Author: Martin

 

Sunday selections

Hereford 1.10 Wishfull Thinking

Cork 1.10 Quel Esprit

Navan 12.20 Cousin Vinny

Of the 8 selections given in last night’s preview we had 5 winners and a couple of seconds. The winners included Time for Rupert at 16/1, Mill Side at 11/2 and Spirit River at 11/4.

There is some exciting racing scheduled for tomorrow particularly at Cheltenham where the main event is the Boylesports Gold Cup at 2.25. Trainers Nicholls and Henderson could hardly be in better form and they are responsible for my two main fancies in the 12.45. Inchidaly Rock is the Nicholls runner. Unbeaten in three Irish points he had useful form over hurdles lasts season winning at Exeter and Taunton before going down by a head to Time For Rupert (see above) at Aintree. He got off the mark over fences at the first time of asking at Exeter beating Hey Big Spender who has won since. Zemsky, trained by Nicky Henderson, has a similar profile. A dual point to point winner, he won over hurdles at Plumpton and Perth. He finished runner up to Awsome George on his chase bow at Ascot over a trip that did not make best use of his stamina. These two both look nice prospects and their experience in the point to point field will stand them in good stead. Choosing between them is difficult, made more so by the fact that Zemsky is getting 5 lbs from his rival. Despite that I will side with the Paul Nicholls runner. But only just.

SA Suffitt was an impressive winner at Haydock last month and with his stable in excellent form he should go well in the 1.15. A bit of a dark horse in this is Fred’s Benefit, and ex Irish gelding now with David Pipe. He is having his first run of the season but goes very well fresh and could run well at a big price.

Poquelin was runner up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month and off a mark only 1 lb higher he has to be a major contender for the big race at 2.25 over course and distance. The form of that run has been franked since as the 4^th has won over hurdles and Our Vic, who was 6^th has also since won. There are two others I quite like. Chapoturgeon, the other Paul Nicholls runner, was a faller in the Paddy Power but was a winner at the Festival over course and distance last season and should give his supporters a run for their money. Lastly, I wouldn’t rule out Atouchbetweenacara, another course and distance winner who is having his first run for trainer Tim Vaughan.

 

Celestial Halo looks a very short price in the 3.05 and I prefer to take a chance with Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi (pictured above). I also think that Medermit, who shouldered a big weight when 3^rd in the Greatwood Hurdle could get in the shake up. Zaynar is hard to oppose in the 3.40 after his impressive victory at Ascot last month. We know he handles Cheltenham having won the Triumph Hurdle there last season and he should extend his winning sequence, possibly at the expense of northern challenger Cape Tribulation.

At Doncaster there are a couple of interesting ex flat horses making their hurdles debut. Successful handicapper Dhaular Dhar runs in the 12.00 while the classy Cesare takes his chance in the 1.00. Neither has guaranteed stamina and both are best watched for the moment. Full Speed is a winner over 10 furlongs on the flat and he could be the one to give Cesare most to think about.

Cockney Trucker fell at the 3^rd fence on his chase debut at Ascot but he has since ran well enough over hurdles and is worth another chance back over fences in the 1.35. Dolessthanme, 3 times a winner over hurdles was 2^nd on his first try over fences at Carlisle and looks the main danger.

Wessex King ran consistently over hurdles last season and at around 12/1 looks fair value in the 2.45. That’s Rhythm is going the right way judged on his win at Bangor and he is my selection in the 3.20.

I am going for a couple of outsiders at Lingfield with High Jack (12.55) and Bench Warrant (2.00). At Fairyhouse my main hope is Clan Tara in the 2.15. This 7 year old was only beaten a head by Pandorama at Punchestown in October and that horse has since won a Grade 1 chase.

The photo of Punjabi is by kind permission of Kate Tann.

Be lucky!

The main meeting tomorrow is at Cheltenham where I am hoping that Spirit River can get me off to a winning start in the handicap hurdle at 12.40 Spirit River. A winner over hurdles in France he has the look of a chaser and I am sure that his future in the longer will be over fences. He showed enough promise when finishing well on his UK hurdles debut at Newbury to suggest he can give a good account of himself here where the track should suit him.

Time For Rupert had an impossible task when well beaten at Ascot last time but he is clearly well thought of by connections and the longer trip in the 3.00 tomorrow should play to his strengths.

