DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY MARCH 25
3.20 HEXHAM
Road To Home, a rare raider to the Borders venue for Willie Mullins, clearly must be respected but at the same time his form so far in Ireland suggests he is no superstar, and he might just find HE’S BRAZILIAN (best price 3-1) providing him with all the trouble he can handle.
Jedd O’Keeffe’s inmate has already seen the backside of a Closutton-trained individual in the shape of Chart Topper at Wetherby, but he really caught the eye at the Yorkshire venue on his hurdling debut and, as a result, he was all the rage to build on that initial effort at Newcastle last time out.
Seemingly travelling best of all on the run down to two out at the Gosforth Park circuit, the five-year-old lost any chance of justifying his position in the market with a bad mistake but considering the way he picked himself up from that juncture, it’s safe to say he probably would have won without that untimely mishap.
Hopefully, his confidence won’t be too severely affected and in what looks effectively a match on paper, he rates the value call at the morning odds.
HE’S BRAZILIAN – 1-point win@3-1
3.35 TAUNTON
A wide open-looking handicap hurdle on paper but there’s a fair chance either MR ZEE (best price 6-1) or TARITINO (best price 10-1) can step up to the plate based on the pick of their recent form.
The former has probably the strongest performance in the book of the entire field courtesy of his fourth in a race which is providing a real money spinner to follow from Wincanton back in January.
The likes of winner, Chicago Storm, third, Just Aidan and also-rans Siam Park and Basman Palace (yesterday) have all proven the speed figure for the grade to be extremely reliable and given the way Michael Blake’s inmate stayed on from two out (on the swamp up the inside), his effort reads well in the context of today’s race.
No match for heavy favourite Grenadier Jed over today’s course last time out, at least he proved he can handle the west country venue and with more favourable conditions to suit, the eight-year-old will surely prove to be a significant factor.
The latter, like Mr Zee, is still awaiting his first success over hurdles but this four-time winner on the Flat has a reasonable chance shedding that tag if running to the same level he managed here last time out.
Keeping on well in the closing stages to finish on the coat tails of the main players, Joe Tickle’s gelding posted a useful speed figure in a race that was run at a solid tempo throughout and now down in grade (Class 4 to a Class 5), he has optimum conditions to make a bigger impact that he did 15 days ago.
MR ZEE – 1-point each-way@6-1
TARITINO – 1/2-point each-way@10-1
4.50 HEXHAM
Connections of HALPHA SOLEIL (NAP) (best price 11-4) had to make a tough call between running for big money at Carlisle on Sunday or come here instead to a track where he already had confirmed form and with the decision to go for the latter option probably the most sensible, Micky Hammond’s inmate rates a strong choice to reward their prudence.
Striving for his first win of the campaign here last time, he looked as though he was going to end his drought when sent clear after jumping three out at the Borders venue, but he was ultimately collared by track specialist Divas Doyen in the dying strides.
In hindsight, he was probably in front plenty soon enough, allowing his mind to wander, and with connections keen not to allow lightening to strike twice with the introduction of the first-time cheekpieces, his focus will hopefully be a little sharper if in the same position again.
Moreover, the addition of Brian Hughes must be seen as an obvious plus and with a slightly more conservative ride, he can gain compensation for his agonising defeat 12 days ago.
HALPHA SOLEIL – 2-point win@11-4