Follow Tony McCoy and Rebecca Curtis at Aintree
Talent spotting is something that everyone trying to pick winners is keen to attempt; finding the edge before the rest of the world cottons on.
Rebecca Curtis has already provided 12 winners for Tony McCoy this term, at a strike-rate off 44%, which is some way in excess of the trainer’s admittedly impressive season’s figures of 28%.
As McCoy’s statistics show, he is getting on many of the best of the Curtis-trained runners which makes his booking on Old Wigmore in the Champagne Lanson Rose Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree worth noting.
Although Old Wigmore has yet to run under Rules (the yard has had only one bumper runner this season but has a 37% strike-rate in such races overall), he did run in three Irish point-to-points, beating a subsequent winner at Kilmallock on his final start.
Cue Card (pictured) was unbeaten in two in bumpers last season, which included a shock win in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham Festival. However, if the result was a surprise, the form looks solid enough with those behind him going on to win at the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals.
Cue Card begins his hurdling career in the European Breeders’ Fund Bestway "National Hunt" Novices’ Hurdle and this field looks a good opportunity for Colin Tizzard’s horse.
Fairoak Lad is three from three at Wincanton and is fancied for the FJ Chalke Desert Orchid Handicap Chase. A decent novice last season he was favourite for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park in April but he was soon in trouble and was pulled him up.
Had a run over hurdles at Market Rasen last month, which should have put him straight, and he can pick up again here.
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