Thursday Talking Points: Sweet Dreams
Ben Linfoot picks out some points of interest from Thursday's cards, from the naming of a moderate maiden hurdler in Ireland to a horse bidding to make Cheltenham via the back door.
1. It was Accidental…
2.15 Clonmel – click here for full racecard and form
A moderate gelding called ACCIDENTAL runs at Clonmel in the maiden hurdle at 2.15, but the story of how he got his name is a good one.
‘Bred’ by Patrick Mullins, you might’ve guessed his arrival into the world wasn’t quite as planned and the clue is that his dam, Airlie Beach, a Grade One winner that won nine times from 14 starts, was still strutting her stuff on the racetrack while Accidental was being reared ahead of his own career.
This is because Airlie Beach was in foal at only two years of age. But rather than this unplanned pregnancy being the result of one too many alcopops down the Lord Bagenal, the fault lay at the hooves of Miguel Angel, a horse that was thought to be a gelding when he was put in a field with a young, unsuspecting, Airlie Beach, upon his arrival at Closutton.
Of course, he wasn’t. And 11 months later out popped Accidental. Unfortunately he doesn’t look to have inherited his dam’s ability, but it would be unfair to pin this on his sire, as well, as he did at least win a race once he’d got a few things out of his system.
2. Henderson >>>> Nicholls
2.25 Ludlow – click here for full racecard and form
Prominent owners Grech & Parkin have switched their KUPATANA from Nicky Henderson to Paul Nicholls, so it will be interesting to see if the 10-time champion trainer can improve the former Seven Barrows charge at Ludlow on Thursday.
A 133-rated chaser, Kupatana looks to have plenty of ability but her Achilles heel has been her jumping, as recent form figures of UF2 suggest.
A bad mistake at the sixth fence at Ludlow last time probably went some way to costing her victory against Little Miss Poet, as well, so the Ditcheat handler will be hoping Harry Cobden can get her jumping as she bids to add to her sole success over fences (at Kempton) in the Wye Valley Brewery Chase (2.25).
3. Earl bids to go in again
3.00 Ludlow – click here for full racecard and form
EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS looked a horse on a steep upward curve when winning at Market Rasen last time and he could well have little trouble in defying an 8lb hike in the weights at Ludlow (3.00).
He’s set to be a warm order in the Wye Valley Brewery “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle after an easy success on his latest start, the extra furlong on Thursday unlikely to trouble him.
His jumping has improved hugely since the start of the campaign, he’s getting better with experience and he looks the type to rank much higher than his current 125 by the end of the year.
The EBF Final at Sandown was mooted as a target in the aftermath of Market Rasen, but, whether that still remains an aspiration or not, this contest is very much in calmer waters and he could well notch up another victory before going on to bigger and better things.
4. Sweet Dreams are made of this…
4.20 Taunton – click here for full racecard and form
COLONIAL DREAMS bumped into a horse on a real roll last time but he can get his first win of the season under his belt in the Subaru Handicap Hurdle at Taunton (4.20).
Sixth to the ultra-progressive Erick Le Rouge on his seasonal return at Kempton on Boxing Day, he came on for that run when just going down to Ballymoy at Ascot on January 19, a race in which he traded at 2.22 in-running on Betfair after travelling up smoothly under Nico de Boinville.
Raised just 3lb for that, he’s handicapped to win and Nicky Henderson has found a good opportunity for him here, as he hunts a penalty that could potentially get him in the Coral Cup or Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival.
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