Captain Conan too short in Sandown feature
THE SNOW might have gone but now racing has to deal with the aftermath and, with more rain forecast over the next couple of days, there is likely to be fresh disruption to the cards at Sandown and Ffos Las, where the highlights are the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and the Welsh Champion Hurdle respectively.
If Sandown gets the go-ahead then the focus will be on the Scilly Isles (2.25pm) where my ante-post selection for the Jewson at the Cheltenham Festival, CAPTAIN CONAN, will be a very warm order.
However, at a likely starting price of 1/3 he looks very short, considering he is unproven at the extended two-and-a-half-mile trip. The very heavy ground may make him vulnerable as it was hard to tell in his last run here in December whether his stamina was giving way or whether he was just idling at the front.
These Nicky Henderson hotpots are typically overbet and, at that skinny price and knowing he will be looked after by Barry Geragthy, I’d rather lay him on Betfair for this contest.
With the other meetings a major doubt, we can take a look at Musselburgh’s exciting card on Sunday.
OVERTURN should take all the beating in the 2.00pm on his way to the Racing Post Arkle for which he is currently ante-post second favourite behind Simonsig.
John Quinn won the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival with Countrywide Flame last season and he has another lively outsider running in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at 2.30pm in KASHMIR PEAK.
Unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, the Tiger Hill gelding lowered the colours of a Henderson jolly last time and looks a classy prospect.