Sport

Gorokai can grab the glory

Henry de Bromhead is hoping for better ground in the Stan James Champion Hurdle for Identity Thief
Henry de Bromhead is hoping for better ground in the Stan James Champion Hurdle for Identity Thief Henry de Bromhead is hoping for better ground in the Stan James Champion Hurdle for Identity Thief

THE drop back to five furlongs can help Gorokai return to winning ways in the Download The New Unibet Racing App Handicap at Wolverhampton.

David Simock’s sprinter has been on an upward curve this all-weather season, and probably ran right up to his best when his winning run came to an end last time out.

Having scored at Lingfield and Chelmsford, he returned to the former venue to take on better opposition earlier this month but could only finish third to Richard Hannon’s Aguerooo.

The winner was helped by being ridden by a 7lb apprentice which proved the decisive factor.

Back down to the minimum distance he should be better suited and his form has a stronger look to it than that of David Barron’s Wallowitz, who has huge potential but as yet that is all it is.

The handicapper has taken no chances giving him a mark of 85 for winning a Southwell maiden.

At the other end of the scale Michael Bell steps Kaisan up half-a-mile in trip for the 32Red.com Maiden Auction Stakes and he is bred to improve for it.

By Rip Van Winkle, his dam is a half-sister to an Irish Oaks winner so it is no surprise he does not quite have the pace over a mile.

The form of his two runs to date is nothing special but his opponents do not look as such, either.

Colin Tizzard has bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks but his Sonny The One looks to hold solid claims in the Royal Bath & West Novices’ Handicap Chase at Taunton.

He had been running consistently well before finally opening his account at the 11th time of asking at the venue earlier in the month.

With that confidence-boosting win under his belt there is a good chance of him following up, especially off just 2lb higher.

Previously he had been a five-length second to Waldorf Salad, form which looks very good in the context of this race.

Robinesse should take a great deal of beating in the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

A bumper winner on her debut, she came up short in Listed company at Cheltenham and was sent straight over hurdles.

At the time her second to Jessber’s Dream looked nothing out of the ordinary but the winner continues to frank the form.

There looks to be nothing of her class – she scored in Grade Two company last week – in this.

Irish News Yankee


Nap: Gorokai


(4.35: Wolverhampton)

Double: Kaisan


(5.10: Wolverhampton)

Treble: Sonny The One


(3.05: Taunton)

Yankee: Robinesse


(3.40: Taunton)

Nap: Gorokai


(4.35: Wolverhampton)

Double: Kaisan


(5.10: Wolverhampton)

Treble: Sonny The One


(3.05: Taunton)

Yankee: Robinesse


(3.40: Taunton)