McCoy To Tie Them Up In Knots

McCoy To Tie Them Up In Knots

Ludlow specialist CEDRUS LIBANI aims to make it a hatrick on Thursday in the Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy, a 3 mile Hunter Chase event. He hacked up last time he was here a year ago, winning by 30 lengths when beating Silver Adonis. Silver Adonis followed this up by going onto the win the Foxhunters Chase at the Aintree festival, so the form has been given a very nice boost. Rated 130, he has 10lb in hand of his nearest rivals and the course and distance form is a real bonus. He should win this en route to higher profile hunter chases.

A very interesting runner at Bangor on Wednesday is a horse by the name of PLUS ULTRA. A son of multiple Group 1 winner Rock of Gibraltar, he was trained on the flat by Henry Cecil, and ended his flat career still a maiden. Switched to jumping and now gelded, there has been some improvement, albeit rather minor. He has finished 4-6-4 in three maiden hurdles, beaten by a combined 104 lengths. However in his last start, he ran behind Local Hero and Dhaafer, both of whom are subsequent winners. He could be very interesting proposition off bottom weight, especially when you factor in that best ever run on teh flat came off a 268 day lay-off, when ½ second to the Sir Michael Stoute trained Visualise. Fresh and off a low weight, Plus Ultra has a shout in what is a rather modest handicap.

The final selection is in the Kent National at Folkestone on Wednesday. AP McCoy has undoubtedly been the man for National races in the last 12 months and he takes the ride on my selection RATE OF KNOTS. He rides here for the same connections that won the Welsh and Midlands National with Synchronised and the Grand National itself with Don’t Push It. A beaten favourite last time out, the form of the race has worked out well. Rate of Knots should have the beating of what looks an average field.

Ludlow Thursday – Cedrus Libani 3pts Win (NAP)

Bangor Wednesday - Plus Ultra 2pt Win

Folkestone Wednesday – Rate of Knots 2pt Win