Peter Naughton picks out the horses that have made it into his Notebook this week - don't miss it!
Indigo Times landed some fabulous bets for the Notebook (11-1) in the extended 2m handicap at Southwell on Tuesday.
Progressive on Polytrack since the removal of his hood, the gelding proved his liking for this surface with a smooth-travelling performance. Easy to back, he was bumped at the start and held up in rear but made headway when shaken up over two-out.
He needed only to be pushed out for a comfortable victory and this success on his first attempt on Fibresand provides options during the all-weather campaign. He will be difficult to beat back at Southwell on Friday.
He won over shorter last time, despite being unsuited by a slow gallop and is admirably consistent.
Also at Southwell on Tuesday, It's A Love Thing produced immediate profit for the Notebook (9-4) in the 7f handicap.
Well backed for his handicap debut when a good second at Lingfield two weeks ago, the gelding easily defied a 6lb rise here.
Having began in sprints, the son of Intrinsic is best at this trip and 1m and can progress again at this low level.
Fellow notebook horse Longshanks missed a winning opportunity at Taunton last week due to frost but is worth a bet in the novice hurdle at Exeter over an extended 2m2f on Sunday. He received a sympathetic ride when fifth in a maiden hurdle when keeping on over an inadequate 2m at Wincanton last time. This step up in trip on a stiffer track will be more suitable and he'll be even more exciting in handicaps.
Here are three exciting additions to the Naughton Notebook;
Rescue Package was last of seventeen finishers in the 2m2f mares' handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday but that doesn't tell half the story. Proven over 2m6f, the stoutly bred daughter of Montmatre was making ground on the leaders when badly hampered by the fall of Tintangle two-out. She was wisely allowed to come home in her own time as all chance had gone but her proven stamina would have been as asset in the closing stages without the mishap. Held up in rear, she was also slightly hampered at the fifth and deserves more chances, despite being raised 7lb for a Punchestown success 85 days earlier.
Demon D'aunou looked in need of a return to further when plugging on in fourth in the 2m handicap chase at Wincanton on Thursday.
Jonjo O'Neill's eight-year-old won at Cartmel on his chase debut in the summer but that was over a more suitable 2m5f.
The stoutly bred son of Martaline raced keenly when held up in midfield but made headway four-out here.
Outpaced three-out before running on, a step up in trip could reap dividends, especially on ground not as testing.
Movethechains was due to make his handicap chase debut over 2m2m at Taunton but the meeting was abandoned. Christian Williams' seven-year-old won a couple of Irish points and the runner-up in the second is unbeaten in five subsequent starts. Well beaten in novice and maiden hurdles, Movethechains is seriously well treated off 83 and can only improve. I can't wait to see him over 3m.
