Bayard - Uttoxeter 4.05 2 Thyne For Gold - each way at 11/1 (generally) and Bayard - Carlisle 2.10 4 Deauville Dancer - each way at 6/1 (generally)
Bayard is keen on one each at Carlisle and Uttoxeter.
Deauville Dancer makes the long trek up the M5/6 to Carlisle from its base near Malvern,
and should reward us with a strong run. Carlisle is a tough and demanding right hand
track with a punishing climb to the finish. There are several unexposed potential improvers
in the field but the selection has solid form in the context of the race and is on a nice mark
and perfectly capable going right handed. The biggest asset though today will be race
fitness and although it is far less of an issue than it was in the past, most of these could
need the run to get fully sharp and this is not a track to go in 95% fit!. The likely
favourite is Dominada but its jumping so far has been well below scratch.
Following years of progression Donald McCain had the shattering blow of losing
about 40% of his horses last year when Owners Paul and Clare Rooney (no relation
of Wayne and Coleen!) decided to pull out their horses. That would have destroyed
many a man, but to his great credit McCain has regrouped and returned to the basics
that made him the Trainer he was, basically churning out a high volume of fit horses
in lower grade races and winning as many per season as any Trainer in the UK.
His form are in excellent form and he has several with live chances today but one
that really catches the eye of Bayard is Thyne For Gold. A mark just under 100 looks
very manageable and some runs against horses who are now competitive off marks
around 110 indicates this is a better chance than the bookies have "marked up"
than the price of 11/1 suggests. Another race full of potential improvers but the
trip and Going are no problem and it always pays to follow a man in form early
in the season, so we expect a bold run at a decent price with a more
speculative pick.