Jon Vine combines his NAP of the day and his Next Best to make up this 7/1 double covering races at Thurles and Market Rasen on Thursday 21st November.
Thursday’s Daily Double
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1:35pm Thurles I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Rated Novice Hurdle 2m7f
Royal Thief needed a heck of a lot of encouraging when overcoming a modest field over this trip on his return to hurdles, so I’m prepared to take him on with ALLEZ DANCE (NB), who’s completely unexposed over staying distances.
Willie Mullins sent his mare over to Cheltenham for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the back of an easy debut victory. Things didn’t go to plan at Prestbury Park, but Allez Dance ran well to place third on her final outing at Punchestown and looked to be crying out for a trip further than two miles when plodding on to finish fifth in a handicap on her reappearance.
Allez Dance is a full sister to a successful Cross Country horse based in France and Great Pretender’s progeny often improve when stepped up in distance. Willie Mullins has a strong record around this track and any extra rain will do her chances no harm at all.
2:05pm Market Rasen FMCG Executive Network Chase (A Novices’ Limited Handicap) 2m5½f
River Frost took advantage of a career-low mark, and a late fall from a strong-travelling rival, to claim an overdue victory in a weak race at Ayr. ROCCO (NAP), however, ran out a comfortable winner in a much higher-quality contest at Stratford the last day and looks to be the one to side with.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge caught the eye on a couple of occasions as a novice hurdler last term, most notably in the Grade Two Bristol Novices’ Hurdle, where he stayed on gamely down the home-straight to finish a fairly close third to Rockpoint. Rocco jumped nicely for the most part on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter and was still in there with a chance jumping the last, until a late blunder brought Jamie Bargary and his mount crashing to the ground.
Nigel turned to his son, Sam to take the ride at Stratford and Rocco jumped with precision, securing a pillar-to-post success against many more experienced rivals. Seeing out the trip on soft ground will be no bother for a horse who looks a definite stayer over three miles and I expect Rocco will make it two wins on the bounce over the larger obstacles.