Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Hoping Cyan can show her True colours

York, Friday

We will start at York in the 3.15pm where I like True Cyan. The form of her Nell Gwyn run is working out pretty nicely as filly that was just in front of her that day, Kathmandu, was only just beaten in the French Guineas last weekend and, of course, on that run she has the beating of Spiritual. She’s entitled to progress again for that experience which should make her hard to beat here.

Kilbeggan, Friday

Division One of the William Hill Epic Value Maiden Hurdle at 5.35pm is full of unexposed and some unraced prospects. Of the debutantes, my eye is drawn to Mortimer Duke, who’s a well-bred son of Nathaniel for Barry Connell, out of an Acclamation mare. The yard can ready one first time out, he could be very interesting in this.

The second division of the maiden hurdle (6.10pm) is a far superior race than the first division, and it’s a lot more competitive too. Gaucher for Willie Mullins cost €260,000 out of France after he was quite useful for Carlos Laffon-Parias. Over there he won twice and was well touted on his stable debut at Navan in February. He came up a bit short on that occasion behind Helvic Dream, but he raced too keen and I think that, if he learns to settle, added to the fact that Paul Townend will know him a bit better now, he will take and awful lot of beating around Kilbeggan. He has a big reputation coming from France and this should be his maiden hurdle to win.

The handicap hurdle at 6.45pm has a number of horses reverting back from chasing to hurdles, but the one I like here is Ottizzini. She’s been plying her trade in the UK for her last couple of runs, the most recent of which was at Ayr back in April where she ran a solid race. I think that, down to a mark of 119, she can certainly be effective under JJ Slevin for the Crawfords and could go very well here.

In the 7.55pm, I like Farmers Lodge because I think he’s going to improve for the extra half mile in trip. He was highly tried last time when he finished last in the Flyingbolt behind Blood Destiny and Spillane’s Tower and is reverting back into more realistic waters that saw him beat Macdermott in January in his beginners chase. Macdermott, of course, was the subsequent Scottish National winner and in fourth that day was The Gradual Slope who won a good handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival. I think that Farmers Lodge up in trip should be very hard to beat.