Richard Fahey‘s stable had a terrific 2010 and the Musley Bank handler has begun the new turf Flat season in the same form as he ended the last. Champion jockey Paul Hanagan isn’t in action at Ascot this weekend but that gives an opportunity to others to earn the headlines and apprentice Lee Topliss may have inherited the plum ride in the totesport Victoria Cup on board Brae Hill.
The five-year-old has already had a couple of runs this season and has been far from disgraced in either, finishing second in the William Hill Lincoln on his reappearance at Doncaster before finishing a close-up sixth in the Spring Cup at Newbury off a higher mark on his latest outing. The form of that race has worked out really well with the second and third filling the same places in a competitive handicap at Chester earlier this week and the fourth finishing second at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas day. Brae Hill has clearly improved over the winter and is suited by the hurly-burly of big-field handicaps so there seems no reason to desert him at Ascot at Victor Chandler‘s 16/1.
Of course, there are plenty of dangers including Michael Bell‘s Horseradish who had a number of his rivals at Ascot behind when making a winning reappearance over 6f at Doncaster. The Kyllachy gelding won four times last season, including once over this trip, and could be well drawn against the stands’ rails – the general 8/1 will have plenty of takers. Irish raider Bay Knight could be interesting at Boylesports‘ 40/1 as he had decent form over this distance last year and clearly found 5f too sharp on his return to action at Naas. Hawkeyethenoo is another with claims as he finished with a real flourish when fourth over 6f at Newmarket last week. The extra furlong is unknown territory, however, so William Hill‘s 11/1 is probably plenty short enough. Last year’s fourth Noble Citizen can be backed at 28/1 with bet365, while Coral‘s 16/1 suggests former classic hope Shamandar will be fit enough to do himself justice after a long lay-off but Himalya can be backed at 25/1 with Coral and William Hill and needs some help from the handicapper. Al Muheer looks nicely treated, however, and looks the pick of Dandy Nicholls‘ team at the general 16/1 but Brae Hill looks almost certain to give supporters another good run for their money.
