WEEKLY FROLIC
With a double helping of horses this week, there is, fortunately no space to dwell upon the slight jolt to my fortunes last Saturday. The SPECTATOR'S deadline could hardly be more awkwardly timed for the mid-week Cheltenham Festival, so as I can hardly ignore altogether so prestigious an occasion, money will have to be laid a week in advance. I am still perfectly happy with 8 to 1 for Into View in the Gold Cup (£3 ew SPECTATOR 23 January)—he may be un- proven above 2+ miles, but unlike some other contenders, has done nothing to discredit himself and even ardent detractors cannot but respect his devastating turn of finishing speed. Some form of query appears to hang over all the other runners and even at current odds of 9 to 2 he seems the most lively prospect. Although still devoted to Bula in the Champion Hurdle, gambling instinct insists on a modest saver with Dondieu. An unfortunate disqualification, a good fifth in the 'Schweppes' and a run-away win at Nottingham since being headed by Bula at their last meeting cannot be ignored. Last Saturday Nerak proved he was more than a local star when trouncing a good field for Haydock's Victor Ludorum. He has tem- pered my feelings for Melody Rock and I take him to beat the latter for the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle on Gold Cup day. Sadly, I haven't enough pounds in hand to speculate further on this mid-week fling and so must reluctantly leave the other splendid prizes and turn to the more immediate task of Saturday's decisions, when it's nice to see that Sandown's two valuable hurdles have not been completely ravaged by the nearness of Cheltenham. The first of these, the 'A Williams' over 2 miles 5 furlongs, could be Broken Melody's opportunity to return to earlier form, or perhaps, Lone Wolf's com- pensation for having run so close in many hot contests. However, 1 favour S,Ivador in, unbeaten in four starts this season, to confirm placings with Prophecy- -"'.ough the latter gets 5 lb for a three-length defeat. In the following Imperial Cup. Potentate is strongly fancied to hit a winning streak and Kelanne is also expected to make amends for his last fence fall when with Bula at Wincanton. However. I prefer slightly more to go on and shall side with consisteni Even Break. Twice a winner with considerably more than the 10 stone 2 lb he carries here, he left himself with too much to do at Stratford last time. Ever since defeating Arctic Actress in January, Autumn Cardinal has steered clear of the racecourse but should reappear in the Sandown Open Handi- cap 'chase, where he may have most to fear from lightly weighted Tokyo Melody.
Assets: £98.375 Outlay: Cheltenham-0 ew into View, £1 ew Dondieu and Nerak.
Sandown—£2 to win Autumn Cardinal, ft ew Salvador in and Even Break.
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