Neil Morrice has a look at a few horses who could impress in the UK over the coming weeks including ED KEEPER, GAYE LEGACY, BOWTOGREATNESS and more.
SYMBOL OF LIGHT Newcastle, January 1st
Godolphin cast-off SYMBOL OF LIGHT was very well backed for this Class 2 in which he was mounted in the chute and taken down early. He then experienced a torrid passage, first getting blocked and then having to be switched left to challenge on the outer. The amount of ground he lost might have added up to more than the two lengths he was beaten by Dear May Friend, and he rates a winner without a penalty.
ED KEEPER Cheltenham, January 1st
ED KEEPER looked every inch the winner of this stayers’ handicap hurdle when approaching the final flight with his rider sitting motionless. He was asked to ping the obstacle, but put down and then lost his back legs on landing, costing him his winning chance. In fairness to his rider he’d ridden a copybook race up until then, and if none the worse this lightly-raced novice can soon make amends.
BOWTOGREATNESS Newbury, December 30th
Although ultimately being pulled up there were aspects to the performance of BOWTOGREATNESS that suggest in different circumstances he can win races. On ground softer than ideal he was anchored at the back before a howling mistake at the eighth had his pilot doing gymnastics to keep the partnership intact. It looked like the gelding might work his way back into the race but a second error at the 14th really cooked his goose. This normally sound jumper is well handicapped, and can put this reverse behind him on better ground in the spring.
GAYE LEGACY Kempton Park, December 27th
GAYE LEGACY came back with a genuine hard luck story after finishing second to Martha Brae in this handicap hurdle. She appeared full of running when clipping heels with a rival three from home, and though the error shunted her to the rear she rallied to such an extent that she was only two and a half lengths adrift of the winner at the post. She hails from a famous jumping family that traces back to trainer Mercy Rimell, and needs to be backed to recoup the unfortunate losses.
