Some great racing today, and tempting though it is to find a nap in one of Doncaster’s high profile cavalry charges, we are keeping to jumps and heading to Newbury.
We have had some desperate luck following the calamity that is Fergal O’Brien’s Oscar Rose. Last time out we were on her heavily at Taunton only for her saddle to slip, irons to break, and Paddy Brennan rode her rodeo style for three quarters of a mile and two hurdles – and still she was beaten just a length,
The positive to draw from such bad luck is an unchanged and potentially very generous handicap mark of 119. Fergal would have had this race in mind all year as the flat track and 2m4f should suit ideally, and he gets to run here with his mare on just 10st 8lbs. That is a highly enticing mark.
Dangers abound in a race which is targeted by many. The Paul Nicholls trained If You Say Run is a classy sort who travels well in her races and this course should suit, that said the handicapper has had plenty of chances to assess her and she will need to defy a stiff mark.
Oscar Rose deserves a change of luck, and we deserve some reward for staying faithful.
Recommendation: Oscar Rose, (1515 Newbury), 2pts win. 15/2 generally available
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