Monday 30 October 2023 14:51, UK
Alan King's Masaccio can make his belated jumping debut a winning one in the Vickers.bet Maiden Hurdle at Chepstow after showing plenty of promise in bumpers.
A half-brother to plenty of winners, the six-year-old prevailed on his racecourse bow at Doncaster back in November 2020 and almost followed up at Ayr in the following spring before a subsequent setback saw him spend almost two years on the sidelines.
The patience shown by connections to keep him going was rewarded with placed efforts at Warwick and in a Newbury Listed event last term before going on to finish a fair seventh of 20 in Grade Two company at Aintree, when denied a clear passage. He sets the standard on his hurdling bow and his experience could be a useful asset against this set of rivals.
It could be a good afternoon for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who could take the Vickers.Bet Maiden Hurdle with Don't Tell Su. The five-year-old won a course bumper in the spring and it perhaps makes sense to return to the Welsh venue for his hurdling bow, which will take place in similar conditions. He got stronger the further he went in his two bumpers and now steps up in trip which is sure to suit.
The Ditcheat handler could also claim the concluding Vickers.Bet Proudly Supporting British Racing Open National Hunt Flat Race with an exciting recruit from the pointing field, Captain Bellamy. The four-year-old was an impressive 14-length scorer between the flags at Dromahane earlier in the year and could have lots more to come now representing a high-class operation under rules.
In the Download The Vickers.bet App Handicap Chase, it is David Pipe's Favori De Sivola that catches the eye. The eight-year-old obliged five times in total for both Nick and Jane Williams before moving across Devon to Pond House and is now 8lb lower than his last winning mark.
Also at Chepstow, Fortuna Ligna showed a good attitude when signing off last season with a maiden success at this course and looks fairly treated in the Best Prices Guaranteed Daily At Vickers.bet Mares' Handicap Hurdle.
On the Flat at Catterick, Tsunami Spirit is taken to land the opening British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes for Kevin Philippart De Foy. The son of Invincible Spirit made it third time lucky when running on strongly to comfortably account for well-backed runner-up Ezra Cee at Kempton, looking a very useful prospect in the process.
Tim Easterby's course regular Wade's Magic has been hammering on the door and could finally land a deserved victory in the Betting Sites Ltd @ bettingsites.ltd.uk Handicap, while stablemate Dark Jedi is now 21lb lower than his career high figure and can go one better than his recent track second in the Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Handicap.
Meanwhile, at Newcastle, John and Thady Gosden's Dolce Courage overcame clear signs of greenness when getting up on the line to upset odds-on shot Vultar on his Southwell debut and can go in again in the Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Novice Stakes. The son of Siyouni is bred to enjoy this step up to a mile and it may be significant that he was withdrawn from last week's horses-in-training sale, despite having been gelded.
Earlier on the card, Richard Fahey's Blue Yonder can claim the opening BetUK. Home Of The ACCA-FENWA Handicap off the same mark as when beaten a neck at Wolverhampton earlier this month.
SELECTIONS:
CATTERICK: 1.07 Tsunami Spirit, 1.42 Wade's Magic, 2.17 Dark Jedi, 2.52 Global Spirit, 3.22 Tarbat Ness, 3.52 Momaer, 4.24 Eldeyaar.
CHEPSTOW: 12.25 MASACCIO (NAP), 12.55 Don't Tell Su, 1.30 Favori De Sivola, 2.05 Fortuna Ligna, 2.40 Ventara, 3.15 Nocte Volatus, 3.45 Mammies Boy, 4.16 Captain Bellamy.
CURRAGH: 12.20 Samuel Colt, 12.50 Siesta Beach, 1.22 Rapid Mission, 1.57 Breezy Zoff, 2.32 Alalcance, 3.07 Helvic Dream, 3.37 Alfalfa, 4.07 Killeemore Lad.
NEWCASTLE: 4.10 Blue Yonder, 4.45 Vintage Love, 5.15 Gundogan, 5.45 Cusack, 6.15 Top Gun Tina, 6.45 Copper Mountain, 7.15 Dolce Courage, 7.15 Carlton And Co, 7.45 Sydney Bay.
DOUBLE: Masaccio and Captain Bellamy.
