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Both of the Chris Gordon runners selected on Monday were losers, one running much better than the other.
San Pedro got bumped early into the race, and after that, he was off the bridle for at least 80% of the race. Whether he got upset and spat his dummy out, or whether he's gone at the game, I'm not sure.
Illegal d'Ainay was well-supported, like he was on his chasing debut, but was very one-paced. His jumping lacked conviction at times, and when Freddie Gordon allowed him to lose his position, it was an uphill battle.
It was a strange performance, as he stayed on at the finish, so maybe he needs even further than the 3m 2f trip he tackled today.
Kauto d'Amour 6/1 (1pt) – Catterick 12.15
I try to avoid amateur jockey races, as these guys and girls in the saddle aren't great. But seeing Mr William Easterby on top of Kauto d'Amour caught my eye.
William Easterby rode Bollin Neil last time out when he ran a belter to finish second to an improving Sue Smith horse called Heather Honey. Bollin Neil is in this race and is one of the form horses, but he's decided to jump ship and opted for Sue Smith's horse.
It's definitely a risk backing this horse, as he has been out of form and without a win for many years. He is now a ten-year-old, and his handicap mark has dropped drastically.
When you see a jockey booking like that, and William is one of the better amateurs based in the north, it suggests a big run is on the cards.
The Suth Smith & Joel Parkinson stable has been in fantastic form this year, so if they can have this horse ready first time out, he's on a very dangerous handicap mark to look past.
Keyboard 3/1 (1pt) – Catterick 12.45
Slowly but surely, the Adam Nicol yard has started to get their act together and get a hold of some better horses.
Since transitioning to training, he has been relying on his stable star, Wise Eagle, to fly the flag. On the weekend just gone, we saw a very nice juvenile hurdler called Minella Study, who won a Class 2 at Cheltenham.
I'm not saying Keyboard is going to be on the same level as Minella Study, but he was backed off the boards on his hurdling debut.
He has a similar profile to Minella Study in the way that they were both bought from Ireland. Keyboard was higher rated on the flat, so there should be a good chance that he will make a good hurdler.
He ran well on his hurdling debut. A slow jump here and there, and outpaced, but stuck to his task well. There are interesting runners in this, especially the Greatrex horse, but I think experience counts for a lot in these races.
Caman Rocco 5/2 (1pt) – Catterick 2.15
Whenever the Irish come to the UK, their runners always need to be looked over multiple times. Gavin Cromwell has been one of the busier trainers sending horses across the Irish Sea, and his strike rate when doing so is very impressive.
Gavin has sent four runners to Catterick on a Tuesday, which seems very strange, but it wouldn't be a shock if he walked away with four winners.
Of the four, I was most willing to give a chance to Caman Rocco, the largest price of the jumpers.
This race is not good, and it won't take a lot of improving from Caman Rocco if she were to win this.
From what we've seen, is that she hasn't shown much in his four starts over hurdles. However, her last start was definitely her best, and that was on her handicap debut. She was unfancied at Clonmel, going off at 33/1 and was never really put into the race.
Keith Donoghue takes over from the 7lb claimer who was on last time, and with this yard having such a good reputation, a huge level of improvement seems likely.
GambleAware