Alan King picked out Lidar as his horse to follow in a pre season interview and with the stable starting to pick up he could represent a bit of value against a Paul Nicholls “sure thing.”

There is an early start up at Doncaster where the action gets under way at 11.50. Madame Mado Menorah and Bobby Ewing all look good prospects. Madame Mado is a half sister to the ill fated chaser Le Volfoni and clearly has talent if not the durability of the ex Paul Nicholls trained horse. Madame Mado is respected but I just favour Menorah who has the benefit of a recent run.

In the 12.50 Noble Alan should get his preferred underfoot conditions and should be difficult to beat. Mill Side is a sound jumper suited by decent ground and looks each way value in the 2.35.

My selections at Gowran Park are Alaivan (12.10) and Luska Lad (1.10).

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

Not a successful afternoon on the tipping front today although I was pleased that Mr Strachan won. I had spent some time on that selection and it’s nice when those win.

Looking for some value in the 12.30 at Huntingdon tomorrow I looked at Tara Taylor. She ran well when 3^rd at Uttoxeter on her seasonal reappearance but was a beaten favourite on her next start. She was ridden by Tony McCoy on that occasion and well fancied but she is only quite small and had to carry a big weight. With a lighter weight tomorrow she looks each way value at 14/1.

The 1.00 looks to be between Miss Sarenne and Calusa Crystal. Given the form of the stable my preference is for Miss Sarenne.

You could make out a case for most of the runners in the Peterborough Chase at 2.00. Racing Demon has won this race twice before and Henrietta Knight has an awesome record in the event. The two I looked at though were Tartak and Herecomesthetruth. With the former having run disappointingly on his last couple of starts I will go for the Paul Nicholls runner who looks to be on the upgrade.

Accordeon was twice runner up in bumpers at Ludlow and went on to win over hurdles there. He returns to the Shropshire track tomorrow to make his debut over fences in the 1.10. He looks one to follow.

Ruby Walsh has some good rides at Taunton, notably Valentine Vic (1.20) and Recif de Thaix (1.50). In the 2.20 I fancy The Betchworth Kid formerly rated 104 on the flat he won on his hurdles debut at Plumpton.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Sarah Clegg.

Yesterday’s selection was a very disappointing beaten favourite bringing a nice little winning run to an abrupt end. I will try to do better with tonight’s preview.

The going at Hexham is likely to be on the testing side which will suit the grey Huka Lodge in the 1.50. His best form is on heavy ground and he also comes into this race in good form having won for his new trainer at Carlisle last month. He has won at Hexham before but he has also run badly there on a number of occasions. Gypsy George is another that likes bottomless ground and although he has not run for a long time he has won after a break in the past. Mr Strachan only ran once last season so presumably had a problem of some sort but he has had a wind operation since and I thought put in an encouraging performance when 3^rd last month behind Silver By Nature at Carlisle. He has won on heavy ground over hurdles. At the odds my two against the field are Mr Strachan and Gypsy George.

Sir Boreus Hawk had good form in bumpers but always looked a future chase. He ran 3 times over hurdles winning once and goes over fences for the first time in the 2.20 at Hexham. I think he is the sort that could do well in novice chases but I have a slight concern over the ground. A small wager perhaps.

In the 3.20 Patchoulie Conti is the each way selection. A big mare she is gradually improving over fences and should go well at a decent price.

I thought Pause and Clause ran a good race when 4^th to Diamond Harry the other week over 3 miles 1. Back over a shorter trip tomorrow he should go close in the 2.20 at Leicester. Finally, in the 3.10 Friendly King has dropped down to what looks a winnable handicap mark.

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

 

It was a good day for the site on Sunday with 6 winners including Sandynow and Hollins, both at 13/2.

I am going to concentrate on just one race tomorrow, the 1.20 at Sedgefield. Ballybriggan won a bumper at the end of last season when trained by Victor Dartnall. He has since moved to John Quinn’s yard and finished runner up on his hurdles debut at Market Rasen last month. The form of that race was given a boost when the 4^th horse Edge of Town won at Wetherby on Saturday. The main danger could be Cool Mission who is another to have changed stables. He was placed twice in bumpers last season when with Alan Swinbank but has now moved to Donald McCain’s yard. He looks an interesting prospect but Ballybriggan has the benefit of a recent run and is the only selection of the day.

 

Knockara Beau has made a promising start to his career over fences and should be suited by the trip, track and underfoot conditions in the Kelso 12.50 tomorrow. The race is named after former Scottish National winner Paris Pike (pictured below).

