SHOUT - OUT FOR RAUCOUS
Today's tip-top tips from Starform
Ayr – Gordon Elliott sends WESTERN
ROW (treble) over the Irish Sea for the first time in a bid to make amends for falling on his second run over fences at Navan last month. He was still in with a shout that day, disputing the lead before falling at the second last, and so with a clear round he can improve on a decent run on his chasing debut, when second to Moonshine Bay at Thurles. The seven-year-old gives weight to four rivals, led by likely favourite Dandy Dan, trained by Kim Bailey, who won two chases during the autumn. The most recent was at Bangor at the end of October in which only one rival finished out of the four runners.
Uttoxeter – the lightlyraced ROCK MY
STYLE (nb) is taken to score his first win over fences, having unseated Jack Kennedy at Newcastle when looking comfortable in a race won by Polydora on his chasing debut. He will need to focus on his jumping under Gavin Sheehan, however, but the William Greatrex seven-year-old is a classy sort, having won twice last term over hurdles. He will also enjoy the trip. His main rival looks to be Dan Skelton-trained Crucial
Role, who won a beginners chase over two and a half miles at the same track. He showed his limitations last time in a Grade Two novices’ chase at Haydock behind
Castafiore, but should be in the mix in this five-runner event. Wolverhampton
– This six furlong sprint is a wide-open affair and RAUCOUS (nap) is taken to improve on his run at Lingfield last time, when fourth behind Alsvinder earlier this month. The Robert Cowell-trained six-year-old faces Merhoob and Gulliver, who both finished in front of him that day. There was little to choose between the three but the selection was only beaten half a length, returning after a 213-day absense. He may have most to fear from top-weight Sir
Thomas Gresham. Tim Pinfield’s charge drops in class after running respectably in a Listed six-furlong event at Lingfield.