While we only have six ready to run in the winter months, our first day at the races in 2016 sees us at two different race tracks with three runners!
It’s an early start for the team with Starving Marvin (James Davies) as he heads to Huntingdon for the 1:10 in a 2m maiden hurdle. A bumper winner on his debut back in January 2012 – he has had various issues since and was off the track for nearly 4yrs when making his hurdling debut at Leicester a month ago. His final finishing… position is not reflective of his performance as he travelled and jumped superbly well until getting very tired in the home straight – understandable after such a long layoff and his injury problems. The main aim will be for another clear round and although there are a couple of 100 flat horses in opposition, a much more prominent showing would not be a surprise.
At Kempton we have Lady Fontenail (Robert Havlin) in the 4:40 (Cl5 1m Hcap) and Isis Blue (Alice Mills) in the 5:10 (Cl5 1m Hcap). Lady Fontenial was a bit too keen on her handicap debut last time out but should be more settled on this occasion, although she is plenty high enough in the ratings for what she has done so far. While Isis Blue ran a cracker when second after a monster 866 day layoff but was unsuited by the steady pace/did not stay 1m4f when sixth a few weeks later. While a mile might be on the short side, his leg issues mean Kempton is the only AW track he can run at so options are limited but with only 8 runners and a workable handicap mark, he should not be too far away.