Author: Martin

 

I am busy studying the Cheltenham form tonight so have only given tomorrow’s runners a quick look.

Best Lover has the form in the Kelso 4.55 while I had better stick with Carrickmines in the 2.15 at Market Rasen.

The big race tomorrow is the 3.10 at Sandown, the Imperial Cup where the winner earns the chance of a big bonus if winning any race at the Cheltenham Festival next week. Traditionally the Pipe team like to have a serious crack at this lucrative double and they are represented by Mr Thriller and Seven is my Number. Mr Thriller is on a hat trick having won at Bangor and Fontwell, his first two races since arriving from France. All his form is on soft ground though so it remains to be seen how he performs if the ground continues to dry out. Seven is my Number hasn’t run for over a year but with horses from this stable that won’t necessarily matter. A dual bumper winner he has only had 3 runs over hurdles and could be open to plenty of improvement. He has bottom weight and is likely to handle the ground. He looks a serious contender.

The Nicky Henderson duo are worth a mention. Dave’s Dream’s future will be over fences but has the ability to win something like this. He will need to settle better than he did on his last run though. Stellino has been off the track since last May. A winner of 3 races on the flat in Germany he has a couple of wins over hurdles to his credit and I see he is entered in the County Hurdle at the Festival.

Prince Taime is a lightly races type who will appreciate the ground. Another that tends to run freely this big field and a strong gallop might suit him. Numide has run well in a couple, of big handicap hurdles this season beating Aigle D’Or in a driving finish at Cheltenham and then finishing 4^th at Ascot behind Sentry Duty. Most of his form is on soft ground. Lastly, Matuhi is very well handicapped if he can produce his best form.

My selection is Seven is my Number .

The Sandown card kicks off with the 2.05 where Big Eared Fran and Bakbenscher are the two I fancy. The former is very lightly raced and has probably been lined up for this. Bakbenscher beat Captain Americo at Newbury in December and that horse has since won twice so the form looks solid. Of the rest Keki Buku is worth considering while at bigger prices Circus of Dreams and Martys Mission, the latter is best on good ground, have each way claims.

Trigger the Light won both his races last season but has not had much luck since and was brought down on his most recent outing. In the RP he is the outsider of the party but he is surely better than that and it is just a pity that there are only 7 runners as he would be a cracking each way bet otherwise.

Moorlands Teri has done well for this column already this season and is upped in class in the 3.35 after a couple of wins. He faces a much stiffer task tomorrow but at 12/1 might be worth a small each way interest.

Song of Songs has made a pleasing start to his career over fences and I hope to see him continue with another win in the 4.20 where he will be ridden by Tony McCoy.

At Ayr my only selection is Cadoudalas in the 2.45.

My short list for the Chepstow 2.25 consists of Traffic Control, King Fontaine and Putney Bridge. The latter was 3^rd albeit beaten quite a long way behind Gee Dee Nen last time. A dual bumper winner he is probably capable of better. King Fontaine is well regarded by his trainer and may have found the ground too testing when a beaten favourite here last time. Traffic Control a winner of his only start in Irish point to points was second over hurdles at Southwell recently and can go one better here.

Mark the Book was hindered by jumping errors when runner up to Quickbeam at Taunton but if he can sharpen up his fences is capable of winning the 3.35.

The 4.45 looks a very open contest. Hello Moscow is not the most straightforward but did manage to win at Plumpton last month. If first time blinkers bring out further improvement in his he may be able to defy joint top weight. The other top weight, It’s Tough would be my next best.

Today’s picture, by the artist Lisa Miller, is of the first 3 home in the Gold Cup last season.  Neptune Collonges, Kauto Star and Denman.

Good luck!

 

Although there are 4 jumps meetings tomorrow it is typical pre Cheltenham stuff with not a lot to comment on.

At Ayr Breakwater House, who runs in the 3.30, is one I have been keeping an eye on. He was 4^th on his reappearance at Wetherby last time and should strip fitter for that run. A lightly raced sort he is bred to appreciate further than this 2 miles but should go close off his mark of 95.

