TimeformBlog

David Pipe's Balgarry made light of a 557-day absence to run away with a competitive handicap hurdle at Newbury on Saturday, and Pipe will be hoping lightning can strike twice this afternoon with the ex-Philip Hobbs trained Terfel's Toscar (14:45) at Hereford. Quietly progressive in three runs over hurdles during the 2009/10 season, the son of Oscar was last seen finishing second to his then stablemate Mostly Bob in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter in April 2010. In the intervening period, Mostly Bob has gone on to prove himself at least a fairly useful performer over both hurdles and fences, suggesting that Terfel's Toscar could have been let in lightly making his handicap debut off a BHA rating of just 95. Open to any amount of improvement with just those three runs to his name, fitness is unlikely to be an issue hailing from these quarters and Terfel's Toscar can make a winning return to action.

Grand National winning trainer Venetia Williams has a great record at her local track, operating at a strike rate of 18% at Hereford in the last five seasons. That strike rate improves to 24% when you concentrate solely on her runners over the larger obstacles, highlighting the claims of Carrickboy (16.45) in this afternoon's handicap chase. Owned by Trevor Hemmings, this winning hurdler didn't take to fences as quickly as expected, failing to get his head in front on four occasions last season, whilst also being pulled up on his reappearance this time around. However, in keeping with the majority of Williams' horses, Carrickboy has really found his form in recent months and broke his chasing duck at Catterick in January. Again sent on his travels last time, Carrickboy was going strongly in front in a handicap chase at Ayr prior to a mistake two out that knocked the stuffing out of him, eventually finishing ten lengths behind the winner Bishops Heir in second. That run strongly suggests he is capable of winning races off his current official mark of 128, and as a normally fluent jumper he is fancied to be another winner for Williams at her local track.

We switch to the polytrack at Lingfield for our third and final SmartPlay which comes in the shape of the David Simcock trained Prime Run (17.00). A 140,000 guineas purchase as a yearling, the half-sister to Group 1 winner Silca's Sister made a highly encouraging racecourse debut when narrowly beaten at Wolverhampton last month. Prime Run shaped like the best horse in the race that day, as after travelling best of all she ran green under pressure going down narrowly to the more experienced odds-on favourite Red Trump. Plenty of improvement is expected with that run under her belt and she should make the most of what looks a good opportunity to break her maiden tag at the second time of asking.

Back Terfel's Toscar @ 4.6 in the 14.45 at Hereford
Back Carrickboy @ 3.65 in the 16.45 at Hereford
Back Prime Run @ 2.42 in the 17.00 at Lingfield

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