The loss of Haydock Park’s meeting on Friday to frost leaves a big hole in the day’s programme, as the top-class Buveur D’Air was due to line up for his second start over fences amid a series of competitive and fascinating events, but the meeting at Taunton incudes a Listed event for mares and that has survived an inspection while Newcastle also pulls its weight with an eight-race Flat card on the Tapeta.
Coillte Lass (3.00) could be the answer to the Listed event for mares at Taunton. Paul Nicholls’s mare is two-from-two in novice hurdles so far, showing plenty of enthusiasm both times and jumping much better on her second start than she had on her first. Dusky Legend is likely to start favourite for this race and is trading at a shade of odds-on, but Alan King’s admirable six-year-old has many more miles on the clock and may be coming up a rival with the potential to beat her this afternoon.
Altesse De Guye (2.30) made a very promising start over fences last time and will have what it takes to land the novice handicap chase on the same card if she can make only normal progress, while Dashing Oscar (2.00) is improving rapidly for Harry Fry and should be good enough to win a novice hurdle with a big field but only a handful of runners with a worthwhile chance.
A bet on King Robert (1.20) is definitely worth consideration at Newcastle. Bryan Smart’s three-year-old found trouble in running at Wolverhampton last time out but still posted a solid fourth-place finish that would make him very competitive if he can reproduce it on the Tapeta. This is a tightly knit handicap, as it should be for a five-figure prize, but King Robert has a string of solid performances behind him and today should be his day.
Killermont Street (12.50) also catches the eye on the Newcastle card. She got a first win on her record at the second attempt in a maiden at this track last time out in November, despite showing obvious signs of inexperience. The time of that race stands comparison with anything her opponents can offer, and she is an attractive price at around 5-2 to follow up on her handicap debut.
