DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MARCH 21
3.00 NEWBURY
MANUELITO (best price 7-2) can count himself unfortunate to bump into the upwardly mobile King Of The Lake at Exeter last time out but it was a performance to suggest he is very much heading back in the right direction and with his favoured good ground likely to suit him more than most, Philip Hobbs & Johnson Whit’s gelding rates a confident choice to return to winning ways.
On a roll during last summer until the wheels abruptly came off in the big handicap hurdle at Market Rasen, the son of Cracksman was moved to pastures new during the winter and following a run to blow away the cobwebs at Taunton, he sprung to life back on better ground at the west country venue a month later.
Sharper in all departments after that initial outing for 199 days, the five-year-old was the only one to offer any resistance to a horse who was a warm order to complete a quick fire hat trick and with the speed figure more than hinting it was an extremely good one for the grade (Teorie gave a big boost to the form on Tuesday), he can be backed with confidence to feature in this similar heat if running anywhere near the same level.
MANUELITO – 1-point win@7-2
3.20 MUSSELBURGH
The fact JOHNNY RINGO (best price 5-2) has had all his three starts over hurdles over today’s C&D clearly points towards the final of this series being his aim and arriving here following a useful effort against some smart juveniles in the Scottish Triumph Hurdle, Lucinda Russell’s inmate can secure the long-term plan.
Carnage at the last at the Scottish venue meant the Twilight Son gelding was fortunate to finish third in such a prestigious race but even so, if was still a fair effort in the context of today’s race and considering it was only his third start over hurdles, there are more positives than negatives to be taken from the run.
Prior to that performance in terms of quality and on the clock – a career high – he has landed a similar race to the one he faces today with a good deal of comfort and with the useful Conner McCann used to offset the bump up in the ratings he picked up here last time, everything looks set fair for another bold show from a juvenile whose form figures at the track under both codes reads, 23213.
JOHNNY RINGO – 1-point win@5-2
3.50 MUSSELBURGH
ALL THE GLORY (NAP) (best price 9-4) has been cutting her cloth in races a good deal tougher than the one she faces here this afternoon and having gained vital experience of the track with two solid efforts in victory and defeat so far this season, there is every reason to feel upbeat about her prospects.
Jonjo O’Neill’s inmate was always laughing at her rivals when sauntering to success on her first visit to the Scottish venue back in November and although she couldn’t quite replicate the victory in a much better race on her return last time out, her effort over a trip just short of her best still had to be commended.
Now back under her optimum conditions in the hands of a pilot who has a record of 113 on his mount, the daughter of Fame And Glory is likely to have too much class for her rivals and she deserves to be played accordingly.
ALL THE GLORY – 1-point win@9-4