AGUEROOO can score beneath the Wolverhampton floodlights on what could be a challenging night for punters.
Eight races of varying degrees of difficulty present many issues for Dunstall Park racegoers. But Aguerooo did enough over this course and distance to suggest he could have a solid chance in the feature event, the Betway Handicap.
The gelded son of Monsieur Bond tends to run in hot streaks, having won three on the spin last winter. He also doubled up at Lingfield earlier this year in the manner of a progressive animal.
The Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old struggled in four subsequent outings, after which he was sent to Wolverhampton for a six-furlong sprint on October 1.
Not a lot was seemingly expected of him - he was sent on his way at odds of 33/1 - but he actually did quite nicely from off the pace. Aguerooo stayed on earnestly in the hands of Tom Marquand to finish fourth, beaten three-and-a-quarter lengths by Dougan, who won a nice race on his last outing.
He again has a wide draw at Wolverhampton, but Hannon will surely see this as a nice opportunity now he has got his game together, while the appointment of Adam Kirby can be viewed as a statement of intent.
Frozon should be available at generous enough odds in the Betway App Handicap. The Marjorie Fife-trained three-year-old is winless from nine starts, but he has shown bits of reasonable form over the last year.
Frozon also turned in an interesting effort over a mile and a half at this track on November 19, when he was done no favours by a stop-start gallop. Even so, the gelded son of Kheleyf raced enthusiastically in stages and did well to get to within two and a half lengths of the winner, Stonecoldsoba. Back in trip and now even lower in the weights, he could feasibly go well at a working man’s price.
Rock The Kasbah has an awful lot going for him in the Harry Dutfield Memorial Novices’ Chase at Exeter. The Grade Three-winning hurdler really caught the eye on his fencing debut at Chepstow in October, when he jumped well en route to a two-length defeat of Our Kaempfer.
It was a race which has worked out very well indeed as the fourth horse home, Clan Des Obeaux, absolutely hosed up at Newbury last week and looks one of the brightest young prospects in Paul Nicholls’ yard.
Rock The Kasbah was then sent into action at Cheltenham, where he contested a two-and-a-half-mile novice chase that has produced countless top-notchers.
Philip Hobbs’ six-year-old could only finish third behind the exciting O O Seven, but the ground was relatively quick that day, which did not help his cause by any stretch of the imagination. It was also nice to see Rock The Kasbah stay on late in the piece, which will give his trainer a few more options for later in the season.
The Harry Dutfield Memorial Novices’ Chase is usually won by a good one, but the Hobbs runner would not look out of place on the roll of honour from what we have seen so far.
Grade Two honours are up for grabs at Sandown, where Coeur Blimey can strike a blow for Sue Gardner. Gardner adores this five-year-old, and it is easy to see why after having claimed the scalp of subsequent Champion Bumper hero Ballyandy at Ascot last December.
He never quite carried it though at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals, but reports from the Gardner team suggest Coeur Blimey has been working like an absolute dream ahead of his hurdling bow.
The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle does not look a particularly vintage renewal, yet the selection, who should get every yard of the two-and-a-half miles, should still be available at good odds.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
Nap: Aguerooo (6.15: Wolerhhampton)
Double: Frozon (7.15: Wolverhampton)
Treble: Rock The Kasbah (3.15: Exeter)
Yankee: Coeur Blimey (2.25: Sandown)