Although he is a 9 year old Money Trix has very few miles on the clock. He is 3 from 3 at Kelso, will like the ground and can land the 1.20.

The Borders National over 4 miles at 2.20 could turn into a bit of a slog and I have to admit that my selection, Garleton, is trying the trip for the first time. However he is in form having won his last two starts and has been finishing his races strongly. His stable had a winner today which is encouraging.

Hollins made a promising hurdles debut when 3^rd at Hexham where he faded in the closing stages. Over a shorter trip tomorrow in the 2.50 he should go well.

The two to concentrate on in the Warwick 12.40 look to be Copper Bleu and Aigle D’Or. Copper Bleu shape as though he would come on for the run when 3^rd at Exeter and the winner of the race has since won again. Aigle D’Or represents a stable bang in form and with AP McCoy in the saddle has to command respect but my preference is for Copper Bleu.

Former winning Irish pointer Sandynow was 4^th at Ludlow over 4 miles on his hurdles debut on good ground. He won his point to point on heavy ground so hopefully will put up a bold show over 2 miles 5 in the 2.40.

At Punchestown Hugo De Vindecy has been knocking on the door and should gain a deserved win in the 12.35.

The Grade 1 Chase at 2.05 features the first and second from last season’s Power’s Gold Cup, Aran Concerto and Barker as well as Joncol who was second to Tranquil Sea giving that horse 9 lbs back in October. They will all handle the ground and I expect Aran Concerto and Joncol to contest the finish.

Lenabane, a half brother to Moscow Flyer, has been placed on both his starts over fences and with the benefit of that experience can hopefully get off the mark in the 2.35.

The picture of Paris Pike is by kind permission of the artist Jenny Lupton.

On the face of it Silverburn has little to recommend him other than the fact that he is Denman’s brother. He was pulled up on his last two starts and hasn’t won for getting on for two years. He has moved from Paul Nicholls’ stable and is now with Evan Williams and it may be that a change of scenery will do him good. He runs in the Sandown 12.55 tomorrow where he will at least have the going to suit him. He seems to like Sandown as his last two wins were both at the Esher track.

There is a field of only 4 runners for the Grade 2 chase at 1.55 where I fancy Crack Away Jack and Somersby to be the main contenders. The former was 4^th in the Champion Hurdle and, like Somersby has already won over fences. Somersby has the size and scope to make a decent chaser and at the current odds he looks to be the value.

The Tingle Creek does not make much appeal from a betting point of view. A good case could be made for 4 of the runners. I see that the newspaper tipsters overwhelmingly favour Twist Magic, presumably on the basis of his course form. Well Chief seems largely ignored despite beating Master Minded last time. Well Chief himself has an excellent record at Sandown and I am inclined to stick with him here. Forpadytheplasterer looks a big price as well but it’s Well Chief for me.

Tasheba is a horse I had high hopes for this season but he was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance when last in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. He carries top weight in the 3.00 at Sandown tomorrow but I am not convinced that he will be suited by the ground so I will keep a watching brief on this one.

One horse that will like the ground is the dour stayer Russian Trigger and he is my selection for the London National at 3.30.

A winner on the flat in Germany Sullumo was also a decent hurdler and did nothing wrong on his debut over fences at Uttoxeter last month. He has to give weight to most of his rivals in the Chepstow 1.05 but he can jump and he handles the ground.  In the same race Giles Cross looks a big price for a horse that looks sure to handle the conditions. 

The Begrudger represents Paul Nicholls in the 1.35. He is an Irish points winner and is related to Denman all of which indicates that chasing will be his game in the long term. He makes his hurdles debut for Paul Nicholls in the 1.35.

I thought that Lodge Lane ran well behind Money Trix on his last start. He handles give in the ground and has a very capable amateur jockey on board tomorrow in the 2.35.

I thought long and hard about Cashel Blue in the 3.05. He looks well handicapped and he is a course and distance winner. There is a doubt about his ability to handle really testing ground though which tempers my enthusiasm a little,

Trainer Alan Swinbank has an excellent record in bumpers and his Royal Riviera looks interesting in the Wetherby 2.10.

Former Champion Hurdle runner up Osana won on his chase debut and is fancied to follow that up with another win at Navan in the 1.00.

Today’s photograph is of Twist Magic and is included by kind permission of Kate Tann.