LEWISHAM is sure to start at prohibitive odds to land the opening Bishopscourt Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick this afternoon but it may be worth taking a chance with the Bunny Cox-trained Fallow Trix.
Owned by the Lagallon Racing Syndicate, the four-year-old gelding made his racecourse debut in a bumper over this course and distance last May and put up a fine effort when beaten two lengths by Glenfields Castle.
Six months later, he reappeared in a hotly-contested maiden hurdle at Navan and it was no surprise to see him finish in mid-division behind Digadust.
Last time out at Punchestwon, Fallow Trix hinted he was returning to something like his best form when fifth of the 24 runners to Moscow Express.
The Irvinestown Handicap Hurdle looks a tricky affair and maybe best left to Falcarragh. Tony Martin's gelding showed he enjoyed the odd scrummage or two when beaten three-quarters of a length by Fiddlers Bow VI in a 25-runner handicap at Naas over a fortnight ago.
British racing's plea for a reduction in the betting duty were surprisingly ignored yesterday by Chancellor Kenneth Clarke.
In a budget speech lasting 75 minutes Clarke failed to make any reference to racing or its problems.
The British government's decision to give the sport the cold shoulder comes despite extensive lobbying by both the British Horseracing Board and the betting organisations.
The BHB's chairman, Lord Wakeham, had been cautiously optimistic that the chancellor would come to the aid of racing by reducing betting duty.
All sections of the industry had insisted racing needed assistance to offset a fall in betting turnover due to the National Lottery.
The possible introduction of a midweek Lottery means the problem could be compounded in the future.
Jodami is set to sidestep Kelso next week in favour of a clash with One Man at Haydock later in the month.
"At this stage I would say Jodami is more likely to run next in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock. He's got to meet One Man sometime. Jodami is in fine fettle at the moment and ran a great race at Ayr behind The Grey Monk," said trainer Peter Beaumont.
