After a torrid couple of weeks on the flat, I am glad to have some jumping action to get stuck into this weekend. First of all, Famed Again was far too keen early on at the Curragh on Tuesday. My hope was that she might settle better in the hood but she didn’t and there’s also a chance that the run may have come to soon after her big run at Naas. I still think she’ll win plenty of races.
The one I am interested in at Cheltenham on Friday goes in the amateur riders’ handicap at 3.35. I am hoping that Wick Green, trained by Ben Pauling, has been aimed this race. The 11yo son of Sagamix was a fine third in this last year, beaten just 1.5L off a mark of 121. A month later, he was fourth over 3m1f back here, beaten 5.75l off 122.
He then came back for a X-Country handicap chase in December
and while he only finished eighth, he was running from 12lb out of the handicap
so to be beaten 13 odd lengths wasn’t a bad effort. Subsequent to that run the
11yo ran below par races at Wincanton and Southwell in February and March and
he was poor again in two runs after a 143 day break at Worcester in
July/August.
However, the old boy shaped much better after another short
break three weeks ago. He finished third of six, 6.5L behind Musical Slave at
Fontwell (26f, gd/sft). That came off 117 and the handicapper has dropped him
another 2lb to 115.
That means he is now 8lb lower than when beaten 1.5l in this
last year and 2lb below his last winning mark. His rider has yet to win a race
under rules but after doing some digging he has ridden winners in point to
points so he isn’t totally inexperienced. Good ground will suit, he has run two
of the best races of his life at this venue and the first time visor might bring back some spark so at odds of 33/1, an each way bet
is advised.
Cheltenham Friday Tip: 3.35 – Wick Green e/w @ 33/1 (5
places)
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