Racing will take its first significant step out of the latest lockdown restrictions next Monday when two owners per runner will be allowed to attend race meetings in both England and Scotland, albeit with no significant hospitality facilities in place. The move will allow a small number of owners to attend the Grand National meeting in early April while a further loosening of the restrictions will follow on 12 April, when government rules should relax to allows tracks to re-introduce outdoor hospitality.
Owners have been barred from seeing their horses, either in their stables or when competing on the racecourse, since early January, and the British Horseracing Authority said that it is “enormously grateful … for their patience, understanding and unwavering support” during the current lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
It will have been a particular blow for many owners to have been forced to miss last week’s Cheltenham Festival, and the fact that owners could not attend was suggested as one possible factor behind unusually small field sizes for several races at the meeting. Aintree, though, could be the beneficiary as jumps owners look forward to a day at the races after months off the track, while the big three-day spring fixtures on the Flat at Chester and York in early May will also expect to welcome several hundred owners at least.
The government has previously said that up to 10,000 spectators could be allowed back into stadiums from 17 May, depending on overall capacity, while 21 June – a week after Royal Ascot – remains the current anticipated date for “almost all” current restrictions to be lifted.
Tiger Roll’s Irish National rating
Tiger Roll, who ran away with the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham but has already been withdrawn from the Grand National in a dispute over his handicap mark, has been handed a rating of 163 for the Irish equivalent on Easter Monday.
The 11-year-old, now trained by Denise Foster after Gordon Elliott’s licence was suspended for six months by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, still has the Fairyhouse contest as an option, along with the Betfair Bowl at Aintree and the Punchestown Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival in late April.
He was scratched from an attempt to record a record-equalling third win in the Grand National after Michael O’Leary, his owner, suggested that his rating of 166 for the race by BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood was “unfair”. O’Leary also claimed Tiger Roll should have been rated “in the 150s”, so it will require a little back-tracking to let him take his chance at Fairyhouse off just a 3lb lower mark.
“We don’t take the form over the cross-country fences quite as literally as they do in Britain,” said Andrew Shaw, Ireland’s senior chase handicapper, “but at the same time he has won the Aintree Grand National twice. He was in at Aintree off 166, he’s 3lb lower here which is pretty much the same as last year, though I know neither race was run.”
Tuesday’s best bets
The prices suggest that the novice handicap chase at Taunton is the most competitive race by some distance, but there are question marks over a few of the market leaders and that could mean Tierra Verde (3.17) is the one to back at around 8-1.
Emma Lavelle’s mare made her debut over fences at Ludlow in November at the age of nine, but showed some promise off a mark of 102 to finish within five lengths of the winner. She took a handicap hurdle off 106 in March 2019 and stable conditional Jack Foley takes off another 7lb, so little improvement is required from Tierra Verde’s form to figure in the finish.
Hidden Charmer (4.15) is not the safest of jumpers but was only a length behind the winner at Taunton last time out despite a bad mistake two out and handles quicker ground, while Fisher Green (Wetherby 3.25) was back to form at Musselburgh 20 days ago in a race run in a strong time and may be able to get a slightly easier lead.
The 2016 Challow Hurdle winner Messire Des Obeaux added the Dipper Novice Chase – rescheduled at Wincanton – to his record in January but failed to back that up in the Scilly Isles Novice Chase next time and looks a decidedly iffy proposition at odds-on against Marown (2.20) on the same card.
Gentleman’s Dream (1.35), second-favourite for a handicap chase at Huntingdon when he looks to have the same chance as market leader Brooksway Fair, makes most appeal at the prices on the card.
Huntingdon 12.30 Kakamora 1.00 Seaside Girl 1.35 Gentleman’s Dream 2.05 Heure De Gloire 2.35 Ajero 3.10 Candy Lou 3.40 Doddiethegreat
Wetherby 1.15 Top Beak 1.45 Jeu De Mots 2.20 Marown 2.50 Ballycallan Fame 3.25 Fisher Green (nb) 3.55 Roxboro Road 4.25 Light Flicker 4.55 Hillcrest
Taunton 2.12 Camprond 2.42 Grandads Cottage 3.17 Tierra Verde (nap) 3.47 Chez Hans 4.15 Hidden Charmer 4.45 Galactic Power 5.15 Deputy Jones
