Well we just about covered ourselves today, though we were just a place away from securing a nice each way double. Little Midnight Jazz again ran her heart out for Kielan Woods and Ben Case at Cheltenham, but she could only manage 6th which was frustrating with Paddy Power paying out on 5 places each way. I have no complaints about her run though and Ben Case revealed afterwards that she would now be heading off to stud. I can’t wait to see her progeny on the track and if they possess even half the bravery of Midnight Jazz they should be alright.
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| If ever a horse deserved a happy retirement it is Midnight Jazz. |
Trans Wood was my other selection and after staying solid at 20/1 all day the money came for her half an hour before the race. Sent off at just 8/1 she went the shortest way throughout on the inner but I don’t think she travelled as well as she is capable of. However, she still managed to stay on well after getting tapped for toe as they turned for home and we got our each way money as she grabbed 3rd. It has been a brilliant week of racing so far and the Scottish Grand National meeting starts at Ayr tomorrow.
The ground has even managed to dry out a bit up North with the lovely recent weather and the ground is forecast to be good to soft at Ayr on Friday. One horse that looks sure to relish the decent underfoot conditions is Katachenko for Trevor Hemmings and Donald McCain. This 9yo son of Kutub produced arguably his best ever run this time two years ago at Aintree when scoring in a 16f Grade 3 handicap chase off a mark of 133 (gd/sft) and he is only 2lb higher here.
That remains his last victory and last season was something of a non event for him. He returned to action this season after a 246 day break back at Aintree and he ran a massive race on ground that would not have suited to go down by a nose to Play The Ace off a mark of 131 (20f hvy). He was nowhere near as good as that last time out when a beaten favourite at Kelso but he has been freshened up after that below par effort.
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| Katachenko has an excellent record fresh. |
That is a cause for optimism regarding Katachenko’s chances at Ayr as he has a good record when fresh. His form figures when returning from a break of 50 days or more read 31423522 and it has been 96 days since his last run. Brian Hughes rode for the first time on his last outing at Kelso and though the horse disappointed, Hughes generally has a good record when riding for these connections.
Hughes has had a total of 101 rides for Donald McCain, winning 26 races and finishing in the first 4 on a further 40 occasions for a very healthy frame hitting strike rate of over 65%. He has similar figures when riding for owner Trevor Hemmings, gaining 18 wins from 103 rides with another 45 top 4 finishes. It is Katachenko’s first visit to Ayr but he likes going left handed as his wins at Aintree, Wetherby and Kelso illustrate, so the odds are he will take to the track. I think Katachenko could be primed for a big run on Friday and at odds of 20/1 he is worth chancing each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: 3.45 AYR-KATACHENKO E/W 20/1
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