Month: February 2010

 

Bakbenscher, Chariot Charger and Great Endeavour are all in with chances in the Lingfield 2.50 tomorrow.  Bakbenscher should just have the edge if his jumping stands up.

My best bet at Southwell is another Alan King runner, Nikos Extra in the 2.40.

There should be a few Cheltenham pointers to be gleaned from tomorrow’s action at Leopardstown. In the 2.10 Dunguib will be expected to enhance his Festival claims and he should have too much for Fionnegas and Some Present.

There are several with chances in the 3.40 but Roberto Goldback is a course and distance winner and will love the ground and looks the percentage call.

The Hennessy Gold Cup at 3.40 looks really competitive. Money Trix had several of his main rivals in arrears when runner up in the Lexus Chase and at around 3/1 he looks decent value.

There is rather more homely fair on offer at Fontwell and Musselburgh but some interesting contests nonetheless. Vino Griego looks a progressive sort and will handle the ground at Fontwell where he looks the one to beat in the 2.20. Jockey Andrew Glassonbury takes a useful 3 lbs of his back as well.

Up at Musselburgh Candy Creek can continue trainer Nicky Henderson’s fine run by taking the 1.30 while Harry the Hawk can give us a run for our money at a working man’s price in the 2.00.

Marchand D’Argent was 4^th on his seasonal reappearance and should strip fitter for that in the 3.30 where he will also appreciate the better ground. Red Moloney is the other one I like in this race.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Karen Davies.

I will start tonight’s preview with the 1.20 at Doncaster which has attracted a small but quite classy field. Tazbar was a talented hurdler that possibly under achieved but he has made a solid start to his career over fences with a couple of wins and a second to the highly rated Long Run. He should act on the prevailing ground and is a leading player. The danger could come from the Nicky Henderson pair of Dave’s Dream and You’re the Top. . Although Dave’s Dream was well beaten at Newbury over Christmas that was on heavy ground and he is likely to be seen to much better effect on a sounder surface. You’re the top opened his account over fences at Kempton in November and is open to plenty of improvement. Tazbar is fancied to come out on top here.

In the 1.55 Character Building has his first outing since winning the Kim Muir at the Festival. He is entered for the Grand National and is being kept to hurdles here to protect his handicap mark. I wouldn’t rule him out tomorrow but the trip will be on the short side for him. Another reverting to hurdles is Calusa Crystal who has been competing in novice chases. She was progressive over hurdles last season winning 4 times. She is best on good ground and given her conditions would not be out of it. She is 5 lbs higher than her last hurdles win.

The classy Mad Max made a winning start to his career over fences at Kempton last month and looks to build on that in the 2.25. He will not have things all his way though with El Dancer an obvious threat. This 6 year old trained by Lucy Wadham was second to Riverside Theatre at Kempton in December. He jumps well and is best on good ground. Woolcombe Folly is another that will appreciate better ground. He missed last season through injury but won 5 times over hurdles the previous season. This is no forgone conclusion but I will stick with Mad Max.

There are a few to consider in the Grade 2 mare’s hurdle at 2.55. The Paul Nicholls runner Pepite de Soleil has been very disappointing this season after running consistently last term. It is certainly too early to write her off. She likes soft ground. Argento Luna is another for the short list. When completing a race, and she has only failed to do so once when brought down, she has only been out of the first 3 twice out of 12 runs. She is best on good ground. For my selection though I am going for Alegralil, a dual bumper winner who has already won both her starts over hurdles.

The 3.25 sees the return to the track of Kalahari King who was only beaten a short head in last season’s Arkle. He faces 14 rivals tomorrow including the Paul Nicholls pair Free World and I’msingingtheblues who must be respected. I have a bit of a fancy for Tartak who didn’t run too badly in the King George and this shorter trip should suit him. Kalahari King is the selection with a small each way saver on Tartak.

There are plenty of solid stayers in the 4 miler at 4.00. Garleton is a horse I have been following with some success but looks to be in the grip the handicapper . Jass won the race last season and although he has gone up in the weights I think he could run well again. He was 5^th in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on a track that would not have played to his strengths.

At Sandown Binocular (pictured below) has frightened away the opposition in the 1.30 and will be long odds on and likewise Punchestowns in the 2.35.

