By Ashley Iveson
Musselburgh serve up a Friday evening jumps feast and Teorie can take top honours in the Go North Grey Bomber Juvenile Hurdle Series Final.
Fergal O’Brien’s charge was a Flat winner for Jim Bolger last year before joining his current team and making a winning hurdles bow when hacking up in a qualifier for this contest at Catterick back in December.
He then headed to Musselburgh for another qualifier under a penalty, although that run ended with a disappointing fourth as his jumping was not so slick and he drifted across the track in the finish.
Teorie then took on older rivals at Southwell, where he secured a convincing victory, but the Fred Winter at the Festival proved a step too far and this lesser company can see him get back on track.
Sunday Soldier has been steamrollering her way through mares’ and novices’ company and has a five-timer in her sights in the Go North Lady Buttons Mares’ Hurdle Series Final.
The six-year-old kicked off her winning spree over just short of two miles at Musselburgh in December, adding another course-and-distance success in January before making a swift reappearance and slight leap in trip to follow up at Sedgefield.
She was 7lb well in that day but showed her revised mark of 106 was still highly workable when winning a Doncaster qualifier for this by 10 lengths.
Sunday Soldier has a further 8lb to contend with here and a longer two-and-a-half-mile trip, but she is firmly on an upward curve and having proven her ability to handle testing ground, another victory does not look beyond her.
Call Me Harry has a fine Musselburgh strike rate that can be further enhanced in the Go North Brindisi Breeze Hurdle Series Final.
Winner of two of his four starts at the track, he did not sparkle on his most recent spin in February when his jumping let him down a bit, but he cannot be dismissed lightly.
Arthur’s Realm returned to form when third in Doncaster’s Spring Mile last month and the Trustee Fire & Security Ltd Handicap at Lingfield looks another fine opportunity.
Ed Dunlop’s runner hit the frame on a number of occasions last year but has not actually got his head in front since April 2022.
However, there was much to like about his threequarter-length third in a competitive heat on Town Moor, particularly as he did not enjoy a totally clear run, and a 2lb rise might not be enough to anchor him.
Roccovango can give title-chasing jockey Sean Bowen a win in Wetherby’s racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle, while River Tyne can step up on two recent seconds in the AK Bets Win And Get Paid Mares’ Handicap Chase at Fontwell.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
WETHERBY: Race 1: 14.15 Roccovango, Race 2: 14.50 Josie Alice, Race 3: 15.20
Choosethenews, Race 4: 15.50 Abbeydale, Race 5: 16.20 Wide To West, Race 6: 16.55
Dexperado.
FONTWELL: Race 1: 14.40 Goguenard, Race 2: 15.10 River Tyne, Race 3: 15.40 Yalla Habibi,
Race 4: 16.10 Concrete King, Race 5: 16.45 Livin On Luco, Race 6: 17.20 Ruler Legend.
LINGFIELD: Race 1: 15.00 Largo Bay, Race 2: 15.30 Viennoise, Race 3: 16.00 Doddie's Impact,
Race 4: 16.30 Falmouth Bay, Race 5: 17.05 Arthur's Realm, Race 6: 17.40 Moorgate, Race 7:
18.15 Jungle Dance.
MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 17.30 Speed Davis, Race 2: 18.05 Sunday Soldier, Race 3: 18.40
TEORIE (NAP), Race 4: 19.10 Call Me Harry, Race 5: 19.40 Scots Poet, Race 6: 20.10 This Is
Bob, Race 7: 20.40 Reflection Of You.
DOUBLE: Sunday Soldier and Teorie (Musselburgh, Races 2 and 3).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com