To no one’s great surprise, given the weather forecast overnight and also for the remainder of the day, Ayr’s meeting over the jumps scheduled for Monday afternoon failed to pass a morning inspection. That leaves Hereford as the only action in daylight, but Kempton will take over with a twilight card at 4.35 which will include Frankie Dettori’s first ride in Britain this year.
Dettori has taken just half a dozen rides in Britain in the first month of the year since 2003, not one of which was before 22 January, and only 13 in January and February combined in the same period. He is not, by any measure, a mid-winter jockey, in northern climes at any rate, but Dettori’s booking to ride Toast Of New York in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Florida on 27 January – the most valuable race of the year – offers him a serious incentive to be as fit and sharp in late January as he would want to be in mid-June.
Dettori is aboard Dream Mount for Marco Botti in the Matchbook Casino Handicap over a mile, and his booking alone will probably ensure that his partner sets off as the favourite. It could well be a false price, however, as Dream Mount failed to build on his success in a maiden at Lingfield in September on his two subsequent starts last season and faces several rivals with scope for significant improvement.
Sharp Reminder (6.10) could give the favourite most to do, having shown improved form to finish about two lengths behind the winner in a nursery at Newcastle in December. James Tate’s filly would probably have finished closer still with a clear run to the line, and while she is up 4lb for being beaten, her steady progress to date implies that victory off a mark of 74 should be within reach.
Captain Pugwash (5.10) had no luck at all at Lingfield last time out, when he was forced to switch after being hampered around a furlong out and still finished within half a length of the winner. Even in defeat, that run confirmed his return to form when successful off 62 over seven furlongs at Chelmsford City in December, and he will take some stopping off a 4lb higher mark.
Baron Du Plessis (2.00) ran well over an inadequate trip at Doncaster in mid-December and looks ready to record a first success over fences over 25 furlongs at Hereford, while Steel Express (2.30) should also go well at a fair price on the same card.
Ayr Abandoned
Hereford 12.20 Nigh Or Never 12.50 Rock My Style 1.25 Carole’s Vigilante 2.00 Baron Du Plessis (nb) 2.30 Steel Express 3.05 Castafiore 3.40 Ratify 4.10 Blue Flight
Kempton Park 4.35 Olaudah 5.10 Captain Pugwash (nap) 5.40 Lucymai 6.10 Sharp Reminder 6.40 Danzan 7.10 Mrs Burbidge 7.40 Iley Boy 8.10 Ardamir
