ON a cracking card at Ayr at the moment I’m assured of an enormous run from SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT (four.10) within the Coral Scottish Nationwide to maintain the trophy in Scotland.
Because the race was switched to Ayr in 1966 after the closure of Bogside, too many trainers have taken the trophy south of the wall or throughout the slender sea.
Sandy Thomson might solely have a fraction of the ammunition loved by Nicholls, Mullins et al, however the Berwickshire handler has a proud flagbearer within the form of eight-yr-previous Seeyouatmidnight.
The Midnight Legend gelding gained three hurdles from six begins, together with a Grade 2 at Haydock, ending off final season with an honest seventh to Cole Harden within the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
However Seeyouatmidnight was all the time destined to be a chaser, and after turning spherical his debut type with Silsol at Kelso, he galloped his rivals into the bottom within the Grade 2 Dipper at Cheltenham on Ne’erday, leaving some usefuls rivals, together with Blaklion trailing in his wake.
Racing on faster floor within the RSA, he tended to get a bit low at his fences and the writing was on the wall three out. Brian Hughes was not arduous on him and he got here residence in his personal time, properly behind previous rival Blaklion.
Right now’s floor guarantees to be rather more to his liking and if Steven Fox can get him into a pleasant rhythm up entrance he might take a little bit of reeling in.
Sandy Thomson hopes the circumstances can be extra appropriate at this time and stated: “Sadly he’s run in three Grade Ones now and every time the bottom has gone towards him.
“That was real good floor at Cheltenham, which wouldn’t be preferrred. It was catch-22 as a result of if he hadn’t gone out in entrance there wouldn’t have been sufficient tempo, issues simply didn’t go for him.
“After a mistake on the third-final, Brian Hughes simply introduced him residence and which may have been a blessing as a result of with out that he might have been scrapping out for a spot and had a tough race.
“We’re on a reality-discovering mission however I feel it should go well with him properly. You by no means find out about 4 miles till you attempt, hopefully we’ve brushed his leaping up as he has been getting a bit low, virtually blase.”
BRISTOL DE MAI (2.25) will take all of the beating within the Future Champion Novices’ Chase. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-educated 5-yr-previous has loved a superb debut season over fences, bolting up 3 times together with a Grade 1 triumph within the Scilly Isles at Sandown.
I assumed he ran within the mistaken race on the Pageant the place he discovered Black Hercules too scorching to deal with within the insufficient JLT, however Twiston-Davies is hopeful he can get again on the profitable path.
“He’s been wonderful since and it seems to be an excellent alternative,” stated the Naunton-based mostly coach.
I obtained caught into the smashing gray at 50-1 for subsequent yr’s Gold Cup and I hope that he provides me one thing to sit up for this coming winter.
STERNRUBIN (three.00) can blow his rivals away within the Scottish Champion Hurdle. In nice type this winter, heavy floor ruined his possibilities when pulled up within the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February. He ran a cracker when third within the County Hurdle and he can burn off his rivals beneath Richard Johnson.
ALWAYS ON THE RUN (three.35) might show on a good mark within the Scotty Model. With two wins from three begins over fences, the ex-Donald McCain inmate is up simply 4lbs for his newest win at Kempton the place a nasty leap on the final might have flattered the second horse. Positive to be extra within the tank.
With Newbury washed out Chelmsford have stepped in to rescue the cardboard.
Warning is suggested clearly, however the ones I like embrace Marco Botti’s SOUND OF FREEDOM (2.10) who makes his yard debut after operating some good races in Italy, profitable 4 occasions and simply failing in a Grade 1.
BESHARAH (2.forty) seems to be the one for Willie Haggas within the Fred Darling, a pleasant Kodiac filly whose third within the Cheveley Park seems to be robust type.
TASLEET (three.15) ought to full the double for the HQ handler. Robust and real, he’ll be arduous to cross.
POWER GAME (three.50) ought to have a lot extra to supply this marketing campaign for Godolphin.