Wednesday Talking Points: Ben Linfoot previews the day's racing as Black Op returns
Ben Linfoot previews a day that could be lit up by the return of Black Op, while Maria's Benefit is also in action and Gordon Elliott could make hay at Ayr.
1. Black Op returns at Exeter
It has been a low-key start to the season, to say the least, for some of the best novices from the last campaign.
Footpad and Samcro were expected to be two of the stars of the upcoming winter, and they still might be, but a horse that chased home the latter at the Cheltenham Festival could well emerge from his shadow at Exeter on Wednesday.
To be fair, I suppose Black Op already did that at Aintree. He became a Grade One-winning hurdler there. But at Exeter he makes his debut over fences and he carries plenty of expectation, as his position as the general 8/1 favourite for the JLT indicates.
His hurdling form entitles him to such respect. He really began to show his ability to a wider audience when chasing home Santini at Cheltenham on trials day and then he really forced his way into the limelight when the only horse to give Samcro a race in the Ballymore at the Festival itself.
At Aintree, Black Op had to battle hard to see off Lostintranslation, but he looks a fine recruit to the novice chasing division himself and the pair pulled clear of the rest, by three lengths, after a tense tussle for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
So it’s at Exeter where his fencing odyssey begins. The opposition doesn’t look bad and I’m A Game Changer and Kildisart should keep him honest.
But anything other than victory will be viewed as a disappointment and it’s to be hoped that this exciting individual comes through his first chasing task unscathed.
2. Maria’s Benefit's second chase start
Maria’s Benefit could take high rank in the two-mile novice chasing division this season as quotes as short as 12/1 for the Arkle show (she’s also as big as 25s FYI).
She certainly looked a natural over fences when making a winning chase debut at Newton Abbot last month and there will be plenty of opportunities for her to stick to mares-only company, as she does here in the Canter Carpet Mares' Novices' Chase at Bangor (1.20).
One thing to monitor is if she might prefer going right-handed. She jumped slightly to the right at left-handed Newton Abbot last time and goes left-handed again here at Bangor.
That looks a minor consideration and she certainly looks to have the class.
Rated 152 at her best over timber, albeit briefly (she was raised to that figure after a 30-length romp at Taunton only to come down 5lb following a Grade Two win on her next start), it will be interesting to see if she can better that number over fences.
This Listed race will give us an indication. She faces the 142-rated Jester Jet off levels here and that mare ran second to subsequent Wincanton winner Bags Groove at Ffos Las recently.
That was over 2m5f, so you would expect Maria’s Benefit to have too much zip, but still, this looks a nice next test in her development.
3. Gordon Elliott’s Ayr raid
Finally, Gordon Elliott sends six across to Ayr on Wednesday covering five races and Sean Bowen rides five of them, with plenty having good chances.
Elliott wouldn’t be as prolific at Ayr as he is at Perth, but seven winners from 48 runners at 15 per cent isn’t a bad career return and it is backed up by 13 seconds which suggests he’s a little unlucky not to have a higher strike-rate.
Wednesday’s runners could well rectify that beginning with Cold Shoulder in the first, a handicap hurdler that bids to back up a recent Bangor win off a 4lb higher mark.
Next up is Anytime Now in the maiden hurdle and this one could be well-named as this is his 10th start over timber. You might fancy him if you value experience but you might not if you think he’s exposed.
Elliott skips the next few races but has Isle Of Destiny in the mares’ handicap hurdle at 2.15 and she drops down to the trip (2m4f) that she won over at Hexham two starts ago, while Swingbridge, three from four for Elliott at Perth, makes his Ayr debut in the 3.20.
With two in the bumper as well, including a newcomer, the bookies could be running scared of Gordon multiples by then and jockey Bowen, currently three from 12 for Elliott in the UK, might have a significantly better strike-rate for him than he already has now come dusk.
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