Towcester Preview: Orby’s Man appeals on handicap debut

The unexposed Orby’s Man makes his handicap debut over hurdles in the 2m 5f contest at Towcester today (2.40), and looks weighted to make it a winning one.

The gelding won his sole start in an Irish point and the race has worked out really well and has a strong look to it.

The second and third, Take the Cash and Roi De Francs, have both since won under rules and the fifth home Blaklion is a really smart sort who is unbeaten in four starts for Nigel Twiston-Davies and now rated 145 over hurdles after winning a Grade 2 contest last time out at Chepstow.

Orby’s Man joined the Charlie Longsdon yard after that success, and shaped with plenty of promise in two bumpers runs before scoring in good style on his hurdling debut at Worcester.

The five-year-old backed that up with a solid eight length fourth of eight to Fort Worth in a decent 2m 4f novice hurdle contest at Wetherby, leading for most of the way before being headed two out and being unable to find an extra.

It was a highly promising effort, and one which suggests Orby’s Man could well have been let in lightly in this off an opening mark of 116 given his unexposed and progressive profile.

The step up to 2m 5f this afternoon also looks sure to suit and could well bring about further improvement given that Orby’s Man’s point win came over 3m, and with Noel Fehily in the saddle the son of Arcadio looks the one they all have to beat.
In the opening 2m 5f handciap hurdle (1.10), The Selector looks a bit of value to lower the colours of the favourite Boherna Lady.

The Chris Gordon trained mare is yet to win in 11 starts over the obstacles but has posted some good efforts to make the frame.

They include an excellent 1 1/2 length second to Barton Heather at Fontwell off today’s mark of 79, and a solid second to Mariet last time out at Plumpton.

Those runs suggest that The Selector should be up to winning a race of this nature, and the daughter of Crosspeace receives whopping 20lb from Boherna Lady.

I think that rival may well struggle to give away so much weight, and although Boherna lady is effectively “well-in” turned out quickly under a penalty for an easy win at Worcester she faces no easy task lumping 12st 3lb around such a stiff track as this.