ahorse

 

These are quite days wit the Cheltenham Festival almost upon us.  There is some interesting racing over the weekend nonetheless with the big race being The Imperial Cup at Sandown (3.50).

There are 3 I fancy for this.  You have to respect Gary Moore in these big handicap hurdles and his Mon Michel looks well handicapped. His 3rd here in January looks respectable form.  The class horse in the race has to be Ashkazar of David Pipe’s who crossed swords with the best on the flat.  He was a really easy winner over hurdles at Wincanton before finishing 4th to the Triumph Hurdle favourite Franchoek.  He then won again, this time at Sandown.  He is a very classy recruit to the jumping game and has to be on the short list.  The other one I am quite keen on is Halla San, a decent handicapper on the flat who has won a couple of hurdle races up at Musselburgh so comes here in good form.

Earlier at Sandown in the 2.05 the recent Chepstow winner Wind Instrument should go well.  There are also a couple of runners from our list to follow in this, Laborec and Tot ‘O Whisky. Howard Johnson’s horses have been running in to a bit of form this week and Laborec could be each way value at around 14/1.

In the 4.25 Gentle John goes for his 3rd success of the campaign.  He is on the upgrade and if his jumping hold together he could be hard to peg back.

Ayr is subject to an inspection and if racing goes ahead the ground is likely to be on the testing side.

in the 3.25 Quws Law seeks to restore his reputation after a bit of a grumpy effort on his last run.  He has shown some ability in his earlier runs though and if back to form he would have a chance.

Len Lungo has been saddling some winners this week and in the 4.35 Berwick Law is his representative.  This one could just be suited by the 3 mile trip and has an each way chance.

At Chepstow in the 3.40 Mister Potter and The Sawyer both have chances.  Mister Potter looks a bit of a baby but has plenty of scope.  I see that he runs in first time blinkers which could sharpen up his concentration.  The Sawyer comes form a yard that has had a virus but the horses have been running better recently.

On Sunday my main fancies are:

Hereford 2.25 Otage de Brion

Market Rasen 2.15 Brook no Argument

Warwick 3.05 Theatre Diva

 

 

Highlight of the day  for me this afternoon was Monolith’s win in the beginner’s chase at Carlisle where he came from a  seemingly hopeless position to collar the leaders close home.  He has been a grand servant to the Elite Racing Club and has now won on the flat, over hurdles and fences.  He was given a peach of a ride today by Wilson Renwick.

Our old friend The Bajan Bandit represents Monolith’s trainer Len Lungo in the 5.20 at Ayr tomorrow.  This horse has won an amazing 8 times from 9 starts at Ayr.  On the subject of course specialists, First Love, owned by The Queen, has won 4 times at Sandown and runs there in the 4.25, a race he won last season.

In the 5.00 Woolcombe Folly can get off the mark over hurdles.  He was just pipped by a short head last time out at Taunton.

There are two runners from our list to follow running tomorrow, both in the same race.

Seven is Lucky and Wild Tonto both wear first time blinkers in the Wincanton 3.25, with the former looking to have the better chance.

Perhaps the most significant result today was Cool Operator’s win, which coming on the back of some placed runners yesterday could signal a return to form for Howard Johnson’s string.  That might bode well for the prospects of Tidal Bay and Inglis Drever at Cheltenham next week.

 

As the Cheltenham Festival looms ever nearer the midweek racing is understandably pretty moderate stuff.  There are runners from our list to follow in action though so I will concentrate on assessing their chances.

Cool Operator represents Howard Johnson’s stable in the 3.50 at Catterick. The stable have been under a bit of a cloud recently although Kealshore Boy ran well enough for them today.  Cool Operator was 3rd at this track on his last run but goes over a shorter distance tomorrow which I wouldn’t have thought would play to his strengths.  All in all he is one best watched for the moment.

Runthatpastmeagain made a winning reappearance at Wetherby 23 days ago and I quite fancy him to go in again in the 3.30 at Fontwell.

 

What is interesting about tomorrow’s racing is that we see 2 horses that started the season with tall reputations and great expectations but have not yet fulfilled their promise as yet.

Nevada Royale, trained by Paul Nicholls came with a string of point to point wins behind him, when ridden by Rachel Green.  Unfortunately he took a very heavy fall on his rules debut in a novice chase at Newbury in December.  Connections have decided to go down the hurdles route with him now this season and he runs in the Exeter 2.30.

