Red Alert, one of eight ‘decs’ for the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs Chelmsford today, is napped (again!) and there is a good reason we think this will be seventh time lucky, Franny Norton!
A fortnight ago Red Alert recorded his worst time-figure, with a better opportunity, over the minimum trip on this course, under Liam Keniry.
Easy to criticise in this game, which is all about winning and losing, but race-times tell their own story and visually Liam looked to have lacked drive and positivity; my clock subsequently confirmed that impression.
Punters were awestruck when a late effort by heavily-backed Red Alert failed by a head, presumably trainer Joseph Tuite will instruct Norton to hit the gate and sort out the whest from the chaff.
Three newcomers will be of interest in betting exchange markets but the only conceivable danger in my book is Alfono Manana, second the last twice and progressive.
BHA ratings have the latter a pound or two superior, we differ by about 7lbs!
Realistically Red Alert represents the first leg of an each-way double ‘special’ played into James Tate-trained Forest Angel in the Maiden Stakes over and extended mile on Wolverhampton tapeta.
Forest Angel raced both times as a two-year-old, at Newmarket!
Former trainer, Richard Hannon, knows what is required to win those ‘maidens’ at HQ and so must have had decent regard for Forest Angel, eh?
Coincidentally Hannon runs once-raced Willwams, a remote 25/1 shot when eighth of ten, beaten nine lengths by Opinionate at Lingfield last month; you can bet this Duke Of Marmalade gelding isn’t useless and is ‘on the premises!’ Isn’t all-weather racing fascinating?
Just Cameron heading to Naas
Just Cameron is set to make his second appearance in Ireland at Naas on Sunday.
Micky Hammond’s stable star ran a fantastic race to finish a clear second to Un De Sceaux in the Ryanair Novice Chase at the 2015 Punchestown Festival and has been campaigned at a high level during the subsequent two years.
The 10-year-old was well beaten on his seasonal reappearance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November, but has performed well at a lower level since, finishing third in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby over Christmas before returning to the West Yorkshire circuit to snap a long losing run last month. He will now head across the Irish Sea to contest a Grade Three chase over two miles.
Hammond said: “He ran well in the Castleford and stepped up on that to win a nice prize back at Wetherby.
“He’s been mixing it with some of the best for the last couple of years and finishing fifth or sixth, so it was nice to see him get his head in front again. He came out of Wetherby in good form. The plan is to run in Ireland at the weekend and we’re expecting a big run.”
Just Cameron finished sixth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last March and Hammond is keen to see how his charge performs this weekend before deciding whether to have another crack at the two-mile chasing crown.
“Let’s get this weekend out of the way before we think about Cheltenham,” said the Leyburn-based trainer.
Luckless Burke suffers injury again
Jonathan Burke’s injury woes are set to continue after it was confirmed he looks like missing the rest of the season.
Burke, formerly the retained rider for Alan and Ann Potts, has endured a miserable run with injuries in 2016 and had not long returned from a fractured fibula.
He suffered an injury to his shoulder at Navan on Sunday and has now been told it requires surgery.
His agent Gary Cribbin said: “Jonathan went for an MRI with shoulder specialist Hannan Mullett in Santry on Tuesday and it has been confirmed he has torn tendons in his right shoulder.”