It always pains me to abandon an old favourite, and I feel slightly guilty to be fielding against the gallant Qianshan Leader at Exeter today, given how well Emma Lavelle's charge ran in the face of what turned out to be a daunting task at the track last month (damn you Standing Ovation, damn you twice!), but logic dictates that he will again have his work cut out when lumping top weight in the 14:35. Not only has he been shunted up the weights again, but he looks sure to be pestered for the lead he needs, with market rivals Trafalgar and Barlow having also shown their best form under forcing tactics. The likelihood of a three-way-go for early dominance means that this race will be set up for a finisher, and one who fits the bill is Ultragold, an ex-French youngster who has been noted learning the ropes in a couple of starts since joining Colin Tizzard in the summer.
At Cheltenham's Showcase meeting, Ultragold did a very good impression of being overpriced, weakening quickly from the top of the hill. While that was an inauspicious start, he showed much more positive signs in an eventful novice handicap chase at Wincanton last time. He travelled as well as anything in that race until both he and Polisky were sideswiped by the fall of Hot Whiskey. He still looked like taking a major hand until slipping on the approach to the final turn (not picked up either in commentary or by the formbook, although that's understandable given how many other incidents there were). Looked after from that point, he managed a very respectable fourth, and looks capable of better.
That race has thrown up its share of winners, and that tally should have been added to when Polisky threw away certain victory at Ascot on Saturday. That augurs well for Ultragold's future prospects, as does the decision of the official handicapper to drop him a couple of pounds. He's one to keep on side this season, and he can prove the point by scoring against seasoned handicappers today.
The Irish card at Navan is an absolute belter, and there are a pair that I fancy to run well. In the two-mile handicap hurdle, I though Court Frontier was interesting. The Conor O'Dwyer-trained gelding showed fairly useful form in bumpers, and now goes handicapping after a few quiet runs over timber. He caught the eye at Cork a week ago when finishing fourth to the promising Real Steel, and was the only one to make any significant inroads from off the pace that day. This comes soon enough after what was a bit of a slog, but this is a fairly modest affair, and he appeals as being on a potentially lenient mark.
In the concluding bumper, it's hard to understand why Shesafoxylady is favourite, as Willie Mullins' mare was beaten by Elsie at Punchestown last time, only to get the verdict in the stewards room. That looked the correct decision at the time, but shows there's little between the pair, and Elsie now has a swing in the weights. There are plenty of other dangers, with the third home that day, Toe The Line, less exposed than the pair who beat her, and looking ill-suited by the modest gallop there. I'm inclined to take the current favourite on in the place market, but will settle instead for backing the filly with the best form. That filly is Princess Leya, who showed abundant promise on debut before absolutely annihilating a modest field at Cork last time. She didn't achieve much on the clock dues to a very modest early pace, but that simply makes the way she sauntered to an eighteen-length win all the more impressive, and she looks a cut above today's rivals if that effort is taken at face value.
Recommendations:
Back Ultragold @ [8.4] in the 14:35 Exeter (NAP)
Back Court Frontier @ [8.0] in the 12:55 Navan
Back Princess Leya @ [3.75] in the 15:25 Navan (NB)
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