Fast-ground specialist Majorca "would go down the A1 if you asked him to" says his trainer, Ferdy Murphy, in this morning's Racing Post. That might be a novel way for Ferdy to cut down his fuel bill while doing his bit to save the planet but let's put eco-friendly throughts to one side and hope he sends Majorca (2.30) to Doncaster in an actual horsebox today because, as long as he turns up fresh and well, he has a great chance in ideal conditions.
This novice chaser showed the progress he's made this season when winning at Leicester recently and the distant third, Farmer's Lad, was a winner for Talking Horses at Taunton yesterday.
Final Veto (5.15) is another who'll appreciate today's top of the ground. Generally, I try to avoid serial losers in novice hurdles but Tom Tate's charge has legitimate excuses for his three beaten efforts over timber and his run last time, when he finished in front of the highly regarded Kalahari King, showed real progress.
Dorset trainer Paul Keane has had a lean season so far but, as with many another small yard, his is definitely worth following when hitting a vein of form. Keane has had a winner on each of the last two days and Allumee (3.15) can make it three on the bounce at Newbury. A little unlucky at Ascot in December, he won on his last visit here in March.
The pleasingly consistent Kings Euro (3.50) is a hard one for the handicapper to assess after his novice chase win at Towcester, as the chances are that he has a lot of scope to do better. He's much more likely to be well treated than Burren Legend, who is (wierdly) preferred to him in the market.
Aidan Coleman is at an early stage in his riding career but is already gathering plenty of plaudits and may earn some more in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle on Herald Angel (5.25). There's already been solid support for this one, as there has been for Moonlight Man (7.20), who could be the one to give Robert Winston his first winner since his comeback from a year's suspension at Kempton tonight.
2.35pm Majorca never ever at the races
Maybe Ferdy made him walk there after all.
4pm A 7-1 winner for Talking Horses!
Kings Euro outbattled Burren Legend and Double Dizzy for a very game success, ensuring a nice profit for us on the day.
Some of you may have noticed that I have not yet mentioned Allumee, who, alas, let us down rather badly. Luckily for me, there was some subsequent good news to bury him under.
5.40pm Resutls update
Herald Angel was a gallant second of 16 but Final Veto faded into a disappointing fourth.
Robert Winston rode a winner at Wolves this afternoon, so Moonlight Man is going to have to be his second success after his comeback - here's hoping.
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