Eyecatchers – 12th Mar 10

Fri, Mar 12, 2010

With Cheltenham just round the corner most people’s attention has already turned to Prestbury Park, but there are three runners that catch my eye this week.

Firstly RED HARBOUR runs in the E.B.F. N.H. Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at 2pm (Sandown) and is very attractively weighted on 10-11. His handicap mark of 122 under-estimates him, especially as the form of his last run has been boosted with the victory of Lush Life at Ascot. The main danger appears to be RANJOBAIE who was an impressive winner at Market Rasen last time out. Prior to that he finished second to a very decent opponent in Notus De La Tour and with the Nicky Henderson stable continuing their excellent run, I expect him to go very well under a useful seven pound claimer David Bass. His rating of 129 looks fair and all is in place for a big run.

The other eyecatcher is MEANUS DANDY who has been allotted a rating of just 119 for his handicap debut. He was a strong favourite on his chase debut at Chepstow, but that came at a time when Paul Nicholls runners needed their first run. He than ran a decent race at Kempton before running poorly at Exeter. He has been freshened up and given that he won all three starts in point to points last season, the last an easy ten length Open success on good ground, there must be a possibility that on this better ground, we may see a different horse. Ruby Walsh is on and I can see him running a huge race.