Dolos may make up for Aintree
April 21st, 2018 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News
I came to no great harm in the Grand National because Milansbar made it safely round and bookmakers were paying out on the fifth. With the future in mind, Seeyouatmidnight did very well for a long way after having only one run this season and only tired from three out. He will be 11 when the race is run next year and Sandy Thomson may have him just that bit fitter. He is the only one I took from the race.
This service is quite separate from the telephone line, though we had quite boost on Friday with 25/1 shot Medburn Cutler, who has done well since joining Peter Hedger. It may well be worth keeping an eye out for Medburn Dream, another to have joined him from Paul Henderson, who tended to race his horses rather often.
As far as this weekend is concerned, I’d expect Sir Michael Stoute to have Expert Eye fit enough to win the Greenham at Newbury. I was greatly taken by the horse at Goodwood last year and can readily overlook the dismal effort in the Dewhurst, which followed a slight setback at home. He is a quality colt and will need to win this to underline his 2,000 Guineas claims.
The main bet will be Paul Nicholls’ DOLOS in the opener at Ayr. The Grand Annual turned into a rather frantic affair and he never quite got into it but was keeping on steadily in seventh. The trainer, who won the race with Le Prezien, fancied Dolos that day and Saturday may show that he was perfectly justified. Still quite lightly raced, Dolos had finished very close to Gino Trail before Cheltenham and that horse finished second in the Grand Annual before running a blinder under a big weight at Aintree. The form looks solid. Dandridge comes over from Ireland on a bit of a losing run but he is fairly treated and would be my each-way saver.
The Scottish Champion hurdle, a limited handicap, is stronger than in recent years. The interesting one to small stakes is Nicky Henderson’s Charlie Parcs, who was used almost as a pacemaker or even a spoiler in the Champion Hurdle. He was eventually pulled up but has no pretensions to acting on soft and the ground is drying out all the time now. He is quite a price and may run well above most people’s expectations. Henderson has always liked him.