The handicap hurdle at 3.10 is a much more competitive affair however. Merrydown is one to consider. He is having his first run of the season but despite wins at Kelso and Newcastle last season does not look on a bad mark. The consistent Strategic Approach has gone up in the weights but could still play a part while Racing Demon ran much better than his finishing position would suggest at Ascot last time and looks well treated.

The 3.40 is another open looking contest. Gone to Lunch ran no sort of race in the Welsh National but he is better than that as he showed last season when runner up in the Scottish National. He had a fine run when 5^th in the Hennessy and if we ignore that Chepstow effort he has a chance tomorrow as he stays well and handles most ground. Killyglen was pulled up in the Hennessy at a time when Howard Johnson’s horses were not firing but they are bang in form now and Killyglen is a serious contender based on his form last season especially his win at Aintree in the Mildmay Novices Chase. According to John hasn’t won for over 3 years but has shown signs of a return to form in his last couple of runs, particularly when 3^rd in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle. Exmoor Ranger has been denied a run by abandonments recently but impressed when winning at Newbury in November and looks a progressive sort. These 4 represent my short list from which I will narrow it down to Gone to Lunch and Exmoor Ranger.

In the 4.15 Fred’s Benefit is my each way suggestion. He looks nicely handicapped.

My selections at Wetherby are SA Suffitt (2.20) and Knockara Beau (2.50).

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Sarah Clegg.

Good luck.

 

Selections for Friday at Bangor.

1.50 Pennek

2.25 Den of Iniquity

I had quite a successful day today with 3 of the horses from last night’s preview winning and the other very unluckily slipping after the final hurdle with the race in the bag.

The weather is once again set to disrupt tomorrow’s programme. Pealysteps did enough when2nd at Leicester last time to suggest he has a race in him and he can go one better in the 1.40 at Towcester.

Woodlands Genpower is something of a Towcester specialist having won there 4 times and although he has gone up in the weights he should give us a run for our money in the 3.10. Vamizi looks over priced in the 4.10 and looks worth a small each way interest at around 12/1.

At Wincanton I fancy Henry Ling in the 2.20. He is not entirely straightforward but has plenty of ability and this does not look a strong contest.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of Towcester racecourse.

I won’t spend too long on tonight’s preview as the weather looks likely to disrupt the jumps racing.

At Exeter the 4.15 looks to be between Copper Bleu and Shoreacres. I will give Copper Bleu the edge on the basis that the ground is more likely to suit him.

Diamond Brook was a beaten favourite last time out at Exeter. He returns to the same course tomorrow in the 4.50 where he is likely to appreciate the longer trip. He ran badly on soft ground last time though and that is a concern. Another to consider is the Emma Lavelle trained Court in Motion who is related to the useful Bensalem.

If Leicester goes ahead Sandynow should give us a run for our money in the opener at 1.45.

At Newcastle Hollins, a winner at Kelso on his last start is my selection in the while Turbo Island will be hard to beat in the 3.15.

They race at Down Royal in Northern Ireland where Hugo de Vindecy has a sound chance in the 2.10.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Alison Wilson.

Folkestone has fallen foul of the weather but it looks as though Taunton will go ahead so we will have a look at some of the races on their card.

I had hopes that Tara Taylor would be a horse to follow this season but thus far has been a disappointment. She has not built on her promising 3^rd at Uttoxeter in October. Her trainer Charlie Longsden has been pretty short on winners recently although he has had some placed horses. Tara Taylor is on a decent mark if she can find her best form and at 14/1 might be worth a small each way interest.

Normally the two that would interest me in the 2.40 would be King’s Forest and Vodka Brook but neither is over big and both prefer decent ground. If we get a lot of rain in might be worth an interest in Quartz de Thiax as he has winning form on heavy ground. I will go with Vodka Brook if conditions are not too testing.

Another that would not want the ground to be too soft is Via Galilei, twice a winner on the flat for Jim Bolger. He would be my selection in the 3.10 as long as they don’t get too much rain in the west country.

Festival winner Cappa Bleu has been disappointing over fences this season and reverts to hurdles in the 3.40 where his main rival could be Valentine Vic a course and distance winner trained by Paul Nicholls. These look the pair to concentrate on and if pushed to, choose a single selection I would side with Valentine Vic.

My thanks to Emily Russell for today’s photo.