Racecourse attendances suffer in midweek as a rule, but that won't be evident if you're watching pictures at Towcester today, where the crowd will resemble that at a major political rally. As if free entry isn't enough of a draw (other tracks seem slow to catch on to the success of this scheme), the possibility of witnessing history, as a certain jockey attempts to reach a certain number of career successes, seals the deal.
The continued focus of said jockey's achievements is a PR man's dream, but is threatening to become a little taxing for true fans of the sport, for whom the horses are at least as important as the men who sit astride them. So, without further ado, let's talk about what really matters, the Haygain Hay Steamers Clean Healthy Forage Mares' Handicap Hurdle....
The opening contest looks very tricky at first glance, with a big field of modest handicap hurdlers to choose from, but the testing conditions will soon sort the wheat from the chaff, and there are only a handful who make any real appeal on recent evidence. Je T'aime isn't living up to her excellent pedigree (half-sister J'y Vole was third in the 2010 Ryanair), and hails from a misfiring yard, while Niki Royal has been disappointing since winning her maiden here in January, and isn't certain to take to a first-time visor. Night of Passion is another one trying headgear for the first time, and has a bit to prove despite attracting support. Lansdowne Princess has also attracted support having joined the well-regarded Johnny Farrelly, but while such a move is noteworthy with horses who have lost their way, this 11-y-o was actually running well over fences for Gerald Ham when last seen, and isn't such an obvious improver, particularly with her hurdles profile a patchy one.
The one who stands out from the crown is Realta Mo Croi ("star of my heart" in Irish), who is totally unexposed, and showed much improved form when winning a Fontwell handicap in June from Band of Thunder and Franklino. She absolutely spreadeagled her field there, winning in a time which was more than four seconds quicker than that achieved by Mare Deja La in the second division of the same contest. The form looked solid at the time, but if there were any doubt, it was dispelled by wins for the second and third on their next outings. The handicapper has raised Realta Mo Croi a massive 21 lb for that success, but the bottom line is that she was simply on a wholly inappropriate mark starting out in handicaps, and looks up to defying her new mark today.
It takes something of a leap of faith to back Henry Hurst in the handicap chase at 13:40, with the Toby Balding-owned son of Bob's Return having failed to complete on all 3 of his starts over fences last season. That tells only half the story, however, as he was shaping really well when falling behind the useful Molotof at Taunton on his chase debut, and had no chance against Unioniste and Hadrian's Approach at Newbury next time. Another fall there on his handicap bow saw connections draw stumps and switch him back to hurdles. He's been running well in that sphere of late, making the frame on his last 4 starts, and returns to chasing from a very workable mark. His jumping is clearly a concern, but he's certainly got the physique to take to the bigger obstacles, and the drop in class should mean that he's not taken off his feet early, as he was a couple of times last term. He seems not to stay three miles, so hopefully today's trip will be within his compass, albeit with the stiff track a slight concern.
Recommendations:
Both at Towcester
Back Realta Mo Croi @ [6.6] in the 13:10 (NAP)
Back Henry Hurst @ [16.0] in the 13:40 (NB)
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