There is quality racing under both codes tomorrow, with major meetings at Cheltenham and Newmarket.
I will start with the jumpers and the 2.55 at Cheltenham which looks to be between the first two in the betting, Ring the Boss and Razor Royale. The latter was a winner over hurdles last season and is expected to take a high rank in the novice chase division this term. Ring the Boss (pictured below) won handicap hurdles at Newbury and Sandown last season.
He already has experience over fences having run impressively when beaten a neck in the Kingmaker novice chase at Warwick before finishing 8th behind Tidal Bay in the Arkle. Jamie Snowden runs Lester Leaps In who was a consistent hurdler when trained by Nicky Henderson but I am inclined to stick with the two favourites with preference for the more experienced Ring the Boss.
Nicky Richards sends his recent Perth winner Noble Alan to Cheltenham for the 3.30. Given good ground Noble Alan should give us a run for our money. A couple of outsiders that appeal on an each way basis are Sangfroid and Winsley Hill.
I am expecting Ferdy Murphy’s Noir et Vert to make an impact in the better staying handicap chases this season. He should be suited by the ground in the 4.05 tomorrow and does not look badly treated at the weights. If he is fit enough to do himself justice on his first run of the season he should go well. The other one I like is the giant Nirvana Swing who was a winner three times over fences last season.
The maiden hurdle at 5.50 has attracted a decent field including Alfie Flits and Unfurled who were both winners of listed races on the flat, in fact Unfurled was 7th in the Derby a few years ago. Both horses were 2nd on their hurdling debuts and warrant plenty of respect. Big Eared Fran and Cockney Trucker are the other pair that interest me. Both won bumpers at Sandown last season and are expected to make their mark over timber. Of the quartet Cockney Trucker and Big Eared Fran would be my two against the field.
Turning to the flat the well bred Catigo is one to watch in the 1.00 where Swiss Diva could run well at a big price. Alhaque has done little wrong on his two visits to Newmarket but both times has found one too good. He deserves to get his head in front in the 1.30. In the 2.00 there are some nicely bred newcomers. Dreamcoat is a half brother to the high class Pipedreamer while Highland Glen and Trojan Reef are others to note.
There are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the 3.10. Lang Shining has not really done enough to suggest he is good enough in this company and my selection is Bankable who has now finished runner up in his last 4 races and deserves to win one of these. He was given too much to do when just unable to peg back Eagle Mountain here a fortnight ago and this 9 furlong trip may be ideal for him.
Spacious has turned in some decent efforts in Group 1 company but her only win this season came when she made heavy weather of landing the odds when dropped in class at Doncaster. She is tried over a longer trip in the 3.45. She should have the class to win but the price looks unrealistically short.
I fancied Mastership in the big 7 furlong handicap at Ascot at the end of September but he ran an absolute stinker finishing last. On the basis that that display was too bad to be true I am going to stick with him in the 7.50 at Kempton tomorrow. Rock Peak is the other runner from my list to follow at Kempton. He goes in the 9.20, while Mr Crystal represents the list in the Redcar 4.30.
My thanks to Tracy Roberts (Turfpix) for the picture of Ring the Boss. The paiting are by courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.
Good luck
ahorse 