Paul Ferguson has three selections on Saturday including; Tistory in the Doncaster 4.40. Compare odds and bet.
The ground at Newbury was pretty testing yesterday, so conditions ought to suit the novice Tiqris (3:15) on his handicap debut, for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.
Placed in a couple of decent maiden hurdles over course-and-distance, behind Wilde Blue Yonder and Josses Hill, he got off the mark in decent fashion at Wetherby, before chasing home the improving Vibrato Valtat in a Listed contest at Exeter.
A mark of 129 looks fair and the son of Midnight Legend will need to score here, if he is to take up an engagement in either the County or Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. The selection was a best price 3/1 with Bet365 on Friday evening.
Nicky Henderson enjoyed a good day yesterday and he sends a couple of interesting sorts up to Doncaster. Mayfair Music (2:20) is first up and, though she will need to be a smart mare to take this Listed event, she is given the nod, as she is open to plenty of improvement.
The five-year-old beat a subsequent dual-winner on her sole start over timber to date and the step up to 3m on this ground should be ideal, whereas her chief market rivals have been doing their winning on heavy ground. At the odds (7-2 best overnight), she is worth taking a chance on, despite the fact this is a much stiffer ask than last time.
Later on the card, Tistory (4:40) can complete the double for Henderson and Geraghty in the extended 2m3f novices’ hurdle. Highly regarded since beating the classy Court Minstrel in a Ludlow bumper in March 2012 (had won two in France beforehand) the seven-year-old has clearly been difficult to keep sound.
He returned from 13 months off at Aintree last April and was sent off 2-1 favourite for the Grade 2 bumper. He went well for a long way before tiring and showed the benefit of the run when bolting up in weak company on his hurdles bow the following month.
He again appeared to blow up when returning to action in December, so it is hoped he is now ready to start fulfilling his potential. The son of Epalo ought to relish a bit of decent ground and a good performance here could see him book his ticket back to Aintree.
Saturday’s selections:
2:20 Doncaster Mayfair Music
3:15 Newbury Tiqris
4:40 Doncaster Tistory
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Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2013-14
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Last years results included:
* Leading Prospects, Arvika Ligeonniere (x3), Boston Bob, Captain Conan (x3), Champagne Fever (x2 inc Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Glens Melody, Melodic Rendezvous, Simonsig (Arkle) & Un Atout won 13 Grade 1 novice contests between them
* My Tent Or Yours won 4 times including the Betfair Hurdle and the Top Novices’ at Aintree
* Stable Round-Up included Neptune winner The New One, Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Court Minstrel and David Pipe’s Dynaste of whom it read “could follow the Grands Crus path of last year, starting in the Steel Plate And Sections before he is readied for the Feltham” – he won both races and also scored at Aintree in April
* Across The Sea – Mount Benbulben 14/1 winner of the Grade 1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival
* Under The Hammer – horses featured in this section included Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill (25/1) and The Liquidator, who won the equivalent Grade 1 at Punchestown – this section has been greatly increased for 2013-14
