POLLY PEACHUM CAN BEAT THE BOYS

Watching Channel 4 Racing on Friday, I wondered if there is any point in opposing John Gosden when he is in this sort of form early in the season. His horses go in like clockwork and he is now the leading light at Newmarket, capable of attacking on a much broader front than Sir Michael Stoute or Luca Cumani. Having said that, I would certainly expect Stoute’s Cannock Chase to beat Western Hymn and Postponed, should they meet again.

This has been a disappointing week for me, partly because all unbacked Malcolm Saunders-trained winners hurt, but when they go in at 14/1 and 33/1, as Ginzan and Sarangoo did at Kempton, you’re aware that a potentially magnificent day has come and gone. Well, the pair of them had done little or nothing in 14 tries on the AW and Malcolm is not known for early winners, so there‘s no point in opting for extensive self-examination, though I must say the double hurt a bit.

As far as this weekend is concerned, it’s all about A P McCoy and Sandown is sold out. Thousands will be willing him on when Mr Mole contests the Grade 1 Celebration Chase named in his honour but I just wish there were eight runners rather than seven because the underrated SPECIAL TIARA is capable of dominating this and giving the others plenty to ponder if steering clear of unnecessary errors. He ran a cracking third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and there was no fluke about it.

Otherwise , I think Gabrial’s Kaka can go close at Haydock if he is covered up  –  he saw too much daylight in the Lincoln  –  and See The Sun has a good each-way chance in the very warm six-furlong handicap at Ripon, though I must say I’d earmarked the horse for the five-furlong handicap on the second day of the York Dante meeting. Small bet here, bigger one later on, perhaps.

Sandown, and another NH season, closes with the bet365 Select Hurdle over 2m 6f. I thought POLLY PEACHUM ran a fine race in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and she can beat the boys in this. She is relatively lightly raced, will find the trip ideal and may reward Nico de Boinville, who goes into the final day with a chance of the conditional jockeys’ title.