LEICESTER
Race 6 No6 MARSHAL DAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
The addition of cheek pieces could make a difference to MARSHAL DAN, who has largely struggled this season, but come down in the weights as a consequence.
The eight-year-old has underfoot conditions in his favour, and could be able to dictate affairs from the front in this small field.
Race 7 No3 KING OF FURY (Nap)
Trainer: Terry Kent – Jockey: Neil Callan
With clearly the best form in this weakly contested novice, KING OF FURY can open his account. He troubled the judge at this course and Kempton when easy to back on each occasion, but is carded to start favourite for this, in which it’s difficult to find one to beat him.
HUNTINGDON
Race 1 No4 NORMAN FLETCHER (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
This trainer/jockey combo have made a very bright start to the campaign, and can add to their laurels with NORMAN FLETCHER. The chestnut landed bumpers at Southwell and Ludlow and has schooled well in preparation for his return to action in a new discipline.
Race 5 No3 PARC D’AMOUR
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Bailey has his horses well forward and is amongst the winners. His representative in this handicap hurdle PARC D’AMOUR needs taking seriously as he was placed in both handicap assignments as a novice and has strengthened up. He can do well in this division before having his attention turned to fences.
HEREFORD
Race 3 No1 REGARDE (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Snowden has made a bright start to the season and has a worthy favourite for this novices’ handicap chase in the shape of REGARDE. The chestnut landed some good bets impressively on his debut over fences in an identical race at Huntingdon, and can serve up a similar display under a 7lb penalty.
Race 6 No3 MINNIEMUM (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Richard Patrick
Telescope mare MINNIEMUM is a diminutive individual and hence well named, and in good order for this seasonal return. A relative of the very smart Mighty Man, she should have more to offer following a light campaign last winter, while her trainer’s horses appear to be running into some early form.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 No1 MILITARY MARCH
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Godolphin-owned top weight MILITARY MARCH returns from a 1000-day absence as a lightly-raced favourite for this Class2 handicap. The New Approach gelding has endured training issues through three seasons racing, but shown before that he can operate after a lay off, illustrated by his Group 3 success at Newmarket in the autumn of 2019. He finished fourth to Kameko in the following year’s 2000 Guineas and if anything like as good would be very hard to beat this evening.
Race 9 No1 BLACKCURRENT (Nap)
Trainer: Alan Brown – Jockey: Paula Muir
BLACKCURRENT is the only horse in this low grade handicap to have shown any recent form, and can prove a bet worth waiting for in the nightcap. Muir has partnered him during a purple patch in which the gelding finished second at Southwell before winning and finishing second at this course. There should be more to come.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
6, 7 x 8, 2 x 8, 1, 2 x 8, 5 x 8, 10, 5 x 2, 3, 5 x 1
R216