3:30 – Newbury – COLIN RUCK-NIGHTINGALE MEMORIAL NOVICES´ HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 3) (5yo+ 0-125) Good 2m6f110y
Railway Dillon has been a dramatically different horse since he was fitted with blinkers two starts back. The 7 year old bay gelding was rated 125 over hurdles and won once and was placed on his other three starts over the smaller obstacles. However, when he was sent chasing he showed very little interest for the job and was pulled up on his first two starts. He ran at Newcastle on his next start and although he finished he was third of four and 33 lengths behind the winner.
He next ran at Ayr on 30 January in a match with one other runner. He was 29lbs inferior to Yes Tom who went off as the 1/6 favourite. However, he turned over the odds spectacularly by going on to win by 25 lengths. The fitting of blinkers clearly helped Railway Dillon to concentrate and get into a nice jumping rhythm. His most recent run was at Wetherby on 21 February when he won again in a 12 runner field. He again jumped well all the way round and was driven clear approaching the fourth last fence. He was some 20 lengths clear at the last and was heavily eased down on the run in, winning by 16 lengths.
He carries a 7lb penalty for his last win but is due to go up in the weights by a further 8lbs in the future. He has an abundance of stamina and he is up in trip today to 2 miles 6 ½ furlongs. He has won over 3 miles in point to points and saw out a trip of 3 miles 1 furlong when finishing 2nd at Newbury during his hurdling days.
He runs on Good ground for the first time today, so the going is somewhat of an unknown although he did win on Good to Soft last time. Jason Maguire rides him again today, having ridden him 6 times in the past and most importantly on his last two starts, so obviously knows how to ride him.
Railway Dillon has taken to blinkers very well and will be ridden aggressively again today. He should see out the longer trip and so long as he copes with his penalty could well be sailing clear two or three fences out again today.
