Donn McClean's Horses To Follow: April 19 to April 26

Article By
Last Updated: 
Share On Your Network
Donn McClean's Horses To Follow: April 19 to April 26

Before we dive in, some basic rules for a horses to follow list is to keep them in a tracker and on your radar for the next three runs, bearing in mind ideal conditions across variables like venue, ground, opposition and price are satisfactory to you as a punter. This column should help you build up a list that proves profitable under those circumstances, provides timely reminders to reduce repeated form study and assist with your enjoyment of a season be it National Hunt or Flat racing in the UK and Ireland and sometimes beyond.

Canberra Legend - Newmarket, April 19

Canberra Legend did well to win the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday. Well away from stall one on the far side, he was settled back just behind the leader on the far side. He travelled well through his race on the far side behind no more than a modest pace, he looked very comfortable striding away on the far side behind the pace. 

He was the last horst to come off the bridle but, when Daniel Muscutt asked him to pick up, they were racing into the Dip and he didn't appear to handle it that well. He looked booked for third as they raced past the furlong pole but, when he hit the rising ground, he picked up impressively, caught the long-time leader Killybegs Warrior for second place and forged on to get up and beat Kolsai by a half a length.


We Rank The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

Follow Our Daily Horse Racing Tipster James Boyle


It was a really likeable performance by James Ferguson's horse. This was just his second run ever, his first on turf, and his first since he won a one-mile novice stakes at Newcastle in February. His dam is a half-sister to sprinters Blaine and Bogart, but his half-brother Youth Spirit won a Chester Vase and finished fifth in a St Leger. 

He gets nine furlongs well on this evidence, and he settles so well he should get 10 no problem and possibly 12. He holds entries in the Guineas, as well as the Dante and the Derby, he will be of greater interest over middle distances than over a mile, and he should continue to progress.

Established 2001
Daily Racing Specials
Live Streaming Racing
Yes
Yes
Ante Post Racing
Tote/Other Markets
Yes
Yes
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration Required. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
Established 2020
Daily Racing Specials
Live Streaming Racing
No
Yes
Ante Post Racing
Tote/Other Markets
Yes
No
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £15, Max £10 Free Bet valid for 14 days. Bets Must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Neteller, Skrill and PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply
Established 2000
Daily Racing Specials
Live Streaming Racing
No
No
Ante Post Racing
Tote/Other Markets
Yes
No
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 5x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions.

Chally Chute - Tipperary, April 19

Chally Chute put up a nice performance to finish third in the good 12-furlong handicap at Tipperary last Thursday. Weak in the market beforehand, he settled well through his race early on for Ronan Whelan, just worse than mid-division. He picked up well on the outside early in the home straight, and he looked a threat on the run to the furlong marker, but his run just flattened out from there. Even so, he finished good third behind the progressive Burren Song and Taipan, the first three well clear.

This was a really encouraging step into the season by Michael Halford and Tracey Collins' horse, and he should be able to build on this now. He was seriously progressive at the end of last season, he won his last three races of the term, in September and October, improving from a rating of 60 to this rating of 88, and he was really impressive in winning his final race of last season at Galway over 12 furlongs on heavy ground. The handicapper gave him another 2lb for this win, but he has the potential to go beyond his mark of 90. He could be better than a handicapper. He can handle better ground, but he goes well on soft ground, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.


Keep Up With The Latest Cheltenham Offers

Check Out The Best Betting Sites UK


Villanova Queen - Tipperary, April 20

Villanova Queen looked good in winning the seven-and-a-half-furlong contest at Tipperary last Thursday. Fifth of the six runners early on, she came under a ride from Shane Foley at the top of the home straight, but she made nice progress towards the leaders. Taken to the outside at the two-furlong marker, it took her a few strides to build momentum but she picked up well, she hit the front deep inside the final furlong before surging on to win by a half a length.

It was a strong performance by Jessica Harrington's filly, a performance of quality in a good race - five of the six runners were rated 100 or higher - on her first run since last May. That run was in the Irish 1000 Guineas, in which she was quietly fancied at big prices on new betting sites after the performance that she put up in finishing a close-up third behind Homeless Songs in the Leopardstown Guineas Trial last April. It didn't happen for her in the Guineas, she was close up early on before she faded. It was probable that that just wasn't her running and, given a nice break by her trainer, she proved that here. 

She should be able to build on this now, she could morph into a high-class filly, and she has lots of options. She holds entries in the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown over a mile and in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York over 10 and a half furlongs. She does shape as if she will get further than a mile, and she would be interesting in the Middleton Stakes, against her own gender.

Established 2001
Sports with Antepost Betting
Cash Out Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
21
Yes
Special Bets
Antepost Multis?
Yes
Yes
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration Required. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
Established 2007
Sports with Antepost Betting
Cash Out Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
21
Yes
Special Bets
Antepost Multis?
Yes
Yes
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+. New customers. Max £10 (exc. PayPal). 100% Odds Boost Token. Keep it fun - set your deposit limit. Full T&Cs apply.
Established 2006
Sports with Antepost Betting
Cash Out Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
21
Yes
Special Bets
Antepost Multis?
Yes
Yes
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. GambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply.

Walsingham - Cork, April 21

Noted here after he finished fourth in a Leopardstown maiden on his debut this season, Walsingham is worthy of mention once again after his run in the one-mile three-year-olds' maiden that opened proceedings at Cork last Friday. He didn’t have a lot of luck in-running through the race. Chris Hayes had him in a nice position from early, settled and travelling towards the inside, just better than mid-division. 

He angled out early in the home straight in order to secure racing room, but twice the gap closed in front of him before he could get into it. He had to check back inside the furlong marker and, finally in the clear, he finished off his race like a horse who had at least a little bit left to give.

Dermot Weld's horse was dropping down in trip from 10 furlongs to a mile, and it looks like this is a good trip for him. He raced just three times last season as a juvenile, so there should be more to come from him. A full-brother to Duke De Sessa, a dual Group 3 winner over nine and 12 furlongs, he holds an entry in the one-mile maiden at Gowran Park on Wednesday. He should be up to winning his maiden soon before moving on from that.

Term Of Endearment - Cork, April 21

Term Of Endearment only finished fifth in the Listed Noblesse Stakes at Cork last Friday, but she ran better than that suggests. Slowly away, she was 10th of the 11 runners as they raced away from the stands with a circuit to go. She travelled well for Wayne Lordan down the back straight and, angled towards the outside in the home straight, it took her a little while to find top gear but, when she did, she finished off her race strongly, closing all the way to the line. Although she was only fifth, she was only beaten a total of two and a quarter lengths by the winner Moracana, and in another couple of strides she would have been third.

It was a good run by Henry de Bromhead's filly on her seasonal return. She has only won once, but she has raced just six times now, she is Group 3 placed and she was only beaten a half a length by the 104-rated Yaxeni in the Listed Bluebell Stakes at Naas last October on her final run last season. Probably at her best with at least a little bit of cut in the ground, she stays a mile and a half well, and she could be even better over further. She is lightly raced, and she has lots of potential for progression this season.

Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Linkedin Icon Email Icon Copy Link Icon