Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Windsor, Fakenham and Thurles
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Sunday’s action from Windsor, Fakenham and Thurles.
Windsor
MOON ROCKET can win the rescheduled Hampton at Windsor on Sunday (1.20) for all the reasons I gave last week. This track will not be ideal for most of these, who are real thorough stayers. The selection remains open to a bit more improvement and is likeliest to get into the best rhythm round here.
MIGHTY BANDIT might well go in again in the two-mile handicap chase (1.50). Connections have been smart not wasting too much time over hurdles, and he’s looked a natural the last twice. Mirabad will cut this face open from the front, but more testing conditions may just blunt him somewhat.
BOTOX HAS is a big price in the feature hurdle (2.25). He ran quite well for a long way in the Wincanton Pertemps qualifier, but that was probably a means to an end and he looked like he still needed the run. The last time he ran off this sort of mark in a handicap garnered an impressive win, and his young rider claims 10 and is highly regarded by Gary Moore.
PROTEKTORAT is a tight price against talented horses (3.00) but he’s really hard to oppose, having been tuned for this all season, shown great form here last year, and appearing off the back of a truly valiant and superb effort in a handicap on his comeback. He’ll enjoy the quiet testing conditions and looks bound for a repeat win.
DE LEGISLATOR can take the staying race (3.35). He’s very low mileage, and has given notice that he could progress and become decent over marathon trips. This is a lower grade race than plenty he’s been considered for, and connections travelled to strike at this meeting last year.
Fakenham
ITV are televising two races from Fakenham, where Toby McCain-Mitchell can complete a double on LOOKING AS YOU ARE (2.05) and SAINTE DOCTOR (2.40).
Thurles
Meanwhile, at Thurles, it should be a benefit for the Mullins shorties JADE DE GRUGY (2.15) and APPRECIATE IT (3.30).
