10th October 2012

Cape Safari just missed out on a place yesterday for our each way selection. Again the racing doesn't look spectacular today, with this weekend drawing the attention of many. Here are a couple to watch out for however.

14.20 Towcester

A very mixed field with plenty in here showing little in recent runnings. Moscow In April, Scourie Bay, Ripoff and Thoresby are racing after an extended time off so are avoided on that basis. Of the rest, there is little in the form to warrant backing any of them, even Cardinal Rose with the Champ in the saddle. As a result SOUTH STACK, the likely favourite and a proven performer at Towcester and a previous winner over 2m4 should have enough to see off a poor field here, especially with his 7 pound claimer Charles Greene who ensures the horse will not be carrying top weight like he should. 9/2

14.50 Towcester

For the quickfire double, HAZY TOM appeals. He started last season extremely well, cleaning up the lesser hurdles before taking on some of the big boys towards the end of the season. Unable to show much against the best, he wasn't disgraced, and the break since can only have done him good as he started the season so well when fresh. Switched to fences, his trainer sees him as an exciting prospect and this race will help to begin determining where he may end  up this time around in March and April. Christopher Wren reappears after disappointing at Newton Abbot but is expected to come on for that. Creekside represents the Bloomfields connections and as a result is respected tackling fences for the first time too. 5/4

18.05 Navan

Plenty of those on show in this race are here for a pipe opener and to get ready for the national hunt season. These include Jezki, 8th in the Champion Bumper and Glam Gerry, 3rd in the Byrne Group Plate. However GO NATIVE makes his long awaited reappearance since coming 8th in the 2010 Champion Hurdle when favourite. Injured in that race, he's been given nearly 3 years to get right and does go well fresh. He may be conceding some years to a few in this race at 9, but as Lieutenant Miller showed us a couple of days ago, and Captain Cee Bee did a few months ago, these national hunt horses certainly are a classy bunch. On his reappearance he is worth a bet, and he could make a mockery of this field as he was rated at 164 when last seen. At the same time they may just be easing him into it but if he has retained his ability he will stroll this and may not even need to be fully fit to do that. 4/1

Good luck!

The Horse Whisperer