Armandihan represents a rock-solid time-handicap nap for a 3-y-o Maiden Stakes over the straight Newcastle tapeta mile tonight; an absence of 138 days is a matter of indifference for this twice-raced Kevin Ryan-trained Zoffany colt.
Although both efforts where on turf Ryan doubtless realises, from experience, this is the ultimate all-weather surface with a climb throughout, which suits good-actioned thoroughbreds; Armandihan impressed in slower paces at Redcar last October when backed into favouritism under Kevin Stott, taking over from Tom Eaves but, disappointingly, failed to replicate his Ayr debut effort.
That first run was a cracker but there are two schools of thought with two-year-olds; either bring out a ‘beaut’, which you know will outclass run-of-the-mill maiden opposition, or give them an education outing which is all about ‘the first day at school’ and a return back to stables, free of any stress or likely trepidation.
Juveniles can go ‘through the barrier’ first-up with an over-zealous approach but, hopefully, this wont be the case with Armandihan, a grand type which should finish in a different parish, judged on either effort.
Our intention was to nap Ca La Ferra for a Novices’ Hurdle at Catterick, Tuesday, and rang trainer James Ewart for confirmation of the seven-year-old being declared.
During a pleasant, enlightening, conversation James told me Ca La Ferra would be declared instead for Musselburgh today and so that involved further study of the Maiden Hurdle over about two and a half miles of this ‘good to soft’ right-handed track.
No ‘cert’ by any means and marginally more difficult than the North Yorkshire task but Ca Le Ferra comes out clear ‘best-in’ and he’ll be travelled several hundred miles less which, nowadays, is a major consideration for owners and cost. Brian Hughes rides, none better.
James mentioned he’d bagged ‘twelve winners’ and this later become thirteen when Sky Full Of Stars won at Ayr by TWENTY-FOUR LENGTHS!
I’ve never asked jockeys or trainers for tips, preferring to give them my own advises but the Ewart camp is obviously in form and aspiring; later this month James intends treading new ground at the opening Doncaster turf-flat meeting and we’ll give you the name of his runner then. Confidentially, you understand!
Tom Symonds eyes Greatwood spoils
Hollywoodien is in the frame to give his owners Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings a second victory in the William Hill Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
Isio carried their colours to glory in the first running of the race back in 2004 and the Tom Symonds-trained Hollywoodien holds sound claims of providing them with another win.
The six-year-old won at Wetherby on Boxing Day and was a fine third behind the classy Garde Le Victoire last time out.
“Hollywoodien has a couple of options this weekend and the race at Newbury was the first one on my mind. I would love to run him in it because the owners won the race back in 2004 and it would be quite nice to try to win it again,” said Symonds.
“He is also in a two-mile handicap chase at Doncaster and a lot will depend on the ground. Good to soft would be fine, but we wouldn’t want it any softer.
“I think he will handle any going, but he jumps so much better when he can ping off the better ground. He can get a bit low over fences and his jumping is much better on a quicker surface.
“He can take advantage of lesser opposition over two miles but I think he struggles over that distance in the top races, like at Sandown last time, because he is not the fastest. He has run well over a longer trip and I think the track at Newbury will suit him.”
Dan Skelton’s Oldgrangewood is ante-post favourite for the Newbury feature.