Neil Morrice highlights a few dark horses who could fly under the radar on their way to scoring in upcoming meetings. This week Neil takes a look at Sam Thomas-trained GREY DIAMOND, UP FOR PAROL and more!
GREY DIAMOND Sandown Park, January 7th
New tactics have met with contrasting results for the free-going GREY DIAMOND, who was held up as had been the case on his previous earning run at Cheltenham. The gelding had smoothly progressed from The Pond fence and was poised to jump to the front when he put down and paid the penalty at the penultimate obstacle. The jury is out on whether his pilot should have asked him for a big one or let him fiddle. The winner Xcitations was given quotes for the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival, and it would be no surprise to see Sam Thomas chart a similar course for his well-handicapped two-miler.
CLONDAW CASTLE Kempton Park, January 14th
Returning from an enforced absence, CLONDAW CASTLE demonstrated his liking for Kempton with an encouraging run in this Grade 2 over an extended two and a half miles. The 16/1 roughie never threatened impressive scorer Pic D’Orhy but kept on for second, beating smart foes such as Paint The Dream and Saint Calvados. He had a good blow in the unsaddling enclosure and looks to have retained much of his ability. He could still emerge as a contender for a race like the Melling Chase at Aintree, and I s probably better on park courses than the undulations of Cheltenham.
🏇 Pic D'Orhy justifies favouritism with an emphatic Grade 2 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase victory under Harry Cobden, for trainer Paul Nicholls 👏@PFNicholls @Coral pic.twitter.com/8TeG63oSxj
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) January 14, 2023
UP FOR PAROL Kempton Park, January 14th
UP FOR PAROL made a belated return to the track for a second crack at the Lanzarote Hurdle, for which he’d started 3/1 favourite in 2022 but hadn’t been seen since. Competing off a slightly reduced mark, the seven-year-old benefitted from a positive ride in which his pilot gave him the best chance to find better ground, keeping his mount wide for much of the journey. Jumping well, he kept on gamely for second place and is now right in the picture for the Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury next month.
CLADDAGHDUFF Southwell, January 15th
On a second handicap run CLADDAGHDUFF was easy to back and it took him a long time for the penny to drop. He responded to his pilot’s urging to stay on from the rear to grab third in the last couple of strides, and will have learned from it. His trainer Jamie Osborne has his all-weather team purring, and Claddaghduff can soon open his account in similar company.
