Nab Wood has been on a roll in recent months and another victory could be on the cards in the quinnbet.com Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle.
The seven-year-old did not show too much in his first couple of starts but has finally found his stride this winter, finishing second at Ayr in December before registering successive wins at Kelso. While he raced keenly on the first occasion in January, Nab Wood still hacked up by a comfortable 12 lengths which saw the handicapper give him an initial mark of 114 last month.
That perch proved well within his compass though, with new tactics employed as Nab Wood was held up in the early stages before breezing into contention and eventually coming home just over three lengths clear. Nicky Richards' charge has been raised 8lb for that victory, but the manner of his wins suggests there could still be something left to come.
Ryan's Rocket can get off the mark for Fergal O'Brien in the Chetwood Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Taunton. The six-year-old was a point to point winner in 2022 but failed to make an impact on his sole bumper run, trailing home a well-beaten 10th at Newbury in November.
Connections swiftly switched his sights to hurdles and Ryan's Rocket took a leap forward with a three-quarter-length second to Fiercely Proud, who has subsequently placed twice in Grade Two company. That form is clearly pretty smart and Ryan's Rocket looks a likely winner.
The O'Brien team could also be on the scoresheet in the concluding Grand National Lunch 13th April Open National Hunt Flat Race where Full Monty can build on a respectable debut at Newton Abbot last summer. Sent off 13/8 favourite on that occasion, inexperience meant he was unable to do himself justice. However, he is sure to have benefitted for that first day of school and related to a pair of useful bumper winners, can show his true colours this time.
Asinara's 1000 Guineas entry appears to be flying a bit high at present, but a win in the BetMGM: It's Showtime Restricted Maiden Stakes at Southwell might see her 100-1 odds clipped a little. Trained by Charlie Hills, this daughter of Harry Angel hails from a fair family and made a decent start when just touched off on her racecourse bow.
She looked pretty green on debut but stayed on well to be beaten just a short head over the same seven-furlong distance she faces here and that experience should stand her in good stead. Better should appreciate a return to six furlongs in the Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap.
After showing little in three runs, George Boughey's charge ran out an impressive three-length winner in December, with his trainer pointing to the six-furlong trip as a key factor in his improved showing. Hiked 11lb for the win, Better than returned over five furlongs at Newcastle last month where he had to settle for fourth, beaten a length and a half after just lacking an extra bit of toe in the closing stages. Eased 1lb and back up in trip, Better can get back on track.
SELECTIONS:
DUNDALK: 5.00 Cherry Pink, 5.30 Gains Of War, 6.00 Morning Vietnam, 6.30 State Actor, 7.00 Nibras Rainbow, 7.30 Blue Wood, 8.00 Agenda, 8.30 Believe In Science.
NEWCASTLE: 2.35 Milan Echo, 3.05 Give Me A Boom, 3.35 Hello Judge, 4.05 NAB WOOD (NAP), 4.35 Has Troke, 5.05 Rivers Corner.
SOUTHWELL: 4.15 Philos, 4.45 The Dragon King, 5.15 So Obsessed, 5.45 God Bless America, 6.15 Asinara, 6.45 Chola Empire, 7.15 Better, 7.45 Storm Asset, 8.15 Van Zant.
TAUNTON: 2.20 Time To Dazzle, 2.50 Ryan's Rocket, 3.20 Tuscan Rose, 3.50 Moytier, 4.20 Hara Kiri, 4.50 Cooleenymore, 5.20 Full Monty.
DOUBLE: Nab Wood and Ryan's Rocket.