JACK BERRY is confident of making his usual flying start to the British Flat turf season when it kicks off at Doncaster on Thursday. The Cockerham trainer is traditionally quick out of the blocks when the campaign begins and expects a repeat despite poor weather.
"They are in good form," he said yesterday. "We could have had a kinder winter than we have had. It was really windy in January and we had a lot of rain in February. They take a bit of getting ready but we have done our best and hopefull we will do all right."
Berry has one horse, Somosierra, in the Tote Benvenuto Brockelsby Conditions Stakes, which has also attracted entries mom Aidan O'Brien and Paddy Prendergast.
"With the entries from Ireland it should be an exciting race," added she trainer, who has 95 horses in his care, including 56 two-year-olds.
"If there is a Mind Games among my lot I haven't seen it yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open. I hope My Melody Parkes does well for us this year. She will start off in the listed six-furlong race at Beverley a fortnight after Doncaster."
Pulpit, touted as a potential Kentucky Derby winner, came crashing down to earth when surrendering his unbeaten record to Captain Bodgit in the Grade One Florida Derby over nine furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
Held up during the early stages by Shane Sellers, the odds-on shot could not match the winner's acceleration in the straight and went down by two and a half lengths.
Ladbrokes have pushed Lord Gylkne out to 10 to 1 joint-favourite for the Martell Grand National after his defeat in Saturday's Midlands Grand National. Go Ballistic, fourth to Mr Mulligan in Thursday's Cheltenham Gold Cup, has joined him as joint market leader having been cut to 10 to 1 from 12 to 1.
Aintree stalwart Into The Red has attracted each-way support in the race and is down to 25 to 1 with Ladbrokes from 40 to 1.
In the Lincoln betting Ladbrokes have taken a £1,000 each way bet on Kuala Lipis in cash to a London customer and have cut Paul Cole's colt to 10 to 1 favourite from 16 to 1.
