IT was great to start 2019 at the home of jump racing on what was certainly a very competitive card at Cheltenham and where Venetia Williams showed the tremendous form of her string, with Aso winning off top weight in great style.
At Warwick on New Year’s Eve Commodore had similarly won in tremendous style, leading from start to finish.
Warwick was rewarded with a bumper crowd and the team at the course have being doing a tremendous job of getting good numbers to all their meetings, with plenty of innovation and well executed ideas. The hospitality is excellent and Warwick won Best Fine Dining (Small Racecourses) for their 1707 Restaurant at The 2018 National Racecourse Catering Awards.
Today’s racing takes in Ayr and Newcastle, where Nicky Richards could have a very successful afternoon, with two of his runners included in my selections.
Have a fantastic 2019 and go racing.
Cheers!
2.40 Ayr 2m 5½f Hurdle
One For Harry has won second time out on each of the last two seasons and can strike here for Nicky Richards. It is clear in recent seasons that he has always needed his first run, yet he has plenty of ability, having amassed eight career wins and finished second on seven occasions. Trip and ground conditions all suit, with the yard in good form.
Unibet 7/1 each way
3.10 Ayr 3m Chase
Nicky Richards’ has five runners at Ayr, with Glittering Love looking to have a good chance of following up his Hexham success last month. This seven-year-old has gone up nine pounds for the victory, yet looks sure to continue to progress, having already shown as a point-to-pointer that he had plenty of ability, winning four on the bounce in early 2018.
Unibet Evens win
Lily’s Gem (nap) can follow up her easy Carlisle success back in April, despite carrying a penalty and coming back from a break.
Ground conditions will suit and trainer Stuart Crawford regularly sends his string across from Ireland.
Unibet 11/4 win
7.15 Newcastle – 5f
Queen Of Kalahari has fallen an awfully long way in the handicap in a very short space of time after a moderate season but she showed some signs of coming back to some form when a close enough fifth here over 6f last time out. Missing the break that day did her no favours either, but if getting away on level terms here, can prove too strong late on.
Unibet 11/4
