The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: McNamara’s Band (1550 Uttoxeter), 1pt win 5/2:
Lightly raced but improved throughout his novice hurdling season finishing with a bang when an easy winner of a reasonable Chepstow maiden. Handled the soft there, as his breeding suggests he should, and an opening mark of 128 looks at least a stone below his potential.
Captain Drake, (1515 Uttoxeter), 5/1: a fabulous little novice handicap chase for this early in the season. Westend Story is an obvious one given the form of his only chase start but that was 10 months ago. We prefer Captain Drake who did well as a hurdler last year whilst always looking a chaser in the making. Not badly handicapped and capable of surprising the two favourites.
Touch Kick, (1605 Fakenham), 3/1: trainer Paul Nicholls invariably has his horses well prepped for debut in order to get a fast start to the trainers’ title. This boy ran at the Cheltenham (well) and Aintree (not so well) festivals last year and looks intriguingly placed at Fakenham on seasonal debut. Might have too much class for inferior rivals even at these weights.
Brigadier Bob, (1655 Uttoxeter), 11/4: is only 5lbs higher for a tidy reappearance win at Huntingdon and has course form in the mud here last winter. Looks sure to go well and is more solid than favourite Moores Novelty who was backed into odds-on here last time but mistakes had him in trouble before finally falling 4 out.
Please subscribe for latest tips and news, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook
