DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY APRIL 14
4.18 HEXHAM
Halpha Soleil has arguably been a shade unlucky not to win at least one of his last two starts over today’s course, but he is better known for his exploits over fences and whether he has the speed to cope with LES’S LEGACY (best price 11-2) on his return to hurdles is open to question.
Susan Corbett’s inmate has always had a soft spot for today’s Cumbrian venue, probably due to the fact he is trained only 30 mins away, but even so, the manner of his victory here 20 days ago was rather unexpected not necessarily in terms of form, but the time figure he posted for the grade.
After travelling well for the first two miles of the journey, the eight-year-old was kicked into a clear advantage at the fourth last and from that juncture, he maintained a strong gallop all the way to the line.
Not only was his overall time figure impressive, but his final lap also usurped the one achieved by the Willie Mullins-trained Road To Home, who took the two-mile novice event an hour later and it’s that nugget of information that makes him such an appealing proposition back over the same C&D.
Runner-up in this race last season, he can go one place better at the main expense of the two who chased him home here last time out, Romeo Brown and Final Edgar.
LES’S LEGACY – 1-point each-way@11-2
5.40 WARWICK
ORBYS RIVER (best price 5-2) has taken well to fences and with her latest victory at Bangor underlining that view, Sam Allwood’s mare is fancied to add to her tally for local connections.
A shock winner on just her second chase start at Ayr earlier in the campaign, she went on to prove that success no fluke with an excellent effort in defeat next time and after a slight blip due to unsuitable conditions at Leicester two outings ago, she bounced back to her best form at the North Wales venue 23 days ago.
Skipping along merrily in front throughout, her final circuit time indicated she set a pace the rest were unlikely to match and with the strong possibility similar tactics will be reemployed, the daughter of Ol’ Man River will prove hard to peg back.
ORBYS RIVER – 1-point win@5-2