DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY MARCH 21
1.50 NEWBURY
GLANCING JACK is just one of those horses who is easy to warm to, and the favourable impression Tom Symonds’ inmate has created on his last two starts is enough to make him an interesting contender in this stiffer test.
The five-year-old was a big eye-catcher on his hurdling debut at Hereford back in January and on his return to the Midland venue a month later, he duly made no mistake by posting an authoritative in victory.
Seemingly suited by the step up in trip 27 days ago, the son of Passing Glance laid claim to even brighter days ahead and with what appears a workable opening mark, he looks to have been a shade underestimated in the early morning skirmishes.
GLANCING JACK – 1/2-point each-way@11-1
2.25 NEWBURY
You can set your clock by HELTENHAM over today’s C&D and, following another victory at his old stomping ground last time out, Dan Skelton’s looks to have been presented with a good opportunity to go in again.
Other than one complete blow out, his record at the Berkshire venue reads 1121 and his latest effort three weeks ago served as a reminder of how well today’s galloping track suits.
The fact he was sent off at 20-1 in the betting suggested he might have been using the race as a stepping stone to this one he has won in 2023 and 2024, but despite being totally overlooked for whatever reason, he came alive again after several indifferent runs to score with plenty n hand.
Posting a smart speed figure in victory, he has behind him subsequent Kempton winner Teddy Blue and Blow Your Wad, who ran a blinder at Cheltenham and a repeat of a similar level of form is going to make him extremely hard to beat.
HELTENHAM – 1-point win@5-2
2.40 KELSO
MOON PHASES left the impression he got bogged down in heavy ground here last time out, but it was still a reasonable effort in the circumstances, and he rates a strong choice to become a more potent threat under more favourable conditions.
Lucinda Russell and & Michael Scudamore’s inmate had already qualified for the final of this series courtesy of his game victory at Newcastle two starts ago so it was not the be all and end all that he came unstuck back at the Borders venue a month ago.
He also ran in a period when his stable was a little quiet and now the Milnathirt team are back singing and dancing, there are grounds to expect a more prominent show than his odds suggest.
MOON PHASES – 1-point each-way@11-2
3.00 NEWBURY
The final of this series is usually a keenly contested affair, and this season’s renewal appears no different, with a fair degree of the major contenders having already met in various qualifiers along the way.
Trying to ascertain the amount each horse might improve on past performances on route to Newbury is the tricky part, but there is a good chance there will be more to come from WATUMA, and she looks the value call at the respective morning odds.
Emma Lavelle’s mare took a couple of runs over hurdles just to learn the ropes and true to form, her third effort resulted in a success over the exceptionally talented Kharisma at Huntingdon.
Although she failed in her bid to uphold the form against her old rival at Market Rasen last time out, she was far from disgraced on ground that would not have seen her to best advantage and now back on more favourable conditions, the daughter of Crystal Ocean is fancy to spring to life again over a trip that should suit.
WATUMA – 1-point each-way@10-1 (five places)