3 minute read
Iron Bridge can defy top weight in the Racing TV Free For A Month Handicap Chase at Wetherby.
The thaw has come just in time for the A1 track and Jonjo O'Neill will be delighted as it will give him a good chance to see just how good his seven-year-old is.
Sporting the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, Iron Bridge looks a typical Hemmings type as he is an old-fashioned staying chaser.
He won a Tipperary bumper in the yellow, green and white silks for Damian Murphy before joining O'Neill, but the form did not look strong.
As a result he was sent off 9-2 for his hurdling debut at Ffos Las, with a couple of useful types finishing behind and he then defied a penalty at Worcester when long odds-on in a three-runner race.
O'Neill was at pains to keep things low-key before chasing and he promptly won first time over the bigger obstacles at Carlisle with the minimum of fuss.
He never looked happy on his next outing at Chepstow and finished alone next time out at Haydock, but he gives the impression he could be fairly useful.
Jedd O'Keeffe's Miss Lamb has clearly had issues but obviously has a good deal of ability.
She returns to action in the Try Racing TV For Free Now EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle and should be in the shake up.
A smart bumper performer, she chased home Eileendover in a Listed event at Market Rasen in January 2021 but has only run twice since then.
Third in the Grade Two event at the Grand National meeting when she turned the tables on Eileendover, she then had almost a year off before her hurdling debut when she was beaten at odds-on.
Given she has had almost another year off, it suggests she returned with an issue but she remains a nice prospect.
Andrew Balding's Ring Fenced has high hopes of following up a Kempton win last time out in the talkSPORT Powered By Fans Fillies' Handicap at Southwell.
Having shown glimpses of promise in maidens, including on turf, she opened her account on her handicap debut off a mark of 69.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was that she was sent off a 25-1 chance, but she had disappointed badly at Southwell the time before.
That clearly was not her running and despite a 5lb rise, she should go very close again.
Mohatu might not be the most straightforward horse in William Haggas' yard, but he has ability and first-time cheekpieces should help him in the It's Time To Turn To talkSPORT Handicap.
Unlucky last time out when attempting to follow up a Lingfield win, he lost all momentum when running into the back of the eventual winner.
Running off the same mark, he must go close.
Ed Bethell's Skye Breeze has good claims of bringing up a hat-trick in the Huge Daily Boosts Only At BetUK Handicap at Newcastle.
A winner at Wolverhampton off 67, he followed up off 3lb higher at Newcastle last time out.
Nudged up another 2lb, he looks worth keeping on side until he is beaten.
Gowran Park stages the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle in which Teahupoo, the first horse to beat Honeysuckle, will aim to advertise his Cheltenham claims.
More interestingly for punters it is also the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase, although Gordon Elliott fields half the field with nine of the 18 runners.
Away from the big yards, the best hope may be Bob Murphy's mare Darrens Hope, who offers each-way value.
SELECTIONS:
GOWRAN: 1.05 Derridae, 1.40 Mister Bo, 2.15 Teahupoo, 2.50 Darrens Hope, 3.25 Sir Gerhard, 3.55 Slane Hill, 4.25 Ankud.
NEWCASTLE: 4.00 Skye Breeze, 4.30 Run Teddy Run, 5.00 Comedian Leader, 5.30 Fox Master, 6.00 Atrafan, 6.30 Enraged, 7.00 Elzaal, 7.30 Brazen Bolt.
SOUTHWELL: 12.25 Ring Fenced, 1.00 Abruzzo Mia, 1.35 MOHATU (NAP), 2.10 Tylos, 2.45 Midnightattheoasis, 3.20 Bare Necessity, 3.50 Mr Funky Monkey.
WETHERBY: 12.50 Return Fire, 1.25 Shared, 2.00 Blue Shark, 2.35 Iron Bridge, 3.10 Miss Lamb, 3.40 Stanley Stanley, 4.15 The Gooner.
DOUBLE: Mohatu and Iron Bridge.
