Can Andy keep up his 100% record this week?
12.15 Fairyhouse
LA BELLA VIDA (NAP) (best price 5-2) posted a smart speed figure when accounting for a decent field on her second start over fences at Thurles last time out and this looks a good opportunity for her to add further value to her stock. Not only do the numbers stack up well for Elizabeth Doyle’s inmate, the form has also been boosted by the likes of the beaten pair Magic Of Light (won) and Miss Sassie (third) and with her previous runner-up spot to subsequent Cork National hero Logical Song not looking too shabby either, everything points in favour of the in-form mare following up with a tidy round of jumping.
12.50 Exeter
TRANS EXPRESS (best price 10-1) just came up short when tackling a smart handicap at Cheltenham last time out, but at the same time, he was by no means disgraced and now coming back to his old stomping ground he’s likely to be a more potent force. Although beaten a fair way in the end by runaway winner Master Dancer, Tim Vaughan’s inmate was running at the sort of pace that allowed him to clock the fastest furlong-per-furlong time on the seven-race card, so even in finishing 16 lengths in his wake, the son of Trans Island still ran to a decent level in his own right. Indeed, the likes of Hallings Comet (second at Lingfield yesterday) and Golan Fortune (won at Sandown on Sunday) have both gone on to prove the value of the form since and with several previous solid runs under his belt at today’s track, Sue Gardner’s charge has more in his favour than the odds suggest.
14.30 Exeter
Kim Bailey’s string seem to be in particularly fine heart at present and the positive results look set to continue with ANOTHER VENTURE (best price 8-1) fancied to make his presence felt in this novices’ handicap. A useful novice hurdler last season, the son of Stowaway finally had his consistency rewarded with a gutsy success on heavy ground at Sandown, but he’s always been viewed as a chasing project by connections so we should get a better angle on his true abilities this season. A little scruffy over his fences in the latter stages of what turned out to be an ultra-competitive and strongly-run handicap was certainly a decent start for this six-year-old and with that run likely to bring about plenty of improvement, he makes plenty of each-way appeal at his top morning odds.
