The drying ground and consequent defection of many of the better horses robbed today’s card at Uttoxeter of much of its interest. Alan King’s Ouzbeck won well though and looks capable of holding his own in better company.
I tipped against Mister McGoldrick today and you do that at your peril. He had won there 7 times from 8 starts and duly made it 8 from 9. We grow older but not necessarily wiser I suppose.
At this stage of the season it always seems to me that the flat season has outstayed his welcome somewhat. The jockey’s championship is providing most of the excitement and threatens to go to the wire though.
Evan Williams has an interest in the big race at Wetherby tomorrow but he is also represented at Ascot where he runs Demi Beau in the handicap chase at 1.10. He might be a bit too high in the weights over fences but I would be interested if his trainer tries him over hurdles later in the season as he has a much more lenient mark over the smaller obstacles.
The handicap hurdle at 1.40 looks competitive. Ouninpohja won 5 times on the flat a few years ago but has become a really quirky individual since. He has the talent to win a race like this but it remains to be seen if he also has the resolution. I was impressed with the grey Special Envoy last season. Previously he had won on the flat in France but he excelled over hurdles winning twice, running respectively at Cheltenham and falling when in front at Aintree. He could only finish 6th last week in the race won by Don’t Push It. It is possible that the handicapper has him in his grasp but I am not so sure. Amour Multiple won twice last season on soft ground and his chance will depend on whether he handles quicker ground. He is likely to go novice chasing I understand. Chivalry is one of those comparatively rare types that have won on the flat, over hurdles and fences. He won the Cambridgeshire when he was trained by Sir Mark Prescott on the flat and was bought by Graham Wylie. He is with Venetia Williams these days. He has won on good to firm back in his flat days. I quite fancy another ex Prescott flat horse, Liberate. He was 2nd to Katchit in the Triumph Hurdle last season and on his most recent run was 2nd to Alph, who also runs here, at Kempton. This stiffer track should suit him but he may need a bit more cut in the ground. This is an open race but I quite like both Liberate and Special Envoy.
Knockavilla impressed when winning his bumper at Carlisle and looks set to make a winning start to his hurdling career in the 1.20 at Wetherby.
Eight line up for the Charlie Hall Chase which is the centrepiece on the Wetherby card at 3.30. Kingscliffe has been a grand servant for the Alner stable. His second behind Neptune Collonges at Punchestown at the end of last season showed he is no back number and he could well run a big race. Madison Du Berlais is best with give in the ground and although he won 3 times last season (and did this column a few favours in the process) I am going to pass him by here. Bewley’s Berry is a horse I have always liked and was bang there in the Grand National when he fell. He broke a bone in his nose that day but as long as that experience hasn’t affected his confidence I am hoping he will enjoy a good season. He is a course and distance winner and looks over priced at 20/1. On the face of it the two main contenders are State of Play and Aces Four. State of Play won the Hennessey last season and has AP McCoy on board. He is clearly a serious contender but I am going to burden Aces Four with my tip. He looks the one horse in the field that will actually like the ground and providing he has no mental ill effects from a crashing fall on his last run in Ireland he should be up there.
Gaspara should prevail in the 4.05 but he will not be much of a price.
Over in Ireland the big race is the “James Nicholson” Chase at 2.30 where the two most likely winners are the UK trained Taranis and The Listener. I have the greatest respect for the latter who has a good record on his travels across the Irish Sea but Taranis may be better on the ground and Paul Nicholls seems upbeat about his chances.
On the flat Illustrious Blue represents our list to follow in the 8.20 at Kempton. He is a bit of a Goodwood specialist and is also trying 12 furlongs for the first time and there are others in the race with more obvious claims.
We have 2 runners in the 3.50 at Newmarket. Caldra has not shown a lot on recent runs and the ground may not be suitable. Smart Enough was a winner at Bath last time out and has each way claims.
Osteopathic Remedy represents our list to follow in the 2.30 at Ayr. He ran a shocker last week so is perhaps best watched.
There is jumps racing at Carlisle on Sunday and the novice hurdle at 12.50 features two runners from our list to follow. Berwick Law looks a bright prospect on the basis of two wins in bumpers at Ayr, although both were on heavy ground. Marleybow represents the Howard Johnson yard and the trainer rates him highly. He comes from a winning jumping family and he won his bumper on good ground. The main danger to these two looks likely to be Harry Wood, a dual bumper winner himself who has already had a run over hurdles when he was a promisiong 2nd at Uttoxeter.
Although there are only 4 runners in the 1.20 it could still be tricky to pick a winner. L’Antartique was very consistent last season with his best performance coning at the Cheltenham Festival where he landed the Jewson beating another from our list to follow, Bob Hall. Ungaro is an obvious danger but I am hoping that L’Antartique pays his way for us this season.
There are plenty of old favourites in the 2.25. Irish Raptor is the likely favourite and comes from an in form yard. King Killone is another for the short list. He suffered an injury last season but is a nice old fashioned chasing type who should land a arce or two during the season. The ground may be a concern for him tomorrow though. Numero un de Solzen has never been out of the first 3 yet and stays well. His wins have come on soft ground though.
Good luck and see you Sunday evening
ahorse 