The wet weather continues to take its toll on jump racing, with tomorrow's Ludlow card the latest casualty. Haydock will inspect at 8am on Friday for their meeting on Saturday. "Heavy'' has crept into the going report for Newcastle today, and the three mile trip will test the novice hurdlers in the third race on the card. Banoge (1.30) looks a thorough stayer, however, and he has the form to pick up a race of this nature after finishing a clear third best behind Quws and Viking Rebel in the mud at Ayr. Len Lungo's six-year-old also shaped well in bumpers last season and when third behind Hills Of Aran over 3m1f at Carlisle. His trainer won this race with a similar type two years ago.
Sir Mark Prescott will be keen to win a race with the filly Otaki (8.50), who is related to several winners, and she has to be of interest stepped up to two miles at Kempton tonight. Her dam, On Call, won over this trip and I don't think we should judge Otaki on her modest display here just before Christmas, as she was returning after an absence of 11 months over an inadequate trip.
Seb Sanders cannot do the weight on Otaki, but he is at Kempton and his booking for the John Hills-trained Golden Prospect (7.50) looks significant. Sanders won on Golden Prospect the only time he rode the gelding last season. Golden Prospect did not show much in two all-weather runs as a juvenile, but he has improved since then and his trainer places his horses pretty well at this level.
