DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28
1.25 DONCASTER
DREAM SHADOW still managed to post a career high on the figures at Warwick last time out despite the suspicion the heavy ground wasn’t to her liking, and she is afforded another chance to get her head in front at a slightly lower level.
Fergal O’Brien’s inmate travelled as well as anything at the Midland track, but when push came to shove from the home turn, she just didn’t have the capabilities on the day to keep tabs with the front three.
That said, it was a very competitive Grade 2 that was run at a sound gallop, so it probably pays to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Given the way she hit the line the time before over an extended 2m4f and being a former Irish point winner, today’s step up to three miles should suit and she certainly has the class to make a big impact.
DREAM SHADOW – 1-point win@7-2
2.15 KELSO
Dan Skelton has a good bunch of novices this season ,Mydaddypaddy and Sinnatra being the pick of the pile, but time may tell LE BEAU MADRIK isn’t a million miles off that pair and he is fancied to back up that view on his first outing in graded company.
The five-year-old has gradually worked his way through the ranks, with connections opting for a quietly-quietly approach, and that pragmatic campaign appears to be paying off on the evidence of his latest success.
The son of Beaumec De Houille huffed and puffed at Newcastle when scoring the time before – partly due to being badly hampered – but on his return visit, he was not only good visually, but the clock suggests he was too.
Given the conditions, they went a good gallop at the Gosforth Park venue and the way he quickened on demand in the latter stages to pull clear was impressive.
With the likes of keen-going pair Stamount and Kosac D’Oudairies in today’s field, the race should be run to suit and with a stalk and pounce ride, Le Beau Madrik will hopefully deliver the goods for a yard still ticking along at a healthy rate.
LE BEAU MADRIK – 1-point win@4-1
2.55 KELSO
As we’ve seen in this race in recent times, previous course form isn’t a bad thing and despite the obvious starting point being the winner for the last two seasons, Cracking Rhapsody, JET TO VEGAS and DECORATED HERO make more appeal at the prices.
The former landed the big Grade 2 on the corresponding card twelve months ago and it is worth noting, he ran the final circuit marginally quicker than Cracking Rhapsody did in the Morebattle.
Sent chasing this season, the seven-year-old has failed to make as big an impact as connections would have hoped and after wind surgery, they decided to shelve that project for the time being and reembark on a campaign over hurdles.
Whether he turns out to be as good as he was on the day this year remains to be seen but he does hail from a stable who have roared back to form with a vengeance in recent weeks and he is worth an interest to see if he can retain his unbeaten track record.
The latter is also yet to suffer defeat at the Borders venue, as his form figures of 111 testify, and despite having a ropey-looking profile of late, valid enough excuses can be made to paper over the cracks.
For starters, his effort when seventh in the Greatwood Hurdle behind Champion Hurdle outsider Alexei reads well and you can forget his next run at Aintree when he patently didn’t stay the 2m4f trip.
Unfortunately, he got no further than the first when strongly fancied to back up his previous run over fences at Musselburgh last time out, but it does mean he arrives here off a decent hurdles mark, and it is one he can exploit back at his happy hunting ground.
JET TO VEGAS – ½ point each-way@14-1 (five places)
DECORATED HERO – ½ point each-way@10-1 (five places)