Category: Racing diary

 

The jumps season gathers momentum tomorrow with big races at Ascot, Down Royal and Wetherby.

Starting at Ascot the feature race is the United House Gold Cup at 3.10. Alfie Spinner looks the sort to pick up a race of this sort during the season. He stays well and is a sound jumper. My only concern would be the ground as he has only won on soft or heavy. This is a tricky race to weigh up as many of these will have bigger targets later in the season. I wills stick with a small interest in Alfie Spinner.

12.50 Brick Red looks on a decent mark and should be all the better for a recent run at Cheltenham.

1.25 Hadrian’s Approach could be a future star. A points winner he won on his hurdling debut. Handy Andy is likely to leave recent form behind now he tackles fences and he looks too big a price. Swincome Flame brings good form over hurdles to the race and with her mare’s allowance I feel she should go well.

2.00 Trip and ground are likely to favour My Tent Or Yours.

2.35 This looks quite a hot little race. Ile de Re, Raya Star, Ted Spread It’s a Gimme and War Singer all look interesting. Given Ile de Re’s wins in the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate since he last went hurdling it is hard to get away from him even though he is likely to be a short price.

4.15 Fontwell winner Puffin Billy sets the standard here, while Henryville is well thought of by connections.

Ayr

1.0 Shanen goes well fresh and looks the one to beat here.

3.50 Course and distance winner Un Guet Apens looks good here.

Down Royal selections

1.15 Robbie McMahon

2.25 Quito de la Roque

3.00 Paul Nicholls likes to target this meeting and sends Cristal Bonus over for this one.

Picture courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

 

Bless the Wings 2.00 Wetherby

The main race at Down Royal is the Grade 2 hurdles at 2.05. Monksland won a Grade 2 at Navan last season and was 3^rd at Cheltenham behind Simonsig. He won a Down Royal bumper last season first time out so he presumably goes well fresh. He looks the sort to go chasing eventually but the stable are clearly hoping to win with him over timber first. Ideally he would probably prefer a longer trip and more give in the ground which deters me from going over board at odds of 6/4.

At Uttoxeter the 12.50 is of interest. Explained and Alpancho are contenders based on their bumper form but I just prefer Up to Something who is a tough sort with a taking attitude.

Eleven Fifty Nine and Call me a Star were first and second in the Aintree bumper at the Grand National meeting. Over this 2 mile trip Call me a Star may have too much pace for her rival in the 1.20.

At Wetherby Beeves and Mr Watson look the ones to concentrate on in the 1.00. My slight preference would be for Mr Watson.

Sametegal looks an interesting French recruit for Paul Nicholls in the 2.35.

Picture courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Stratford

1.10 Bucking the Trend was an easy points winner and finished runner up in a Ffos Las bumper. Her is one to consider as is Barenger who won a Newbury bumper before showing promise in a couple of runs over hurdles. Whisky Yankee is well thought of by his trainer and could eb the best of these.

2.40 Polly Peachum is related to Denman (pictured below) and has decent bumper form.  Picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

 

Haydock

2.50 Ma Filleule has some smart chase form in France and a good jumping pedigree. Should be good enough here over hurdles but the price looks skinny.

3.20 Satou will be suited by the trip and the ground as long as we don’t get too much more rain.

Punchestown selection

1.15 Buckers Bridge

 

Taunton

1.30 Sleeping City crashed out at the second hurdles on Saturday but as long as that hasn’t dented his confidence he should go well here. The stable has not really started firing though which is a concern

Aintree

1.10 Vendor

1.40 For Two

2.15 Dawn Commander

4.00 Clondaw Kaempfer

Wincanton

1.20 Sleeping City

 

 

Aintree

4.35 Unioniste

5.10 Gevrey Chambertin

Chepstow

2.05 Big Society

2.35 Knock a Hand

3.40 Wonderful Charm

Newcastle

12.30 Eduard

 

Carlisle

5.00 Super Duty is an interesting newcomer to chasing. This trip will be on the short side for him but he may well be good enough anyway.