RING OF BEARA (2.25, nap) can shine on his handicap debut in the 2m1f Go North Grey Bomber Juvenile Hurdle at Musselburgh on Friday.
The four-year-old won on the Flat under Richard Hughes and has made a good start over hurdles for trainer Tim Easterby.
He has been placed three times in the last four outings and, last time out, stayed on well in a maiden hurdle over 2m½f at Doncaster to finish runner-up behind Sarsons Risk.
Subsequently, the winner was leading and going well before falling three out in Kempton’s Adonis Hurdle. That was won by the 130-rated Nusret, so my selection’s opening handicap mark of 104 looks lenient.
At Newbury, Fergal O’Brien’s in-form MANOTHEPEOPLE (2.05, nb) is fancied to make it five wins on the trot — and his third over fences.
Last time out, in December, the seven-year-old held on well over 2m7½f at Chepstow, winning by half a length from Coeur Serein, who has since franked the form by winning at Newbury.
And O’Brien seems to have found another opportunity for the eight-year-old in the Follow @betvictor Novices’ Chase.
FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS
HEREFORD
1.40 CREM FRESH
2.15 CHARLES ST
2.50 VOICE OF HOPE
3.20 CREDO
3.50 ARCADE ATTRACTION
4.20 BERTIE B
4.55 HEROS DE ROMAY
MUSSELBURGH
1.20 GARDE DES CHAMPS
1.50 MAIMIE’S MAGIC
2.25 RING OF BEARA (NAP)
3.00 YOU SOME BOY
3.30 WELL EDUCATED
4.00 WHITEW RHINO
4.30 TOUCH OF A DRAGON
NEWBURY
1.30 SOUND AND FURY
2.05 MANOTHEPEOPLE (NB)
2.40 DR T J ECKLEBURG
3.10 KILBEG KING
3.40 ENZO D’AIRY
4.10 BALLYMAGROARTY BOY
4.45 CARYTO DES BOSSES
NEWCASTLE
5.15 DAARIS
5.45 SANDRET
6.15 JEMS BOND
6.45 BROOKLYN NINE NINE
7.15 BLAZING SON
7.45 GOBI SUNSET
8.15 ELZAAL
NEWSBOY'S DOUBLE: RING OF BEARA and MANOTHEPEOPLE