but was taken out because of the very quick ground.
It would have been unlikely that he would have beaten stablemate Verdana Blue, the runaway winner of that race, but there is nothing of the calibre of that very good mare here, and he looks nicely weighted.
Underfoot conditions should be fine for him, and connections have been very happy with his work.
House Of Kings (4.55 Haydock)
House Of Kings looks worth an interest in the Pertemps Network Handicap. Clive Cox has high hopes this season for this son of Camelot, who saw action on just three occasions as a two-year-old.
Placed on his first two outings, he made it third time lucky with a win at Leicester, and the form is solid enough. He looks to have found a good opportunity for his first outing and he should handle the easy ground well.
Now Children (2.15 Ascot)
Now Children, a stablemate of House Of Kings, can sink the hopes of Setting Sail in the Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap at Ascot.
The recent rain has significantly boosted the chance of this lightly-raced five-year-old, who had his problems last season and was restricted to just five outings in the year.
He won two of them, including a good event at Goodwood, and showed he comes readily to hand with a comeback win at Wolverhampton.
A further rise up the ranks is thought likely this term by the Cox team, and his preliminary work this Spring has been of a high order.
Bella Ragazza (3.25 Ascot)
Bella Ragazza sidestepped an opportunity last weekend because of fast ground, but underfoot conditions should be more amenable in the Listed St James’s Wealth Management Premier Fillies' Handicap. A progressive sort last season, she appears nicely handicapped.
Remarkable (4.00 Ascot)
Remarkable should go well for his new trainer David O’Meara in the Tote Victoria Cup Handicap.
The winner of a similar event to this for John Gosden last September, he was sold afterwards and made his debut for his new connections in a Listed event at the Doncaster Lincoln meeting.
He shaped well enough in finishing fourth, but will be more effective in this type of event and the ground will ride in his favour.
He was dropped a healthy 3lb for his exertions on Town Moor and his stable is in great form at present.
Queen Jo Jo (3.30 Nottingham)
Kevin Ryan has a big weeks coming up with East's appearance in the French 1000 Guineas (each-way shout) on Sunday and the York Dante meeting in the middle of next week, and a big run is expected from Queen Jo Jo in the Listed Kilvington Park Stakes at Nottingham.
The daughter of Gregorian will appreciate the return to six furlongs after a solid comeback effort in the Guineas Trial over seven at the Newbury April meeting.
She finished third in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York after winning a minor event at Beverley last term, and she should be at home on the easy ground.
Shantewe (5.35 Hexham)
Shantewe has some top notch form behind her and she can follow up her cracking third in a hot bumper at Aintree with victory in the carpetgallop.co.uk National Hunt Flat Race At Hexham.
Jamie Snowden's mare has come back well from that hard race at the Grand National Festival, and she is fancied to double her tally with accomplished 3lb claimer Page Fuller reducing her 7lb penalty.
Thebannerkingrebel (6.00 Warwick)
Thebannerkingrebel can make his recovery from a serious throat problem complete with his first success over timber in the McCoy Contractors Engineering Maiden Hurdle at Warwick.
A high-class bumper performer two seasons ago, his future looked in serious doubt after he developed a serious issue, but superb work from the Snowdon team brought him back to run an incredible race to finish second behind Mcfabulous at Aintree last month.
He has schooled nicely since and has shown his liking for this course in the past.
Cultivator (7.30 Warwick)
Cultivator can repeat his 2018 success in the Qatar Airways Handicap Hurdle.
Almost best after a break, he beat two very useful sorts in I'm A Game Changer and Fidux 12 months ago and is only 2lb higher this time around.
Henderson brings him back from an even longer absence this time around but he is in good form and again looks a sporting investment.
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