Friday supplied a couple of winners from the list to follow. Rasharrow shrugged off his recent saddle slipping mishap to win at Kelso while Tarlac revelled in the soft ground to win the last race at Ascot. Both look capable of adding further wins as the season progresses.
There is plenty of quality racing on offer up and down the country over the weekend and also across the Irish Sea. So without further ado….
I will start at Ascot where I will be watching Supreme Copper in the 12.30. This son of Supreme Leader went in to a few notebooks with an eyecatching 3rd at Wincanton last month. Emma Lavelle had a winner yesterday with Tana River so the stable seem to be going OK. I am hopeful that Supreme Copper will run well.
There are two horses from our list to follow in the 1.05. Reveillez has been consistent over fences with form figures of 2211. He landed a gamble at the Cheltenham Festival when ridden by Tony McCoy but has Conor O’Dwyer on board this time. He has actually finished in the first two in 14 of his 27 career starts. He is probably most effective on good ground so the going may be a concern. Cerium has had a breathing operation since he last ran and that may enable him to recover the winning form he showed early last season. He probably handles any going and may be quite well handicapped.
Mighty Man represents the list to follow in the 1.35. 3rd in the World Hurdle last season he then reversed the form with the winner My Way de Solzen when they clashed at Aintree in April. He is running over a trip short of his best here but I would not rule him out and he could pull a surprise if Hardy Eustace is below his best form.
Andreas and Madison Du Berlais run for our list to follow in the 2.05. Andreas was 3rd behind Crossbow Creek 3 weeks ago and I would not expect the placing to be reversed. Madison Du Berlais should handle the ground but I see that Timmy Murphy has elected to ride the stable’s other runner Contraband. I don’t have any strong views about this race.
In the bumper at 3.50 Willie Pep is our list representative. He won a bumper at Taunton on his only previous start and I would expect him to run well here.
The Haydock card starts with a competitive looking novice hurdle at 1.20. Bleak House and Kicks for Free are the runners from our list and both are highly regarded by their respective camps. Bleak House cost £200,000 gns when purchased from Tom Tate’s stable for the big spending Graham Wylie after winning a Haydock bumper. He has since made a winning start to his hurdles career. Similarly Kicks for Free came via the bumper route, winning twice in that sphere before finishing 3rd in both the Cheltenham and Aintree festival bumpers. He has since got off the mark at the first time of asking over hurdles. The big danger to these two is likely to be the ex flat horse Self Respect who beat subsequent winner Moon Over Miami in a listed hurdle at Kempton. Good race in prospect here. Kicks for Free would get my narrow vote but I would certainly not take a short price about him.
The big race of the day is the Lancashire Chase at 1.50 when Beef or Salmom Kingscliffe and Kauto Star are the 3 runners from our list. There is no doubt that Kauto Star has tons of ability but whether he will stay this 3 miles is really an unknown. As such I am not sure that he is really a betting proposition. Last season Kingscliffe won this with Beef or Salmon 2nd. At his best there is no doubt that Kingscliffe is capable of winning this again but it is really a case of which Kingscliffe is going to turn up. He has a squiggle by his name in the Timeform annual denoting an unreliable horse. While that may be a bit harsh as his problems are probably physical rather than mental he does not always show his best form. He runs best fresh and for that reason I am going to bypass him as his last run was only 3 weeks ago. Beef or Salmon has never won outside his native Ireland but he has conditions to suit him here, a small field and soft ground. He could hardly come here in better nick either having claimed the scalp of War of Attrition at Down Royal last time out. L’Ami will present a threat to our 3. The French raider had some solid form last season, will like the ground and has had a recent spin over hurdles. All things considered I am going to take a chance of Beef or Salmon to break his UK duck.
The staying handicap at 2.20 looks particularly competitive affair. Halcon Generlridais and Brankley Boy run from our list to follow. Halcon Generlardais won 3 out of 4 over fences last season and is running off a much lower mark here over hurdles than he would over fences. He stays and acts on soft ground. His long term target is likely to be the Welsh National at Christmas but he could well have place prospects tomorrow off his favourable mark. Brankley Boy has been consistent over hurdles despite not being the most fluent of jumpers at times. His half sister Lady Rebecca won 13 times over timber. He is 6lbs “wrong” at the weights though.
There are plenty of old friends from previous season’s lists to follow, notably, The Bajan Bandit, Korelo, Royal Emperor and United. The Bajan Bandit has been a great servant for Scottish trainer Len Lungo. He actually won 10 of his first 11 starts. These days he tends to pop up when you least expect him to with his last success coming in a handicap chase at Ayr in February when he beat Royal Emperor. He is 3 lbs higher than winning over course and distance in February 2005. Royal Emperor is a versatile performer and switches between fences and hurdles. He was 3rd in last season’s Scottish National. He loves it at Haydock and if he gets his favoured soft ground I can see him running really well. Korelo is usually ridden from the back and he has a devastating finishing kick. The mare United won a Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown in April 2005 but has not won since and has had a few injury problems. She was 2nd at Wincanton earlier this month though and the stable are going well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the veteran Tees Components run into a place but if the ground is riding soft my each way selection would be Royal Emperor.
