JULIETTE'S WEEKLY FROLIC
The curtain rises on the 1971 Flat season this Thursday, which swings into top gear two days later for the Lincoln, yet only last weekend all English racing had again to be abandoned thanks to the rain, which I would like to think had a hand in my abysmal Cheltenham results. An all-time low of £84.375 is hardly a promising way to embark on the new season, when there is little con- crete evidence to go on for the first few weeks.
The answer to the Lincoln riddle should lie with the best drawn of the fittest horses and few will be more ready.than the hurd- ling Duke of Parma, who has raced consist- ently well in respectable juvenile company this winter and wound up winning in testing going at Newbury. Ante-post favourite, Mon Plaisir, was most people's idea of the winner after a damp weekend, but with improving weather and going may lose some support to well-fancied Brother Scot and the Lester Piggott fan club. However, the one I fear most is Tandy—excellently treated on his 'Cambridgeshire' fifth, with nearly half the other runners here. Half a dozen will prob- ably finish in a line but Duke.of Parma, with an unaccustomed lightweight on his back, could just get there first. Happy Hunter had notched up three successes by the end of April last-year and, despite a hefty weight, should, I think, be followed on Friday in his chosen race (Doncaster 4.00 or 5.00). On more familiar 'chasing ground, the Clock Corner Steeplechase (Doncaster, Saturday) looks Rainbow Valley's chance for a third successive win. He.is only 31b worse off with Huperade whom he had well back in the `Greenall Whitley' at Haydock, and should also be able to confirm placings with Permit, third on that occasion.
Assets: £84.375.
Outlay: £2 ew Duke of Parma, £2 to win Happy Hunter and Rainbow Valley.
Previous page
