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Horse racing: Storm Hawk looks a warm thing to me
ON A ROLL: Tyke trainer Mark Johnston.
Thankfully the mercury is set to rise this week meaning we’re at last set for some National Hunt action and not just all-weather fare.
Folkestone and Ayr will hopefully get the green light tomorrow but the sand racing comes from Southwell where Storm Hawk is napped for Pat Eddery and Ryan Clark (3.50pm).
Eddery is obviously famed for his exploits as a brilliant jockey but the former multiple champion pilot is also proving capable as a trainer.
He’ll probably never match his jockey exploits but the winners will continue to roll and hat-trick chasing Storm Hawk looks another tomorrow afternoon. The five-year-old has found a new lease of life of late and his last two successes, at Southwell in December, were very impressive.
The first was a seven-length romp in a class six handicap, before he took the rise to class five company in his stride with an easy two-and-a-half length verdict.
The winning run began from a mark of 60 and Storm Hawk is now up to 73 as he re-appears for the first time in 2012 but there is every reason to believe he can defy that new mark.
He had Blackmore and First Rock in behind last time and while both are now better off at the weights given the ease with which Storm Hawk won it’s hard to see the form being reversed.
He was always on the bridle last time and quickly settled matters when asked to win his race.
Sedate
A bigger danger looks to be Captain Bellamy for shrewd trainer Hughie Morrison and he is surely open to more improvement having had only 10 runs.
He also gets five pounds from Storm Hawk and it would be no surprise to see him win but the Morrison runner looks a bit of a plodder, not like Storm Hawk who has a change of gear and high-cruising speed.
If they go off at a break-neck pace tomorrow that will suit Captain Bellamy but in a 10-runner contest the pace could be sedate and that will certainly suit Storm Hawk more.
Finally, Eddery admitted after Storm Hawk won last time that he would probably now go over hurdles if his all-weather mark went up too much so the fact he is back on the sand could be a tip in itself.
Nevertheless, Captain Bellamy is much-respected as the main danger and whatever happens with him, trainer Morrison has good prospects with Nazreef earlier (3.15pm). Hayley Turner takes the ride on the multiple winner whose latest third now looks very good with the winner that day – Palace Moon – having bolted in on Saturday.
Nazreef also remains entered in the Lincoln at Donny in March suggesting he will be operating at a higher level soon.
Zomerlust might also be the one to be with in the 2.45pm seeing as he always comes on for his re-appearance win, but for a next best we’ll side with Mark Johnston’s Three Bards in the maiden at 2.10pm.
Middleham trainer Johnston is on fire at present – five of his last eight runners have won. That’s some strike rate and there must be every chance of Three Bards enhancing that further with the three-year-old having the best form in the race and probably only having to worry about the newcomers.
One of them – Za’Lan – is also trained by Johnston and while he is entered in the Derby, you would presume that jockey Fanning is on the right one. The other debutante, Gold Prospector, comes from the James Tate yard and Kieren Fallon is an interesting booking for this one who also has big-race entries.
However, Three Bards is definitely getting better with experience and after a pleasing run when third last time, this could be his chance to collect.
His experience should be crucial and the likely outcome is the Johnston runner going out in front and staying there – as so many of his do.
This one also cost $80,000 dollars so ought to be up to winning an all-weather maiden with everything in his favour.
Folkestone’s card, meanwhile, is subject to a 2pm inspection today with officials admitting a rapid thaw is needed, but there appears no problems at Ayr where Cheltenham Fetisval-entry The Tracey Shuffle will be a warm order for David Pipe (2.20pm).
Now all we need is some warm weather.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
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