Higgs on Horses
It’s Family Day at Taunton next Wednesday (April 9) and there is plenty going on for the children, including a rumour that a bunch of dinosaurs will be turning up - always entertaining and amusing.
On a more conventional note, Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace (pictured) along with their Retraining Of Racehorses Ambassador Allaho (pictured) will be parading during racing. It will be a great opportunity to see these two Champions who have both excelled in their comparative disciplines.
Gates open at 12.25 and check out www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk for the full details including some early bird offers. For those of you looking to use the courtesy coach service, it will depart from outside platform 5 of Taunton Railway Station 90 minutes before the first race time and return half an hour after the start of the last.
Away from the West Country, Aintree hold their three-day Grand National Festival which starts on Thursday. It is a meeting where I am happy to look at horses who have been prepared specifically for Aintree and missed Cheltenham for two reasons. Firstly, a run at the Cheltenham Festival takes a lot out of a horse, they have been primed for the day and asking them to recover and reach top form again in just over 3 weeks is a big ask. Secondly, the flat track at Aintree is a completely different test to the undulations of Prestbury Park and suits a different type of horse.
So, here’s four for your entertainment over the three days..
The Folkes Tiara – 4.40 – Thursday – 9/1
An interesting contender for trainer Henry de Bromhead, who has won 2 of the last 5 runnings of the race. The horse was last seen at Leopardstown over Christmas, the form of that race looks strong and he looks to have been kept for this race.
Battle Born Lad – 4.40 – Friday – 8/1
I promise you this will not be an easy watch, he is quirky and a difficult ride. He will go off in front and it will be a case of if something catches him. My feeling is if nothing untoward happens then they won’t, he looks incredibly talented and at 8/1 I’m happy to take the chance..
Finally a couple to side with in the Grand National..
This side of the Irish Sea I’m hoping the Kandoo Kid (20/1) can win for the local Paul Nicholls team. The horse produced a career best when winning at Newbury in November on good to soft ground, he had a nice prep run there again early March and looks to be the right side of the handicapper. Carrying 10st 11lbs he has a good racing weight and providing a clear run has to be placed.
For my other selection I have to look at the Willie Mullins battalion, he potentially has 5 of the top 8 in the weights and irrespective of anyone’s thoughts the race is not the jumping test it was and, with more finishers, this has to favour the class horse. With all of this in mind, my eye is drawn to Grangeclare West (33/1). He ran second to Galopin Des Champs in February beating subsequent Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin and Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File. That’s top quality form and should see him at the business end of the race.
Share