The action is down to three cards this afternoon after Wincanton, to no-one’s great surprise, succumbed to overnight frost following an inspection at the track this morning. Temperatures were down to -7C overnight and it was a similar story at Exeter, which is due to race on Friday. The meeting there, which is due to include the Harry Dutfield Novice Chase with a £22,500 prize fund, is also now subject to an early inspection.
Not all is lost for David Bass, however, as the jockey will now make his rapid, and somewhat unexpected, return from injuries suffered in a fall at Ascot last month up at Leicester, where he rides Braw Angus and Pulling Power for Kim Bailey. He may be kept waiting for a winner, however, as the promising London Prize (1.05) and Moscato are likely to turn the opener at Leicester into a match, while Tullow Tonic (2.35) makes most appeal at the prices in a competitive handicap hurdle later on the card.
The most competitive races of the day are on the all-weather at Chelmsford, where the two most valuable contests on the card have drawn fields of 14 and 16.
Gold Club (5.15) is an interesting contender for the sprint handicap, as he attempts to reverse recent course-and-distance form with Pearl Spectre and Dutch Golden Age. Ed McMahon’s runner finished fourth there, beaten two heads and a neck as Pearl Spectre recorded his second win in a row, but Gold Club was racing for the first time since May and is now 3lb better off with the winner.
He has also been lightly-raced since an excellent second place in a good time, again over today’s track and trip, back in April and makes much more appeal at around 8-1 than Pearl Spectre, the favourite, at 7-2.
Loyalty (5.45) is a more speculative choice in the mile handicap that follows, and as a nine-year-old he is unlikely to show improved form today. However, you do not need to dig too far back into his form to find a run that would put him very much on the premises today, as his close second over this course and distance back in March was as good as anything he has produced in recent seasons. His two runs since, in October and November, have not shown as much promise but should have put an edge on his fitness, and at around 16-1, the uncertainties are built into the price.
East Coast Lady (6.15) should also go well on the same card, while Chic Theatre (2.25) and Fled Or Pled (3.00) are the two that make most appeal on the jumps card at Market Rasen.
