2:30 Ffos Las – Jazz King 6/1 E/W
3:15 Stratford – Tip Top Mountain 12/1 E/W
4:50 Ffos Las – Mr Harp 12/1 E/W
Jazz King
Sam Thomas is very much a trainer in focus right now following Before Midnight’s emphatic Cheltenham success and the fact that his runners are normally raring to go first time out.
And he runs an interesting type in this competitive maiden hurdle in the form of Jazz King; he has been quoted as saying “I hold him in high regard”.
The form of both his bumpers have worked out well, with multiple winners coming out of his first race at Hereford while the winner at Fontwell finished fourth in a listed race next time out and the third is now rated 116 over hurdles.
You can also upgrade his most recent run as he did not get the run of the race at all. Held up in midfield, he found himself blocked off on multiple occasions and couldn’t get a clear run until it was too late. He stayed on well with the front two clear and he was conceding a lot of weight to the winner.
He shapes as though this intermediate trip will suit and any further rain should not be an inconvenience. Since the 2019/20 season, Sam Thomas’s hurdle debutants have records form figure of: 1252434115 – 3 wins and 3 placed from 10 runners (A/E 2.05)
This should be an informative race with some big yards represented and some interesting profiles on show but Jazz King is taken to uphold his trains excellent start to the season.
Tip Top Mountain
Bought for £30,000 after making all in a point to point, he made his debut for Robert Walford just over a month later. He ran three times in two mile novice hurdles in the span of forty-three days and I’m of the view that they were just trying to get a mark. In fact, he was declared for a novice handicap chase towards the end of last season but was taken out on account of the soft ground.
Given his physique and his background, he was always going to be seen to better over effect once sent chasing and upped in trip; it’s also worth noting that his point win came on good and his best hurdles run was on a sound surface too so conditions appear to be in his favour today.
Robert Walford has only sent twelve runners to Stratford in recent years, with three of them winning (A/E 2.22). Tip Top Mountain is his only runner for the yard, while his trainer also has a fair 18% S/R with chase debutants in handicaps (A/E 1.18).
He likes to ridden prominently which suits the track and while there are a few interesting rivals, Tip Top Mountain is taken to make a winning chasing debut.
Mr Harp
In a race seemingly full of horses that will be back over fences sooner rather than later, the progressive Mr Harp appeals as a solid proposition here.
Ground versatile, Mr Harp quickly developed into a useful novice last term, winning off an opening mark of 115 before finishing a valiant second to Imperial Alcazar in a Pertemps qualifier, with Pertemps Final third Come On Teddy back in third.
Second in a Grade 2 novice hurdles next time out, he was well beaten that day and he was fortunate to finish second but he did finish ahead of some useful rivals. Disappointing on his most recent start where he was probably over the top following a long season, he has now been dropped to a mark of 125 which looks very workable.
Gladiateur Allen represents the biggest danger to the selection following an impressive first season under rules and two very respectable efforts in competitive handicaps. Three miles looks sure to suit.
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