Kealshore Boy won bumpers at Kelso and Newcastle last season before finishing 2nd in a decent bumper at Aintree in May.  He was snapped up by big spending Graham Wylie but only got off the mark at the 3rd time of asking over hurdles.  That win came at Newcastle and he returns over course and distance in the 2.50.  It will be interesting to see how he runs as the stable have been under a bit of a cloud recently.

 

There are 3 horses from our list to follow running at Stratford tomorrow.

3.30 – Manhattan Boy: 4.00 – Trucker’s Delight: 5.00 – Amir El Jabal.

 

Mossville, Gentle John and Cloudy Lane were winner from our list to follow this afternoon – I even tipped two of them!

There are 3 meetings tomorrow but not too much that appeals as a betting proposition.  Tamimi’s History was rated 101 on the flat and is an interesting prospect for Nicky Richards.  He runs in the Bangor 2.00.

Richards may also have the answer to the 3.00 in the shape of former bumper winner I’m Delilah who has not delivered this season so far but is worth another chance in this company.

 

Seeing that Cheltenham is just around the corner we have some half decent racing on offer over the jumps tomorrow.

There may be some pointers to the Grand National tomorrow as a few of the leading contenders for the Aintree Spectacle are on show.  Last year’s runner up McKelvey makes his belated seasonal reappearance in the Doncaster 2.25.  Presumably he will need the race after such a long lay off but he is certainly one to have on your short list come the big race in April.

Two more potential major players in the National, Mr Pointment and Cloudy Lane clash in the 3.30.  Mr Pointment has solid Grand National credentials as he won the Becher Chase over the National fences this season.  Cloudy Lane is of course trained by Donald McCain, son of the legendary Ginger.  Cloudy Lane goes for a hat trick of wins but in theory should find Mr Pointment too tough as the Paul Nicholls horse is favoured by the weights.  Ungaro was an early faller last week at Kempton but has earlier run well when runner up in the Sky Bet Chase at here at Doncaster is another to consider as is Alderburn if he gets his favoured good ground.

Top Cloud represents our list to follow in the 4.40.  He has run some decent races this season and with a first time tongue tie gets a tentative selection.  Quite a few of the other horses in the race are from stables struggling for form.

Bywell Beau is my fancy in the 3.10 at Kelso.  His record at the borders track reads 22p1111 which speaks for itself.

Although Mossville hasn’t won this season she hasn’t come down the weights either which is rather a shame.  I see that she has a 7 lbs claimer on board in the Kempton 2.20 where I think that the step up to 3 miles might be in her favour.

In the 3.25 I see that former flat handicapper Jeepstar makes his hurdles bow.  He was a winner 5 times on the flat for Tim Easterby and I see that he is now with Venetia Williams.  He is the sort that could make an impact over timber.

In the 4.00 the well bred Classic Fiddle looks set fair to complete a hat trick of wins.  Pauillac, a winner at Lingfield earlier in the season could be the won to give her most to do.

Gentle John should be suited by the track at Kempton and he should go well in the 4.35.

It might be worth taking on the odds on favourite Cryptic in the 1.35 at Newbury as he has a double penalty.  Aux Le Bahnn is stepped up in distance and that may enable him to find some improvement.

There are some real old favourites in the 2.40, Royal Auclair, Royal Emperor, Sir Rembrandt, Tana River, Tango Royal etc.  In fact most of these stalwarts have figured on my lists to follow down the years.  At the odds I would give the bottom weight Hidden Bounty an each way shout.

At around 8/1 Regal Heights would be my each way choice in the 3.15 which looks a very open contest.  The one I would fear most is the Paul Nicholls trained Natal.

In the 3.50 I am interested in Amour Multiple and Corran Ard.  The former ran a couple of very promising races at Ascot earlier in the season.  The worry is that he is just a little high in the weights but he does have a 7 lbs claimer on board.  Corran Ard sustained a leg injury which has kept him off the track for well over a year.  He is a horse of considerable potential but may off course need this run.

Planet of Sound has been running consistently for Philip Hobbs and he should be on the premises in the 4.25.

I will be back tomorrow evening for a look back at some of Saturday’s racing.

It hasn’t been the most successful of weeks on here and Accordion Man was the latest sufferer, beaten a neck at Southwell.

There are 2 runners from our list to follow tomorrow, both at Taunton.  Super Nick has sound claims in the 3.30, while Master Overseer represents David Pipe in the 4.30 where he will need to get the better of a hot favourite from the Paul Nicholls stable.