English Racing Weekend preview: Made In Japan has been knocking on the door over fences and can finally land the big pot he deserves in the £100,000 Vodafone Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury today.
Philip Hobbs' six-year-old has only scored once since being sent over fences in 2004, hot on his heels of his victory in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. His one win over the larger obstacles was in November of that year when he proved a different class to his rivals and came home a 12-length winner of a competitive heat at Newbury.
Made In Japan has since been placed numerous times in hot handicaps, including behind Fondmort in a Listed event last time out, and he has a race of this nature in him.
Tokala looks the one to be on in the Vodafone Handicap Hurdle. Trained by Brendan Powell, the five-year-old began his career with a couple of nice wins in bumpers before going down by just over a length in a Listed contest at Cheltenham in November.
Tony McCoy was in the saddle when Tokala made a winning debut over hurdles at Hereford in January, and the champion was again in the plate when he landed odds of 4 to 9 by three-parts of a length at Fakenham last time. He returns from a short break and if progressing further over this shorter trip, he can extend his unbeaten record over hurdles to three.
Armaguedon is fancied to secure a double over fences in the Cyril Alexander Memorial HBLB Novices' Chase at Kelso. Having won a couple of bumpers earlier in his career, Armaguedon made a good start over hurdles, opening his account with a 16-length romp at Ayr in March 2004.
He was then off the track for 21 months but was strongly fancied to make a winning debut over fences at Ayr. Having set off in front, however, he found himself on the floor.
Armaguedon was last seen at Newcastle in January on soft ground when opening his account over the larger obstacles, showing great tenacity to get the better of Shares by a short head. With the uphill climb to the finish likely to suit, he can go in again.
Trainer Micky Hammond could enhance his already impressive level stakes profit for the season with Industrial Star in the Grade Two Totepool Premier Kelso Novices' Hurdle. Clearly blessed with a fair level of ability, Industrial Star has the size and scope to go on to better things and must be held in some regard by his trainer as he figures in the entries for the forthcoming festival.
Sounds Simla could be well capable of landing a double in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap over six furlongs at Lingfield. Successful twice as a juvenile on turf, she has taken her time to come to hand on the all-weather, but showed great battling qualities in a five-furlong seller on this course last time when mastering Otis B Driftwood by a short head. The move back up to six furlongs is sure to suit.
