DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY APRIL 4
2.12 HAYDOCK
The Merseyside venue has become a real haven for prominent racers in recent times and WE’RE RED AND BLUE and BUCEPHALUS, who both fit the mould, are taken against the field.
The former has been known to make the running in the past but he is just as happy racing in behind the speed and presuming Bucephalus will assume his normal role from the front, Jonjo & A J O’Neill’s inmate can take the trail until unleashed with his effort down the home straight.
His effort when third in the Imperial Cup last time out represents very good form and the fact he arrives here relatively fresh with only two runs since the turn of the year behind him is seen as a plus.
The latter arrives here on good terms with himself courtesy of his all-the-way win at Newcastle last time and as he has proven in the past, he is dangerous customer once he gets the bit between his teeth.
The nine-year-old has also struck up a really good relationship with Harriet Tucker and he has the necessary requirements to lead it out from the front. He should trade much shorter than his morning odds in running at the very least.
WE’RE RED AND BLUE – 1-point win@4-1
BUCEPHALUS – ½ point win@20-1
4.20 NEWTON ABBOT
CALL ME LEGEND can count himself unlucky to get nutted in the shadows of the post at Exeter last time out and compensation awaits this consistent sort at a track where he has enjoyed success in the past.
Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s inmate was well supported to defeat a competitive field at the west country venue and everything went according to plan until the late thrust of the winner upset the applecart.
Despite his agonising loss, which would have been a real body blow to all concerned at the time, the speed he posted was some crumb of comfort going forward and a performance of a similar magnitude will hopefully prove good enough this time around for this former bumper winner at the track.
CALL ME LEGEND – 1-point win@11-4
4.30 HAYDOCK
LARGY GO has twice left the impression two miles has been an insufficient test of stamina and this former impressive point winner looks to have been handed a very lenient mark on handicap debut to press home that viewpoint.
So far, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding has looked an expensive 305k purchase at last year’s Goffs Aintree sale but in fairness, racing over the minimum trip for a horse that looked a strong stayer in his Irish point win (very good time figure) was always liable to catch him out and that theory has proved to be the case.
Due to his ineffectiveness, he has, however, been given a rating of 106 that might prove to way short of his true worth and now racing over a full mile further, he will have to be filed into the ‘one to avoid’ tray if he fails to deliver the goods.
LARGY GO – 1-point win@11-4
6.00 HUNTINGDON
SWEEPER SYSTEM benefitted from a dryer surface and a drop back in trip when scoring at Wetherby last time out and with connections keen on searching for the next available opportunity for him to repeat the dose, Sam Allwood’s gelding rates a strong choice to excel again.
Disappointing on handicap debut over the same course previously, 2m4f on soft, winter ground clearly didn’t see him in a favourable light, but he proved to be a totally proposition on his return visit two months later, travelling well before staying on strongly to withstand the late rally by Ice Jet.
Not only was this a hugely improved performance when recording his first win, the speed figure he posted was extremely favourable for the grade and a slight readjustment of his mark to 106 still gives him plenty of wriggle room to play with.
SWEEPER SYSTEM – 1-point win@4-1