Milrow will sport cheekpieces for the first time, when he attempts to make it fifth time lucky in a Maiden Stakes over an extended nine furlongs of Wolverhampton Tapeta today, why?
Only three days ago this Martyn Meade-trained, 79-rated, Tamayuz colt palpably failed to stay a similar distance on Lingfield polytrack; approaching the final furlong Milrow traded long odds-on ‘in-running’ on Betfair betting exchange but lack of stamina was at issue throughout a ‘never-ending’ final furlong.
In the closing stages Milrow appeared to crack and both Barton Lodge and Cat Royale came through to grab principal placings; the time was slow and Milrow looked it!
On my time handicap, judged on previous efforts, Milrow should win and will probably be favourite (again!) but we simply can’t advise a punt on the back of failure; twice-raced Young Christian, mount of under-rated James Sullivan, is worth chancing each-way at decent odds with three places available.
Young Christian went off at 150/1 three weeks ago but belied those odds with an improved effort, finishing a close fourth to With Pleasure (beaten about four lengths!) over a mile of this Dunstall Park circuit. Trainer Tom Tate is a shrewd cookie, brother-in-law of Michael Dickinson!
Badly-drawn Jive Time is fancied and once-raced, David Simcock-trained, Avoidable, stable-companion of Barton Lodge, can be expected to improve; a couple of well-bred newcomers also can’t be dismissed but trainers simply do not like to win first time out, that’s fact, remember it!
Obviously these-type races are littered with ‘non-triers’ and, from experience, one realises they are all about ‘political’ experience, and nous; process of elimination is key.
Realistically it’s a shameful state of affairs and, of course, Young Christian will be having his ‘third run’ which qualifies him for handicaps!
Will he be off?
I’ve been mentioning just how bad and heavy ground conditions are for National Hunt racing but was quite impressed by the attitude of The New One when winning a Champion Hurdle trial for the second year running at Haydock last Saturday.
The New One hated underfoot conditions but is game, genuine and consistent; hopefully Nigel Twiston-Davies will give him plenty of time to recover and run him next at Cheltenham. 20/1 looks a decent price for the big ‘un!
Incidentally Kempton is one NH turf track that drains and dries out quickly; if there are any selections today they will be posted on www.dailyearner.co.uk