Welsh Weekend Warriors Ready for Soft Ground Battle
Right then, punters, Saturday's card at Ffos Las is shaping up to be a proper test of stamina and jumping prowess. With the going reading soft and that soil moisture meter hitting 55, we're looking at conditions that'll have the front-runners crying into their feed buckets by the final furlong. The course has had some aeration work done recently, which might just take the sting out of the ground for those who know how to handle it.
Seven races on the Ffos Las racecard today, and while none of them will set the racing world alight, there's decent prize money on offer and some intriguing storylines developing. The Welsh venue has always been kind to horses with a bit of class and stamina in their pedigree, and today's soft conditions will only emphasize those qualities.
Feature Race Focus: The Handicap Chase at 14:35
The standout contest has to be the 14:35 Handicap Steeplechase, a Class 4 affair worth £10,000 that doubles as a Fontwell Chase Series qualifier. With just four runners, it's a select field, but don't let the small numbers fool you – this could be the race of the day.
Good Friday Fairy heads the weights on a mark of 122, and Rex Dingle's booking tells you everything about the yard's confidence. This nine-year-old has course and distance form in the bag, which is worth its weight in gold on ground like this. Ben Clarke's stable has been ticking over nicely, and at this trip on soft ground, the old warrior could roll back the years.
Hold Up La Colmine represents the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White team, with Callum Pritchard taking the reins. The distance winner tag next to his name catches the eye, and on a mark of 118, he's got every chance of turning the tables on the topweight. Hobbs knows how to place one for a touch, and this gelding has been campaigned patiently this season.
Paul Nicholls' Dark Horse
Don't be sleeping on Mon Champion either. The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old is still relatively unexposed over fences, and Freddie Gingell's 7lb claim could prove crucial in a tight finish. At 116, he's well in if reproducing his best hurdles form over the bigger obstacles.
Maiden Hurdle Intrigue in the Opener
The 13:25 Maiden Hurdle has attracted a field of eleven, and while most are unrated, there are some interesting stories bubbling under the surface. Catch On Me stands out like a sore thumb with a rating of 114, making Ned Fox's mount the class act of the field.
Venetia Williams has always had a deft touch with horses transitioning from the Flat, and this six-year-old looks ready to make his mark over timber. The soft ground shouldn't inconvenience him one bit – if anything, it might just bring out the best in his stamina-laden pedigree.
Handmedownastar for Seamus Mullins is another to keep a close eye on. The Irish connection often springs surprises at tracks like Ffos Las, and with Callum Pritchard in the saddle, there's clearly some confidence behind this runner.
Soft Ground Specialists Throughout the Card
The going conditions will play a massive part in how these races unfold, and it's worth noting the horses with course and distance experience. In the 14:00 Handicap Hurdle, Godot brings both course and distance form to the table, though at nine years old and rated 104, he'll need to be at his absolute peak.
Calshot Spit in the same race catches the eye as a course winner, and Marc Goldstein's booking suggests Sheena West's yard fancies their chances. The six-year-old is still relatively lightly raced and could have more to offer on this testing ground.
Later in the day, the Mares' Handicap Hurdle over three miles and a furlong will be a proper stamina test. Gold Clermont brings course and distance experience, while Flintara at eleven years old has seen it all before. Rian Corcoran takes the ride on Gold Clermont, and his record at this track is nothing to sniff at.
Tom Cannon's Busy Afternoon
Keep an eye on Tom Cannon throughout the afternoon – he's got five rides on the card and knows his way around this track better than most. His mount Jambon in the opener could be overpriced, while Aggagio in the 14:00 brings course and distance form that's hard to ignore.
Ones to Watch and Final Verdicts
If I'm putting my money where my mouth is today, Good Friday Fairy in the feature chase looks like the safest bet on the card. The combination of class, course form, and conditions all point in his direction, and Rex Dingle doesn't often get these opportunities wrong.
In the opener, Catch On Me should make short work of this maiden field, while Calshot Spit represents decent each-way value in the 14:00 handicap hurdle.
For those looking for a bit of spice, keep Mon Champion on your side in the chase. Paul Nicholls doesn't send them to Wales for the scenery, and with Gingell's claim, he could be the value play of the day.
The soft ground will sort the men from the boys today, and those with stamina and jumping ability will rise to the top. It's going to be a proper test of National Hunt skills, and exactly the kind of racing that gets the blood pumping on a Saturday afternoon. Sláinte to that!
