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Ashforth's Angles: Storm cannot damage faith in Bear

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Rupert the bear

 By David Ashforth 6:00PM 8 FEB 2016 

David Ashforth previews the racing from Sedgefield, Market Rasen and Southwell on Tuesday

SOMETIMES trainers are barely noticed then suddenly burst into view and make a tremendous impact. In recent days no one has made a bigger splash than Imogen Pickard, also known as “Storm Imogen.”

I wonder if her yard near Leominster in Herefordshire has been lashed by rain, in which case Imogen could be deemed to have committed self-harm.

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On a brighter note, followers of Rupert Bear will be eagerly awaiting his latest appearance, hopefully in a red and yellow rug, at Sedgefield (4.00). The Walton family – breeders, owners, trainers and, in the case of Miss Catherine Walton, rider of Rupert Bear have stuck with the ten-year-old through thick and, in recent years, mainly thin.

This will be Walton’s 26th successive ride on Rupert Bear. Doubtless it would be more if Rupert Bear had run more than 25 times. Now it is the horse’s turn to repay Catherine, the rest of the Waltons, and those of us, like me, who keep thinking “he really could win today.”

This is Rupert Bear’s first appearance at Sedgefield and having shown what are called “glimmers of ability” and “slivers of hope” over fences the combination of a sliding handicap mark and untesting opposition could well result in a welcome triumph. “Come on, Rupert Bear!”

If he succeeds, he’ll boast a 100 per cent record at Sedgefield and won’t be a maiden over fences any more.

Earlier (3.25) we’ll be able to see whether Snuker consents to put his best foot forward (assuming he’s still got one) or continues his attempt to drive everyone mad. On the plus side, James Ewart’s “sometimes he’s quite good, sometimes he’s awful” nine-year-old is wearing blinkers for the first time. On the minus side, in recent appearances he’s looked as if he may need more than blinkers to inspire him – perhaps a speech by President Obama followed by a stiff talking to by Kim Jong-un.

Sedgefield and Market Rasen are both splendid country racecourses and it’s a shame that four of Sedgefield’s six races have fewer than eight runners while the biggest field at Market Rasen is seven. Something’s gone wrong somewhere, possibly in addition to the end of the world, weather-wise.

Mystery man

Even at Southwell three of the six races have fewer than eight runners, resulting in groans around the (each-way betting) nation. There’s no such problem in the opening (2.10) amateur riders’ race.

Clock On Tom will be popular but he’s never run on fibresand and his rider, Mr W Degnan, has never ridden a winner under rules and is a man of mystery to most of us. He first appeared over jumps in 1997-8 and on the Flat in 2013 but has had only eight rides under rules altogether, the most recent almost two years ago.

At the likely prices, I’d prefer Henry Smith, even though his trainer, Garry Moss, has surely wasted an “r” in his first name and the experienced Mr K Wood’s mount isn’t bred to appreciate the step up in trip.

Even so …

 

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