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Second and third yesterday
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Alan Dudman has an 8/1 double for Friday
Strong Belle debut was a good one
Back Strong Belle @ 3.02/1 in the 16:10 at Huntingdon
Kaphumor ran a fair enough race in third at 17/2 and hit around 5/2 in-running for yesterday's column, while Alafdhal went down by 1L and hit 2.021/1 to finish second. It wasn't an each-way double due to the price of Alafdhal but he can certainly pick up another race - perhaps at his favourite Essex venue Chelmsford.
No real each-way angle today either, and it's very much at the top end of the market for the Mares' Bumper to close the Huntingdon card, and Huntingdon is very much I track I like with front-runners and those that race at handy.
The presence of Olly Murphy's newcomer Little Miss Dante makes this interesting, but like Harry Fry's runners, I find the Murphy horses in Novice Hurdles and Bumpers can go off a little too short. Little Miss Dante was actually bred by Nicky Henderson and her sister was a winner in this sphere, but I prefer the experience of Strong Belle.
She made a good start to her career at the track in a CD Listed race at the beginning of December. The winner had experience and put it to good use, and the Sam Thomas second was well punted into 11/8 and cost £220,000 at the Cheltenham Sales.
Strong Belle lacked pace and experience on that occasion, especially down into the straight as she tracked the front two - who both were ridden more forward. She ran on well in the closing stages against potentially two good horses and there was a big enough gap to fourth to suggest her staying ability clicked at the end.
The grey looked to have quite a bit of size about her physically, and I doubt if the good ground on her debut was a good thing. Softer conditions today will suit, as will the benefit of experience under her belt and I'd like to see her put that to good use in terms of tactics today.
Her dam is related to a Grade 1 winner and Nigel Twiston-Davies has had four Bumper winners this term.
Probert mount rather than Loughnane's
Back Mountain Song @ 3.259/4 in the 18:15 at Wolverhampton
In one of my Daily Racing News columns in the past two weeks, I had predicted Billy Loughnane would get a ride for Godolphin, although I didn't expect it to be so soon as the 16-year-old dons the blue silks for the first time this evening with 8/11 favourite Sapphire Seas.
Loughnane is very much an apprentice in demand, thus the price and plenty of his mounts reflects that. Charlie Appleby has two in the race with Loughnane's mount at 8/11 and newcomer Mountain Song at 9/4, and preference is for the latter.
She is a Sea The Stars Filly which immediately alerts me, and the elite sire holds a 16% win rate at Wolverhampton and 33% placed. It's better at today's trip of 1m2f with a 20% win and 35% placed.
Her dam Yodelling has produced three horses, and all three have been winners, and it's very much an All-Weather pedigree. Indeed, Yodelling herself won her first two starts at Kempton - and she's by Medaligia D'Oro, another line for artificial winners.
Davey Probert rides and has a good draw on the inside in two, which is vital for this track. In the last five seasons, Probert has ridden 100 winners from his 825 rides, and shows a level stakes loss of just -1.00. Which considering the amount of rides was quite surprising.
I like a dam that was won on the AW to translate to their sons and daughters and it worked with a newcomer I tipped last week with Glen Buck. Hopefully Mountain Song can do the same and follow suit.