Connections have found a suitable opportunity for Golden Hadeer to get off the mark for 1998 in the first division of the two-mile Antrim Handicap at Southwell today.
Successful seven times last year, including twice over course and distance, Mick Ryan's game performer shaped with promise on his latest run when a good third to Mr Aspecto in a strongly-run claimer at Southwell two weeks ago.
The seven-year-old was always prominent and kept on in the straight to be beaten by just four lengths by the winner. If the race had been a handicap Golden Hadeer would have met the winner on 12lb better terms.
Dropped a further 2lb for today's race, Golden Hadeer appears to have been given a great chance at the weights and is awarded the nap selection.
Ice Age showed vast improvement when ridden with enterprise at the Nottinghamshire track 17 days ago and is taken to go in again.
A winner on his debut as a two-year-old, the four-year-old had been beaten on his 17 subsequent starts but returned to form with a bang when ridden from the front by Darren Biggs.
Out of the stalls like a flash, Robert Williams' runner quickened two furlongs out to settle the issue in a matter of strides and came home unchallenged by seven lengths from Gadge.
In spite of being raised a massive 16lb for the run, Ice Age can once again make all to land the Armagh Handicap.
Punters can rely on Freddie Muck in the Tote Novices' Chase (Qualifier) at Plumpton. A useful staying hurdler at best, Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge has not proved so good over fences this season and has been let down by deliberate jumping, particularly so on his most recent outing when jumping slowly in the early stages.
He made some late headway but had left himself too much to do and finished fourth, beaten 20 lengths behind Organ Recital. Sure to have been well schooled since and with the stable in such fine form Fred- die Muck, an easy winner at Hereford in December, can regain the winning thread.
Earlier on the card, David Gandolfo saddles Garrynisk in division two of the Hickstead Maiden Hurdle over two miles and one furlong and this winning point-to-pointer is worth an interest.
The eight-year-old has not been seen out since March when he finished a four-length second to Pleasureland at Windsor but the opposition looks weak.
