Sunday’s racing is full of treats, with all five tracks boasting exciting runners. We’ve taken a look at meeting and picked out 6 to watch alongside William Hill, who are offering Bet £10 – Get 30 In Free Bets to new customers.
DR T J ECKLEBURG (2.45 Ascot) 9/2
The veterans’ race at 3.55 on the same card will doubtless be popular, with some famous names in there, but it’s worth thinking about the future instead at Ascot.
This juvenile handicap hosts an Irish raider in Gavin Cromwell’s Vera Verto, and on certain form lines she’d still be very well treated off 2lb higher than her Irish mark. She has mixed it with Boodles winner Brazil, as well as finishing behind the Icare Allen and The Tide Turns.
However, Olly Murphy’s DR T J ECKLEBURG not only won impressively at Ludlow on his second start, but won an open handicap against older horses at Taunton last time. Despite always getting an allowance, four-year-olds often struggle in such contests, but he did well to win.
Moreover, the runner-up in that race, Natural History, would have been extremely well-in on his best form and did not mess around in the preliminaries that day. As such, defeating him can be upgraded and the waters are shallower for Aidan Coleman’s mount back against his own age group.
EGALITY MANS (3.26 Limerick)
The Grade 3 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase is the highlight from Limerick’s jumps meeting on Sunday.
Fancy Foundations and Lifetime Ambition have made more of an impression over the larger obstacles to date, but their progress has somewhat stagnated. EGALITY MANS meanwhile, might just be getting started.
He did not have to do too much to win on his most recent start at Wexford, but had looked like threatening stablemate En Beton on his chase debut before tipping up at the second last. He was also fourth in a very decent Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse thereafter.
That was possibly over a trip too sharp and the step up beyond three miles worked well last time. He looks the one to beat for the Mullins yard after their sensational Cheltenham Festival.
LAW OF THE SEA (4.50 Doncaster) 15/8
There are genuine Graded class performers in Euchen Glen and Raymond Tusk in this conditions stakes, but the potential possessed by LAW OF THE SEA makes him the one to watch.
A winner of two novice events towards the start of last season, he was then found to be coughing after finishing last of six in the Chester Vase. The ground had also softened at that track, while he showed much more promise once again to be fifth in the Queen’s Vase at Ascot.
He may not have fully seen out that trip so early in his career last June, but it was a solid run from the front nonetheless. Moreover, he hung to his left up the straight, far from ideal for right-handed Ascot.
With the ground much more likely to dry at Doncaster ahead of tomorrow, conditions look set for him to go well, especially as there were no issues with him running fresh last term.
LICENCE (4.25 Naas)
This race is full of fascinating entrants. Patrick Sarsfield has regularly competed at a high level, while Jason The Militant continues on the level despite being better known for his exploits over jumps.
Aidan O’Brien’s Cleveland, a Derby hope at the start of last season before encountering issues, returns after 506 days away, but it is Ger Lyons’ LICENCE, in the Juddmonte silks, who appeals most.
He is immaculately bred for between 1m-1m4f, being an older brother to Andre Fabre’s Raclette, who has won both her starts so far. Licence has only seen the racecourse once, however, despite being older and may well prove a late bloomer.
He won on debut at Gowran Park last season by six lengths, which is some going for a horse first time out. There could be any amount of improvement in him and it could be very exciting to see the heights he reaches this term.
UNO MAS & POWERFUL POSITION (4.11 & 4.43 Carlisle)
Two of Christian Williams’ runners at Carlisle are seeking to extend unbeaten runs. UNO MAS has won his last four and POWERFUL POSITION his last three.
The former is also five from his last six, but his undefeated stretch began in October and saw him win three times in the space of 15 days at Ffos Las, Aintree and Huntingdon. He was campaigned smartly by Williams and has only gone up 20lb for his four wins, which is reasonable for such a run.
Powerful Position’s run may also have been better but for two successive non-completions, first unseating his rider at Ffos Las and then falling at Fakenham. That could have made him too much of a risky proposition, but he;s since scored a hat-trick at between 3m and 3m3f.
His 10lb rise last time is the biggest he has received, but both could make it a memorable Sunday in the north west for the Williams team.
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