Stratford preview: Cousin Khee weighted to cash-in
Published:
Cousin Khee looks weighted to take all the beating in the 2m 2f handicap hurdle on today’s card at Stratford (16.50) now eased in grade.
The Hughie Morrison trained gelding had some useful form to his name in 2012/13 when landing a novice Hurdle at Huntingdon in good style, before going on to finish an excellent third in a class 3 handicap at Aintree off a mark of 123.
Cousin Khee also wasn’t disgraced on his last run over the obstacles in the early part of 2013 when fifth of 11 in a class 3 contest at Kempton off 122, and is now able to race in this lower grade class 4 affair off 118.
That gives the eight-year-old major claims at the weights, and Cousin Khee has plenty of decent efforts to his name on the level in recent years which show he retains plenty of ability.
With the ground fine and Tom O’Brien in the saddle, Cousin Khee looks to have been shrewdly placed and found a lovely opportunity to get back to winning ways.
Maputo scored in good style on his debut over the obstacles, and is thus a worthy favourite to follow-up in the 2m 2f novices hurdle that opens proceedings (14.20).
The gelding was a very smart performer on the flat when trained by Mark Johnston, and looked one to keep onside when scoring in good style at Perth last month on his first start for new handler John Ferguson.
Maputo travelled strongly and only had to be pushed out to score by 2 3/4 lengths, and the third home has come out and won since to give the form a boost. The five-year-old is sure to come on a bundle for that experience, and hails from yard that is in red-hot form at present.
Top Spin ran a blinder when runner-up last time out, so can go one better to land the 2m 6f handicap hurdle (14.50).
The gelding had some decent form to his name when trained in Ireland, and went down by just 1 1/4 lengths to Western Way over 2m 3f at Market Rasen on his first start for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
Top Spin stuck to the task really well, and the step back up in trip is sure to suit. The five-year-old is also able to race off an unchanged mark of 110 and, with Richard Johnson in the saddle, is going to be tough to beat.
Selections:
14.20: Maputo
14.50: Top Spin (NB)
15.20: Shady Glen
15.50: Presence Felt
16.20: My Nosy Rosy
16.50: Cousin Khee (NAP)
