Jump racing has managed to survive the
elements today, albeit with the card at Leicester an all chase version given
the state of the less protected hurdles track. That throws up a few interesting
contests, but none more so than the 15:30, in which one of my old allies,
Ikorodu Road is lumbered with top weight. He’s not the one who catches my eye,
however, as the Caroline Bailey-trained Three
Chords fairly leaps off the page off a BHA mark of 118. The reason for the
handicapper’s generosity is the lengthy absence since the son of Winged Love
(also the sire of the prodigious Hunt Ball) saw racecourse action in the spring
of 2011. We are therefore taking something of a gamble on his well-being, but
Caroline Bailey has “horsewoman” stamped through her in the way sticky
confectionery does “Blackpool”, and is more likely than most to nurse such a
horse back to its best. When we last saw Three
Chords, he was made favourite to concede weight to Maurice Barnes’
Garleton, and it’s no surprise that he was unable to do so given the progress
that horse showed subsequently, and Garleton’s last run came off a mark of 145.
Three Chords’ previous in-frame effort came behind Wellforth and Rey Nacarado,
when again trying to give that pair a stone and upwards, and there is no doubt
that his performances merited a mark north of 130. Even his C&D defeat of
Tafika in January 2011 reads well, as Paul Webber’s charge has gained a
reputation as a Leicester specialist, and has won both subsequent starts at the
Oadby venue. It’s possible to be tempted by several others here, with Buddy
Bolero unexposed and improving, Ballyoliver hailing from a rampant yard, and
Dashing George potentially getting the run of the race from the front, but
handicap chases have a habit of going to the best handicapped horses, and I’m
certain that a cherry-ripe Three Chords
is well ahead of his mark. The uncertainty over fitness is clearly a concern,
but has been fully factored into a price of 12/1.
Over at Ludlow, it’s somewhat
surprising to see Rydalis, who
sports the colours of Vida Bingham, trading at double-figure odds on Betfair
for the 15:10, which looks less competitive than the numbers suggest, and it’s
worth taking a chance on Venetia Williams’ lightly-raced chaser. Race favourite Father Probus produced a career
best back over fences on debut for Nick Williams at Fontwell last month, but
has a decidedly patchy profile, and wouldn’t be certain to back that effort up,
for all he looks to have the scope to do better, and Rydalis was also
successful at the Sussex track when trying fences for the first time. She was
too strong for Addiction that day, and the runner-up franked the form at
Huntingdon last time, albeit looking moody as she went about it. With Satou and
Milo Milan regularly spoling their respective chances with jumping errors, and
both Emperor Concerto and Kellystown Lad looking increasingly indolent, the
main danger would appear to be the well-treated Quinte du Chatelet. The concern is that the duo may take each other
on from the outset, which could set the race up for stronger stayers, but
hopefully such a scenario will not come to fruition.
Recommended Bets:
Back Three Chords in the 15:50 Leicester @ [13.0] (NAP)
Back Rydalis in the 15:10 Ludlow @
[10.0] (NB)
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