Sticking with the Romans, Roman Ark is our list runner in the 3.20. Roman Ark is not without a chance but this 2 mile trip may be on the short side for him. He will appreciate further rain.
Beau Michel looked a horse with a bright future when winning at Exeter on his first start of the season. He looks the type to improve again and the extra 3 furlongs he faces in the 3.55 should suit him. The obvious danger is the Irish horse Kanpai.
At Huntingdon there are two list runners in the 12.55. Ungaro was a decent hurdler and has already won over fences. He is strongly fancied here. Keenan’s Future didn’t get very far at Market Rasen in the week when he was brought down at the first fence. He should stay further than this in time and should be up to winning races over fences.
Henrietta Knight has a spectacular record in the Peterborough Chase (3.00) her runners having prevailed in 6 of the last 8 runnings. She has Racing Demon this time round. His chance cannot be ruled out despite unseating his rider at Exeter on his seasonal reappearance. Timmy Murphy is riding elsewhere tomorrow which is a pity as he has a 100% record on the horse. Our other list runner is Dempsey who I feel is better over a shorter trip.
There is a good card at Punchestown where the dual bumper winner, You Sir, a relative of the great Limestone Lad, is my fancy for the 1.15.
There are two runners from our list to follow in the 1.45. Vic Venturi made a good start to his fencing career when beating Conna Castle at Galway and is preferred to Oulart. He looks like developing into one of Ireland’s better staying novice chasers.
Although Ross River is 11 now he is no back number and I will be following his efforts closely this season when he is likely to mix hurdles and fences. The 2.25 mile trip tomorrow may just be on the short side for him though.
Turning to Sunday’s action Degas Art is likely to start favourite for the 1.00. This winner of a listed race on the flat was another expensive purchase by Howard Johnson for the Wylie’s. He has already won well over hurdles on his debut for the new yard. Pouvoir, a winner in France probably represents the danger. Alan King’s runner was a faller on his UK debut but is probably capable of better.
Hakim has been first and second on his previous efforts over the national fences. He goes in the Grand Sefton at 1.30 and although he is a 12 year old and has to shoulder top weight he is such a good jumper that he could well run into a place.
There are some interesting runners in the 2.00. Trouble at Bay was a useful juvenile and returns to the track after a lengthy absence while Chivalry, a past winner of the Cambridgeshire is another returning after a long lay off. He was trained by Howard Johnson but is now with Venetia Williams. Accordello finally got off the mark last week at Wetherby at the 13th attempt. She had run well in good company on a number of occasions and could be interesting off a low weight. Ursis won a couple of hurdle races last a season and is one to consider as he has had a recent run on the flat and should be fit. Dangerously Good could be worth an each way interest. He has been a bit injury prone but is useful at his best.
There are a fair few Aintree specialists in the Becher Chase at 2.35. Clan Royal (3rd), Nil Desperandum (4th) Joe’s Edge (7th) Inca Trail (8th) and Forest Gunner (9th) all completed in the Grand National last season. Il Desperandum has changed stables since his last visit to Aintree and he was staying on when 3rd at Wetherby recently and should go well. There is also confidence behind Inca Trail who is a full brother to Best Mate. He has also had the benefit of an encouraging recent run. There are two from our list to follow, Dun Doire and Bewleys Berry. Dun Doire was a prolific winner last season and his trainer seems bullish about his horse’s chances. Bewley’s Berry has always looked a horse with potential and this sort of race could just suit him. This is a real open contest with both the Nicholls runners worth a second look and McKelvey, a winner in the summer at Uttoxeter a thorough stayer on a good mark. Inca Trail has a good a chance as any.
Opera De Coeur (3.10) won his first 3 starts over hurdles in the UK and then finished 4th in a hot race behind Detroit City. Sine then he has suffered from a life threatening attack of colic. He makes his chase debut in the 3.10 where he will get a useful weight allowance. Best on soft ground he will face the promising Lennon who has already made am impressive start to his chasing career.
Best bet of the day at Plumpton could be Paul Nicholls New Little Bric in the 2.20. He won twice over hurdles at Pau and is well thought of by connections.
At Punchestown I just prefer Conna Castle to Skys the Limit in the 1.15.
In the 1.45 Firth of Forth and O’Muircheartaigh represent our list to follow.
The 2.15 sees the return to action of Brave Inca. New Mill and Iktitaf will provide stern opposition.
In the 3.45 De Valira is one to watch. A half brother to the ill fated Valiramix he was an impressive winner of a bumper here on his only previous start and looks to have a bright future.
That is all for now. See you on Sunday evening.
ahorse 