We lost a lot of jump racing earlier in the week but the cold snap has abated in time for the higher-quality action on offer as we get closer to the weekend. Today's Huntingdon card is full of interesting races but the opening maiden hurdle for mares looks pretty uncompetitive and Fretwork (1.50) can take advantage.
Sent off favourite for her Chepstow debut, she couldn't get home on the heavy ground that day but a step up in trip on better ground is likely to suit her ideally. Aidan Coleman looks good value for his 7lb claim at this early stage of his career.
Saraba (2.20) is a big price for the following handicap hurdle because, on her return from an absence of almost two years, she blew out completely on soft ground at Folkestone last month. She was always going to need that, however, and should go much closer on today's better surface. The form of her maiden hurdle success here immediately before her layoff gives her every chance off this mark.
Rose Davidson looks like being sent off favourite for the novice chase, in which she rides her father's Modicum. I remember a Nick Mordin system which advocated backing any horse ridden by a woman that started 2-1 or shorter -- punters are so naturally chauvinistic that any such horse must have a really strong chance, was the gist of Mordin's reasoning.
Davidson is capable against fellow amateurs but there's every chance she could make a mess of a race like this against professionals and I prefer Desert Quest (2.50), who was a couple of stones better than Modicum over hurdles. He may not be a natural over fences but his pace serves him well in such contests and he's two from two over the larger obstacles, against Modicum's nil from three.
Desert Quest has been switched from Paul Nicholls' stable since he last ran and is now trained by a friend of former owner Harry Findlay.
There are a couple of horses running today who could give an insight into the chances of two Cheltenham Festival fancies. Both are too short to be backed today but their efforts should be monitored.
The first is the novice hurdler Hold Em (3.25), last seen in a Grade Two at Cheltenham, chasing home Aigle D'Or. The latter is now 6-1 favourite for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle on the Festival's second day.
Hold Em deserves to be favourite but Middleton Dene (ridden by Rose Davidson), Lightning Strike and Crocodiles Rock will make this a proper test and victory will be an authentic boost to Aigle D'Or's chances.
The other Festival yardstick is Kalahari King (3.45) at Ayr. Ferdy Murphy's charge was a beaten favourite at Doncaster last time in the race won by Rippling Ring, now pressing for favouritism for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Kalahari King faces what should be a straightforward task and will be long odds-on today.
Grand Theatre (4.50) is a more appealing betting proposition at the Scottish track. Few trainers turn out as many talking horses in bumpers as Alan Swinbank and his Katapult looks like starting odds-on for this, but Swinbank's Scale Bank was also odds-on when stuffed in a similar race at Musselburgh last month, when Grand Theatre ran a promising second on his debut. Getting half a stone from the favourite, he's too big at around 6-1.
I can't believe there's 11-4 available on Betfair about Premier Yank (2.00) in the opener at Southwell. Jamie Osborne's expensive three-year-old has been beaten through greenness on his two starts so far but things happen more slowly on this Fibresand surface and his pedigree suggests it should suit him.
1.30pm Talking Horses moves the market
Premier Yank now 3-1.
2pm Fretwork wins at 2-1
Thought we were in trouble half a mile out when Coleman started pushing and scrubbing but the challenger was Senora Snoopy, who is now winless in eight attempts over hurdles, having been second five times. She's clearly lacking in grit and Fretwork outbattled her close home.
2.05pm A quick double as Premier Yank wins at 9-4
Talking Horses is quite literally on fire. Up at Southwell, Premier Yank asserted in the final furlong for a comfortable success.
2.25pm Saraba hammered
Ran well for a long way but couldn't quicken when required. May need a step up in trip. The race went to the favourite Brook No Argument, who finished strongly from a mile back. Someone managed to get £1 on at the maximum 999-1 on Betfair. Who risks a grand to win a quid?
2.55pm Rose Davidson wins on Modicum
Another winner for that Mordin system. Davidson did a nice job there, but I still thought Desert Quest was going to win as he cruised alongside on the run to the last. Incredibly, Modicum outpaced him on the run to the line. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Desert Quest's appetite for a battle is now highly questionable.
3.30pm Hold Em edges out Junior
Hold Em looked tapped for toe at the top of the straight and touched 13-1 in running but ran on stoutly and withstood a late challenge from Junior. Both horses finished behind Aigle D'Or in the Cheltenham race, so that one looks a solid favourite for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.
Matuhi ran well before tiring late on, which is a boost to the form of Gary Moore's Numide, who beat Matuhi on his debut and is being aimed at the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Good afternoon, Dr Kelso
As you see, Hold Em's done the hard part for you. It's perfectly true that Desert Quest has shown signs of temperament in the past but I felt he could win today's race without having to battle. Nice of you to rub it in, though!
3.45pm Kalahari King a non-runner
No more Cheltenham clues today.
4pm Good shout, SirEnnerty
I'm Supreme could be called the winner a long way out. His main market rival, Wild Ground, was in trouble with a circuit to go.
Talking Horses, Dr Kelso routed in Ayr bumper
Charity Lane made it two wins from two outings and may make a decent hurdler when the mud's flying. Katapult third, Grand Theatre not sighted.
That's it for today, folks. Two winners from five for a small level-stakes profit.
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