It is a busy Friday for the yard with two runners. Hurdler Starving Marvin returns to Sandown three weeks after finishing runner-up to Protek Des Flos, a Festival candidate, over the same course and distance. Unfortunately, we were hoping to run him at Wincanton today where he was set to be a 1/4 shot but yesterday’s heavy rain meant that the meeting was abandoned and he is forced into a more competitive race. However, there are only three rivals and he appears to have the best UK form and has already shown his effectiveness on a stiff track in heavy conditions so has every chance.
Icebuster heads to Chelmsford and has resumed in good form after an eighteen month layoff. He has been runner-up on his last two starts over 12f at Wolverhampton and has been showing plenty of speed to suggest that dropping back to 10f will suit. Obviously Tangramm will not be easy to beat but Icebuster represents great each way value.
Midnight Rider was a bit ring rusty off a frenetic early pace when finishing sixth at Lingfield yesterday and the run will help put him spot on for the turf season.