At Sandown the Nicky Henderson pair of Ravello Bay and Tanks For That look the ones to concentrate on in the 5.05. Ravello Bay has the better form so it is interesting that Barry Geraghty rides Tanks For That who is making his hurdles debut after a couple of decent runs in bumpers last season.

Today Cheltenham hero is Kicking King, Gold Cup winner in 2005. The picture is by kind permission of the artist Sarah Aspinall.

 

Apt Approach made a winning hurdles debut at Fairyhouse this afternoon and is one to keep an eye on wherever he turns up next. Certainly anything he achieves over timber will be a bonus as he is very much a chaser in the making.

There are a couple of runners from Oliver Sherwood’s yard that I fancy up at Carlisle tomorrow. Jaunty Flight sets the standard in the 3.15 while although Ballygalley Bob has been disappointing of late he will appreciate the ground in the 3.45 and has come down a bit in the weights. In the 3.45 another to consider would be Super Road Train who has a good course record.

At Wincanton in the 2.00 Prince Sabaah comes from a stable in form and is probably better than he has shown recently.

For the 2.30 I am going for a real outsider. Worbarrow Bay had some useful form in bumpers and although he has shown little over hurdles in 3 runs he may well do better now he is qualified for handicaps.

Treasury Counsel looked a promising sort last season but for one reason or another is yet to fulfil his potential. With McCoy riding 7/1 about him tomorrow looks a generous price in the 3.00.

Finally, in the 4.05 Quickbeam looks to follow up his success at Taunton last week. He can be a chancy jumper but with only 4 runners he should get a good view of his fences and is taken to go in again.

Today’s picture, courtesy of Lisa Miller, is of Inglis Drever, the latest in our Cheltenham heroes series.

 

Not much joy with the selections this afternoon and nothing much really appeals at the UK meetings tomorrow.

Over in Ireland at Fairyhouse Apt Approach makes his hurdles bow. He fell at the last when clear in his only point to point and then went on to score in a bumper at Gowran Park. He was sent off at 4/1 for the Cheltenham Championship bumper but could only finish 6^th behind stable companion Cousin Vinny. He was probably over the top when down the field at Punchestown at the end of the season and remains an interesting jumping prospect.

Related to an Irish Grand National winner the future probably lies over fences for Apt Approach but he will be expected to pick up a hurdles race or two in the meantime. Also in the field is Kong whose only career win came in the Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial in 2005.

 

At Exeter tomorrow the Emma Lavelle trained Vagrant Emperor has been knocking on the door and should go close on the opener at 2.30, while in the 4.00 Pistol Desbois has ability if he can improve his jumping.

Turning to Newcastle Steady Tiger can follow up his win over course and distance last month in the 2.20 where Ockey De Neulliac might be the danger while Marleybow is my selection in the 3.20.

Elsewhere on the Newcastle card top weights Merrydown (4.20) and Nirvana Swing (4.50) both have each way chances. Vivona Hill looks a promising type and certainly one to keep tabs on for the future. He has to concede plenty of weight in the bumper at 5.20 but may well be up to the task.

Today’s Cheltenham hero, courtesy of Kate Trann, is the great Istabraq.

 

After the non runners were taken out today I was left with 4 selections. It was quite a successful afternoon with 2 winners and a second at 9/1 recommended each way.

The jumps action tomorrow comes from Stratford where I am going to put forward a few horses that you might like to consider.

First of all in the novice chase at 3.30 I think that Crescent Island has a fair chance. He is a course and distance winner and his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has been showing signs of a return to form after a very lean spell.

Another one to have a look at is Santartique in the 4.00. Mainly because he is dropping down the weights

One other “dark horse” for you is Greyt Big Stuff in the 3.00. Venetia Williams has her horses in good from and does well with her recruits from the flat.

As my regulars will be aware I am featuring some festival favourites in the lead up to the Cheltenham extravaganza. Today’s picture, courtesy of the artist Sarah Aspinall is of Hardy Eustace.

