Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Right time at Kelso

Newbury

Dear old FORTESCUE might just have enough of a test of stamina in the Newbury TV opener this Saturday (1.20pm) at 7/2. He really could gallop all day long, and three miles on good ground around Sandown just isn’t nearly enough. That said, his two previous efforts this season suggest strongly that he is still up to winning off this mark, and the Harry Cobden switch won’t have gone unnoticed by anyone.

HIGHSTAKESPLAYER is a strong fancy at 7/2 to win the Greatwood Gold Cup (1.55pm). Tom Lacey has been exquisitely patient with this horse, and that was duly rewarded at Kempton, where the measure of his superiority was not reflected in the winning margin. He looked much the best all the way around that day, and the minuscule rise in the weights is rather generous.

Doncaster

TOMMY’S OSCAR looks to have been found a nice opportunity at 9/4 to return to winning ways at Doncaster (2.35pm). He’s a smart horse at this level, and ran perfectly well off a short layoff at Musselburgh, suggesting not for the first time that the extra half mile stretches him a bit. A return to the minimum at one of his favoured venues should do the trick, and he can outclass these.

PINOT ROUGE is getting some love at a massive 18/1 in the mares’ staying novice (3.10pm). From a small stable, she was a monster price on her rules debut as well, but she ran a blinder against geldings, and would have won with another 100 yards. This step up in trip is a massive bonus for her, while the exploits of her two siblings suggest she should make a fair horse. I loved her attitude at Newcastle and, if she can keep tabs on them, she could easily be in the mix.

ERNE RIVER gets a narrow vote at 7/1 in the Grimthorpe (3.40pm). The form of the Great Yorkshire is working out pretty well, with Forward Plan winning at Kempton, and Sail Away appearing to excel himself in the Ascot Chase. The selection and Charlie Uberalles were right in the thick of it that day, but Erne River might just reverse the form granted two more furlongs and slightly softer ground. He rarely runs poorly here, and he’s found his form again.

Kelso

SERIOUS OPERATOR must surely run bold race at 4/1 in the opening ITV race at Kelso (1.42pm). He ran a screamer in a better race in the Lanzarote, doing much the best of those held up right off the pace, and losing a shoe into the bargain. This looks the right spot for him if he can repeat that run at a venue where he’s won before.

ALNILAM might be the answer at 8/1 to a very tricky Premier Novice Hurdle (2.17pm), particularly with doubts surrounding the stable form of the favourite. He was a pretty smart staying handicapper on the Flat, but really looked to love this job when stepping up on his formful but quietly ridden hurdling debut to score here last time with consummate ease. The horses behind him that day were no mugs, and he should be a major contender back at the scene of the crime.

BASS ROCK is a bit of a flyer at 16/1 in the Morebattle (2.50pm), but I don’t think it’s as tough a race as the numbers suggest, and I’m hoping that a return to hurdles can unlock the talent that has always been there. Fundamentally he’s lost his confidence over fences, but even jumping badly he can still perform at or above his current hurdles mark, and with Lewis Dobb taking off another seven pounds, he looks quite well treated. I also like the idea of him getting a positive ride, using his free-going nature to its advantage over this shorter trip.

AYE RIGHT finally has a great chance to get his head in front in the big chase (3.25pm) at 3/1. Aside from the bang out of form Minella Drama, he’s best in at the weights and is in better nick than Monbeg Genius and has more cast iron stamina than Thunder Rock. Although a serial non-winner, he runs consistently to a very high level, a level that will be quite hard to beat here.