The best race this afternoon was the KIlbrittain Castle Novices Chase at Sandown which provided an exciting 3 way finish. I fancied Cornas and Gauvain for this but didn’t give them a strong enough write up last night, mainly because none of the experts went for them. There is a lesson to be learned there that you should always back your own judgement perhaps!
Anyway, turning to tomorrow’s racing there are a couple of big handicap chases to try and unravel.
Kempton stages the Racing Post Chase at 3.10. Paul Nicholls won the race last season and has 4 runners this time round. Silverburn, a full brother to Denman has rather flattered to deceive in his career so far. Both his runs this season have been disappointing despite him having a breathing operation in the summer. He has yet to win over 3 miles so he does have his stamina to prove although Kempton is an easy track. I am still convinced that he is better than he has looked in his races this season and he could be a good each way bet. Ruby Walsh has elected to ride the in form Big Fella Thanks who comes here on the back of an impressive win at Doncaster last month. He stays and jumps well and with the ground in his favour he looks the percentage call. The other one I quite like is Hold Em who was 3rd behind Stan at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He does not look badly handicapped and is another that will be suited by the ground. A small each way saver of Nacarat might be worth considering.
Honest John got off the mark over hurdles last month at the expense of subsequent winner Gee Dee Nen at Catterick. He handles good ground as he showed when winning the Aintree bumper last season and looks the one to beat in the Kempton 1.30. King Jack unseated when in contention last time and with his trainer in good form looks the threat. Tony McCoy has been booked to ride Lady Pilot which could be significant and any market support for this one would be worth noting.
It will be interesting to see how Conflictofinterest gets on in the 2.05. He started the season as one of the most exciting prospects in the powerful Paul Nicholls team but could only finish 4th on his seasonal reappearance at Wincanton and has undergone surgery for his breathing since. He clearly has ability and should be suited by the flat track. The ground was pretty tacky when Dee Ee Williams was beaten by Alfie Flits at Haydock and Nick Giffords runner may well improve on that performance tomorrow.
Herecomesthetruth comes into the 2.35 looking for a 4th successive win and will probably be all the rage. He has obvious claims but I am going to oppose him with Alan King’s Ouzbeck who will appreciate the ground and has won 5 of his last 7 races. In fact all his career wins have come on good or good to firm.
At Newcastle the big event is the long distance Eider Chase at 3.30. My 2 against the field are Merigo amd Iwillrememberyou. Merigo looked a thorough stayer when winning over 3 miles at Doncaster in December, he acts on the ground and warmed up for this race with a second over hurdles. Timmy Murphy should be the ideal jockey for him and of course he rode the winner of the race last season. Iwillrememberyou is described by his trainer as a plodder but that is what may be required over 4 miles in testing ground. He finished runner up to the progressive Coe on his last start and that form looks solid.
The Newcastle card gets under way with a handicap chase at 1.50. Daldini and Silver by Nature both come here on the back of a win, have shown thst they are in good form and look worth considering.
Ernst Blofeld looks the likely winner of the 2.55 while in the 4.00 I am torn between Best Lover and Catch Bob. Best Lover was runner up to the well regarded Steady Tiger last month and can be expected to have learned a lot from that. He is related to a number of winners and has to be one for the short list. Catch Bob is another that seems to be going the right way. Some sloppy jumping let him down when eh was 2nd at Sedgefield on his last start and if he can improve in that department, he fell the time before, he would be a serious contender.
Skippers Brig has a very good record in heavy ground and looks the one to be on in the 4.35.
There are a couple of runners in the Chepstow 1.40 that I like. Joker’s Legacy, a dual bumper winner stepped up on previous efforts over hurdles when 2nd at Taunton at the end of January. This was his first run for trainer Tim Vaughan and any further improvement would put him in with a good chance tomorrow.
Cypress Grove had Joker’s Legacy behind him when the pair were 3rd and 5th at Newbury in December and the runner up has since won.
Scrum V who is related to Mysylv is my selection in the bumper at 5.00.
Carrying on the Cheltenham theme with my illustrations today’s picture is of Katchit last years’ Champion Hurdle winner. This is by the artist Lisa Miller.
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