Fraser Canyon and Back To Bracka among tips for Hereford and Wetherby
Fraser Canyon hot stuff at Hereford
Fraser Canyon ran a stormer when runner-up last time out and can go one better to open his account in the 2m 3f handicap hurdle on today’s card at Hereford (15.50).
The Tim Vaughan trained four-year-old posted a career-best effort when fitted with the tongue-tie for the first time and beaten just 1 1/4 lengths by On The Road in an 11-runner contest at Fontwell 10 days ago.
Fraser Canyon raced sweetly throughout before taking up the running three from home and, after being strongly pressed at the last, stuck to the task well on the run-in once headed.
Tim Vaughan will be confident of overseeing a Fraser Canyon odds win.
The winner is a thriving sort who has since gone on to score off 7lb higher to make it four wins on the bounce and the pair pulled 25 lengths clear of the third home.
That gives the form a rock solid look and it’s no surprise to see connections turn Fraser Campbell out quickly as he is due to race off 6lb higher in future assignments.
It makes him the one to beat in this off an unchanged mark of 96, especially if taking into account the 3lb claim of promising young jockey Alan Johns.
What A Scorcher looks hot stuff
In the 2m handicap hurdle (14.45), What A Scorcher looks terrific value to land the spoils following a career-best effort last time out in hotter company.
The Seamus Mullins trained mare scored in good style on seasonal reappearance at Warwick when staying on strongly to score by 2 3/4 lengths and has since run a blinder to finish third of 12 to the thriving Cliffs Of Dover at Cheltenham off 7lb higher.
What A Scorcher attempted to make all in the latter and, after being six lengths clear three from home, was unable to find any extra after the last to be beaten just 6 1/2 lengths.
The winner is an above-average juvenile who has scored again since off 10lb higher to complete a four-timer an is now rated 140, and the fourth and sixth home have also gone on to taste success.
That is strong form and makes a 1lb rise in the weights for What a Scorcher look lenient.
This also looks a far weaker contest for the grade and What A Scorcher should be able to dominate a small field and prove hard to peg back.
Hereford tips
12.40: Tommy Rapper
13.10: Book Direct
13.40: The Happy Chappy
14.15: Show’s Over
14.45: What A Scorcher (NB)
15.20: Grand March
15.50: Fraser Canyon (NAP)
Back To Bracka weighted to strike at Wetherby
Back To Bracka looks decent value to cash-in on a drop in the weights and get back to winning ways in the 2m handicap chase on today’s card at Wetherby (14.25).
The Lucinda Russell trained gelding was last successful in a 2m 4f contest at Ayr 13 months ago when scoring by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 128.
Back To Bracka went on to finish second at Haydock off 134 but then failed to sparkle in three subsequent outings.
Lucinda Russell can witness another winner with Back To Bracka in Coral’s Wetherby best bets.
The nine-year-old was also pulled-up on seasonal reappearance over 3m at Ayr earlier in the month, but shaped well for much of the race over an unsuitable trip.
Back To Bracka clearly failed to stay and the drop back to 2m is likely to see him in a far better light.
The handicapper has also been very kind in quickly dropping him 6lb to a mark of 121, 7lb lower than when last victorious.
It makes the selection, who is a course and distance winner on soft ground, look weighted to take all the beating on the pick of his form.
Kalanti can collect under in-form jockey Hughes
Jockey Brian Hughes is in red-hot form at present and Kalanti looks a worthy favourite to provide him with another winner in the 2m novices’ hurdle (12.50).
Trained by Chris Grant, the five-year-old had some decent form in bumpers and opened his account at the first time of asking over the obstacles when landing a 13-runner contest at Kelso last month by 1 1/2 lengths.
After getting hampered at the first, Kalanti quickly recovered and travelled well throughout before taking up the running approaching the final flight.
The gelding then only had to be driven out to assert and score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests and it was a most taking performance which suggested plenty more improvement should be forthcoming.
Wetherby tips
12.20: Robbing The Prey
12.50: Kalanti (NB)
13.20: Zeroeshadesofgrey
13.55: Coeur de Lion
14.25: Back To Bracka (NAP)
15.00: Visandi
15.30: Keepin Time
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