Numitas looks a Cup cracker
The dust has barely settled on last weekend’s Guineas meeting, but there is no time to take a break as the Classic conundrum continues tomorrow with the start of Chester’s May meeting.
With trials for both the Oaks and Derby programmed, reputations will be made or ruined, but the week’s biggest betting race will be tomorrow’s totesport Chester Cup over an extended two-and-a-quarter miles.
Numitas has not taken to hurdling as much as connections may have hoped, but it is his previous form on the level that catches the eye.
He did score in a juvenile hurdle race at Newbury on his second start over timber in March, beating subsequent jumps and Flat winner Wasted Talent.
On the Flat he won over seven furlongs as a juvenile from the useful Big Bad Bob, and his breeding always suggested a test of stamina would suit.
And so it proved in his three-year-old season as he followed some solid placed efforts over middle distances with victory in a two-and-a-quarter-mile conditions race at Pontefract.
The son of Lomitas came home a length clear of John Dunlop’s decent stayer Harlestone Grey despite being a stone worse off than he would have been in a handicap.
Philip Hobbs’ colt – who was with Sir Mark Prescott at the time – failed to sparkle in the Cesarewitch on his next start. But, interestingly, Numitas runs off the same mark tomorrow as when successful at the Yorkshire track.
Considering he is relatively unexposed over marathon distances, there could be further improvement to come.
Anak Pekan heads the market on the back of an impressive display in the Queen’s Prize at Kempton last month and should give a good account for Michael Jarvis, while Numitas’ stablemate Unleash is another with strong claims.
Last year’s Northumberland Plate winner, who also started his career with Prescott, lines up following a cracking second to Zibeline over timber at Aintree last month and should be spot on.
Deraasaat can make a successful seasonal reappearance in the Letheby & Christopher Cheshire Oaks to book her place in the fillies’ Classic at Epsom next month.
After being slowly away on her debut at Beverley, she made amends in tremendous style with an emphatic six-length win in a Nottingham maiden over an extended mile. Both runs came in September.
The tight Chester track should suit the Ed Dunlop-trained filly, who is currently a 33-1 chance for the Vodafone Oaks.
Hallyards Gael returned from a winter break to score over three miles at Kelso last week and, despite carrying a 7lb penalty for that victory, is one to keep faith with.
Earlier successful over hurdles at Kelso and over fences at Perth, the Strong Gale gelding is capable of continuing Len Lungo’s good start to the new season by taking the Strakan RNLI Handicap Chase back at the Borders track.
