Juliette's weekly frolic
Judging from my Easter holiday ramblings round the North of England, Messrs Whitbreads have established a firm footing in the local drinking houses and it must have suited them fine to have their Gold Cup transferred to Newcastle while Sandown is still under the scaffolding. The north in any case appears to appreciate the winter sport long after the South has jilted jumping in favour of the flat and as they've even got the Queen Mum paying her first visit to Gosforth Park for twelve years to do the honours with the Cup, there's certainly nothing to be lost from going north.
As the first of the post-war wave of sponsored 'chases, the ' Whitbread ' has always attracted the quality, but though the field is expected to be large — the first fence has been especially widened to 60 feet — only Charlie Potheen (12.0) can truly claim that status this year. His nearest rival in the handicap, Clever Scot, has failed to complete the course in three of his last four outings, twice falling when attempting to match strides with ' Charlie ' and after him we fall below II stone, where Arthur Stephenson, fielding both Interview and Red Sweeney, appears to have the strongest hand. The latter recently missed Aintree for a second time to contest and win a handicap here, subsequently running Esban to two lengths in the Scottish National with a number of today's rivals behind. He also has the minimum weight.
I had the colossal sum of 2p on Scottish Rifle when he sauntered off with the Earl of Sefton Stakes at a ridiculously generous 10-1 — being temporarily bedridden and in the care of a mother who can be wheedled into most things, but not betting shops. Obviously compensation for this coup that never was could be on hand this Saturday by following the same horse's fortunes in Kempton's Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Here he meets up with several of his Newmarket victims, plus a number of also ran!; from the John Porter Stakes, but plagued, as I am, by an insatiable appetite for a ' price ' and fearing his won't be anything like up to standard this time, I own to a passing fancy for Yaroslav. A victim of ill-health for much of last year, he ran only twice and if the recent performances of other Murless invalids are anything to go by, could well leave a slightly murky past behind. Staying in that stable, the ' Fred Darling 'winner, Mysterious, represents a reasonably attractive each-way proposition in the 1,000 Guineas, which, falling on a Thursday, must come into this week's firing line.
It may be coincidental, but Tote Roll-ups at major southern courses seem to attract far flashier fields than those up north. Loyal Guard, who beat Roberto's Derby time when taking a good handicap at the same meeting, heads the field followed by L'Apache who has grown up in far more exalted company. However, if you treat these races on the grandmother's birthday, number-of-shopping-days-to
Christmas-type-basis. Coupon is the automatic choice. He did actually clock up a trio of victories last season, but with a name like his that information is purely incidental.
Assets: £67.08 (five to follow £15.52). Outlay: £3 to win Red Sweeney, Yaroslav, £2ew Mysterious & Coupon.
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