 

Selections for tomorrow:

Huntingdon

2.10 Rockiteer

3.10 Bluegun

3.40 Nearby

4.10 Dave’s Dream

Musselburgh

4.00 Orang Outan (ew)

Leopardstown

1.55 Uimhiracaceathair

2.55 Shirley Casper

I wasn’t too far away with my tips last night so let’s see if we can have more of the same.

Fairoak Lad has not been at his best this season but he has crept down the weights a little and should have the ground in his favour tomorrow in the Doncaster 2.55. The stable are in good form which is another plus.

In the 3.25 both Alderburn and Noir et Vert will like the ground. Of the two I slightly prefer the latter who was a shade unlucky last time out.

In th bumper at 4.00 there is a good word for Alan King’s Lidar. Fidelis, a beaten favourite on his only previous start might be interesting at a bigger price.

I suppose West End Rocker is the likely winner of the 4.35 although I am not over keen on the race to be honest. I would be tempted to support Nom de Guerre but for the fact that he failed to get round last time.

 

Beggar’s Cap really likes a sound surface with 3 of his 4 career wins having come on good to firm, quite unusual for a winter jumper. If he gets his ground he would be interesting in the 5.10.

Kelso next and I hope that Open de L’Isle will give us a run for our money in the 2.00. He has put in a couple of fair runs over hurdles since the turn of the year and is back over fences tomorrow.

In the 3.35 Cloudy Lane looks the pick at the weights. Money Trix has plenty to do based on official ratings but has always been held in high regard by his trainer and may well be better than he has shown in his few runs to date. Evens about Cloudy Lane though looks a good bet if you can get it.

Dolessthanme and Knockara Beau represent my list to follow in the 4.10. Dolessthanme is the selection. He looks over priced at around 10/1.

Down at Kempton I am going to take a chance with King Brex in the 1.45. He is still a maiden but he has been getting closer and should appreciate the better ground after his 2^nd to Den of Iniquity on heavy last time out.

In the 2.20 the pair I like are Captain Americo and Missoula. Captain Americo was a nice winner at Wincanton a couple of weeks back and looked a horse on the upgrade. Missoula, a very useful stayer on the flat was a winner at Fontwell but then failed to sparkle when beaten at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Free World has not quite been getting home in his races but he is a bold jumping front runner and the track at Kempton should suit him. I think he will be able to get out in front and stay there in the 4.30.

At Newbury I have 3 horses in mind for the 3.10, Ouzbeck, Hold Em and Money Order. Ouzbeck will like the ground but needs to come back from an early fall last week. Hold Em has been running consistently and last week was 3^rd in the arcing post chase. The drying ground will suit both of these two. Money Order is a lightly raced type and is a course winner. My concern is that the trip might just be on the short side for him. Hold Em, with Richard Johnson on board, is my selection.

My only selection at Navan is Let Yourself Go each way in the 3.15.

As the Cheltenham Festival creeps ever nearer today’s illustrations are of triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate and the grey Rooster Booster, a past winner of the Champion Hurdle.  My thanks to the artist Lisa Miller for permission to use these.

 

One of the highlights of tomorrow’s jumps racing will be the reappearance of Gold Award in the 2.00 at Doncaster. Nicky Henderson’s 6 year old won twice in bumpers before finishing 9^th to Cousin Vinny in the Cheltenham Festival bumper. He makes his hurdles debut tomorrow where the good going predicted should help his cause.

Otage de Brion’s 3 career wins have all come on ground officially described as good so conditions may also be in his favour in the 3.05.

In the 3.40 Argento Luna sets the standard with Lindeman an alternative at a likely bigger price.

In the 4.45 Overbranch has winning form at the track and came good at this time last season. An each way chance.

Turning to Newbury Very Cool is well handicapped in the 3.15. He is prone to the odd blunder but if he can put in a decent round of jumping he will be hard to beat.

There are a couple of runners from my list to follow in the 3.50. Lordsbridge put in a couple of decent efforts in the autumn but has been a bit disappointing since and I will burden Pterodactyl with my selection with the stable being in good form.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of one of the stars of last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Master Minded.