9:44am Saturday 20th March 2010
TRANQUIL TIGER boasts two wins in as many starts on the allweather at Lingfield and he can make it three with victory in the sportingbet Supports Heros Winter Derby.
The six-year-old entire finished last year with a flourish, signing off with two eye-catching course-and-distance Listed triumphs.
Crucially, Henry Cecil’s son of Selkirk has proved he goes well fresh, so a 91-day absence should not put anyone off.
Pleasing gallops work with the Dubai World Cup-bound Twice Over adds further credence to his claims of landing a first Group Three prize in a distinguished career.
Rowe Park has already won at that level and could go well at a fair price in the sportingbet Supports Heros Hever Sprint Stakes.
The appointment of Ryan Moore for Linda Jewell could be a tip in itself.
Hanson’D was considered good enough to run in the Racing Post Trophy and should be monitored with interest in the sportingbet Supports Heros Spring Cup.
The Irish might not have enjoyed quite as many Cheltenham Festival winners as they had hoped, but Badgerlaw can strike a blow for the retreating hordes in Uttoxeter’s John Smith’s Midlands Grand National Chase Handicap.
Jessica Harrington’s 10-yearold will be competing in the race for a third consecutive year, having finished runner-up in 2008 and fifth 12 months ago.
The tough chaser is 3lb better off than his brave second behind Himalayan Trail two years ago, and has this winter posted some solid form over timber.
Suitably buoyed by an uncompromising victory at Punchestown, Badgerlaw was then set a rather daunting assignment in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan.
While he shaped with credit, unsurprisingly staying on at the death, the gelding realistically had little chance at the weights.
He is a far different proposition over fences, however, as his Listed success at Cork last April neatly illustrated.
Badgerlaw would, like many of his rivals, require the forecast rain to be seen at his best.
If that is the case, he would have a strong chance of finishing in the money at the very least.
Almaydan can be amply rewarded for what has been a consistent year in the Trustmark Handicap Chase at Ffos Las, while Ocarina can hit the target after a run of near-misses when he takes his place in the Guinness Handicap Chase at Newcastle.
Tomorrow’s racing is big on quantity but the quality element is a little lacking.
However, Ernst Blofeld is expected to put his best foot forward in the News & Star Novices’ Chase at Carlisle.
The six-year-old let down favourite backers on his chasing bow at Uttoxeter in November but made amends when striking at that track a month later.
A step up in class at Cheltenham in January yielded little joy. This is hardly the most competitive race, though, and it would be a surprise if Ernst Blofeld could not make a good fist of it with the yard on a high.
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