JULIETTE'S WEEKLY FROLIC
So the favourites romped home (both by five lengths) on Wills' Day at Haydock, rob- bing me of any outstanding coup. Still, Interview it's place in the Hurdle saved the day, raising my ill-gotten gains by two guineas to £117. After the weekend there was, understandably, a strong ante-post run on Leap Frog at 8 to 1 for the Gold Cup, but his price having already dropped to sixes and likely to decline much further before 18 March, I shall disregard Satur- day's evidence, finding more attractive the offer of 8 to 1 against Into View,
This Saturday's Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster swings the spotlight once more onto the Grand National and the perform- ance of many horses here will determine their chances (and weights) at Aintree. The latter applies most obviously to Gay Trip in this the last trial before the weights for. the 'big thing' are published, but also to such as Vulgan's Pleasure, Two Springs and Rain Lover at the other end of the handicap. On the form book Gay Trip and Gold Cup con- tender, Spanish Steps, appear to have the race between them. The latter, a firm favourite of mine, is apparently exceedingly well, but has (through cancellations etc) been off the course since Foxtor brought him down in last November's Hennessy and he may neither be able to match up to the fitness of the National winner nor give him 71b. The latter has been steadily returning to his best and turned in a sparkling performance against Even Keel at Sandown, when run- ning at about half his preferred distance. A possible danger is Excess, who has been consistently winning with weights around lOst 91b (what he carries on Saturday) but despite possible favouritism I have to support Gay Trip at £3 each way, putting aside a similar amount for Into View at Cheltenham.
Previous page
