Hi all,
The first big races of the winter jumps campaign.
It’s Charlie Hall Day at Wetherby with the feature race being the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase (3:20) and after some slight hesitation Cyrname makes his seasonal reappearance here rather than at Ascot. There’s a good supporting card at the West Yorkshire track with Stayers Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar returning to action in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle (2:45).
Add in a competitive jumps card at Ascot and you have eight exciting races being covered by ITV this afternoon. If that wasn’t enough for you ITV are also showing the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase (2:25) from Down Royal.
The Down Royal card is one some ways the best meeting of the day. Besides the Champion Chase. There’s a Grade 2 Chase (3:00) over 2m 3 ½ f. Where Samcro takes on three of last season’s top novice chasers in the shape stablemate Battleofdoyen, Easy Game and Sizing Pottsie.
It’s hard to know where to start todays’ preview but there’s plenty to get through. I have had a look at the all the races on ITV and to give you a time to digest my thoughts I’m sending this out on Friday afternoon. My final selections will be with you on Saturday morning after I know what the going is like at the various racecourses.
Wetherby
1:35 – bet365 Handicap Chase (Challenger Middle Distance Chase Series Qualifier) (Class 3) – 2m 3 ½ f
Recent Huntingdon winner Guy heads the ante post betting and is sure to be popular with punters. He’s up 12lb for that success but has only had the one start over fences and is open to further improvement.
Dandolo Du Gite is also 1-1 over fences but he’s having first start for 528-days. Another with scope for more progress and he’s won fresh in the past.
Inform Kim Bailey saddles He’s No Trouble who won on his second start over fences at Huntingdon in November, off 3lb lower. Ran poorly on two starts after and has a wind-op over the summer.
Well Smitten is one of the more experienced chasers in the field. The 8-year-old made it 3-12 over the larger obstacles when winning over C&D in February. Up 7lb and a notch in class for his return to action but he won first time up last season.
Niven won at Catterick on his final start of last season off 4lb lower. Will be fitter for his seasonal appearance here at the last meeting and could run well at big odds.
2:10 – Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (Class 1) – 2m
Just the seven go to post which isn’t helpful to each way punters.
Verdana Blue wouldn’t want the ground to get much softer but her class may get her through which looks a weak race. On Official Ratings she has 24lb in hand of nearest market rival Whitehotchillifili. The 6-year-old won two of her four starts over hurdles last season, both on heavy ground and wasn’t disgraced when 6th of 22 in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. She looks capable of more progress this season. Mrs Hyde showed her well bring when winning a Listed novice hurdle at Kempton 13-days ago. The 7-year-old benefitted form a strong pace that day and if she gets one here can get into the money.
2:45 – bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (Class 1) – 3m
Sadly, Thyme Hill doesn’t run but shock 50/1 Stayers Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar is set for his seasonal return. The 7-year-old must give 6lb and more to his rivals here but may still be good enough to do so.
Roksana won the Mares Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, although she benefited from the fall of Benie Des Dieux at the last and then went on to finish runner-up in a Grade 1 at Aintree on her next start. Not as good last season and may be better for the run.
Wholestone finished runner-up in this race in 2017. The 9-year-old went novice chasing last season but hasn’t been seen in action since winning a Cheltenham novice chase 350-days ago. Fitness won’t be an issue as his form figures when racing 121+days since his last run are 11411. Each way claims on ground that will suit.
3:20 – bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) – 3m
Cyrname is the class horse of the race but he’s yet to show he’s as good going left handed or stays 3m. For those reasons he’s worth taking on.
High class staying hurdler Sam Spinner won all three starts over fences last season, including two here. He wasn’t seen out after winning a Grade 2 novices chase at Doncaster last December. No issues with ground but will his jumping hold up against more experienced rivals.
Kim Bailey opts to send Vinndication here rather than Ascot. A winner at Ascot on his seasonal return. He wasn’t seen out until the Cheltenham Festival when he put in a great weight carrying performance when 4th of 23 in the Ultima Handicap Chase. The 7-year-old has just six starts over fences and capable of better.
Ballyoptic won this 12 months ago and put in career best on RPR’s when carrying top-weight to victory in an Ascot handicap in February. Must concede a 6lb penalty to all but Cyrname but the softer the ground the better for him and although he had the benefit of recent run 12 months ago has won fresh in the past.
Defintely Red won this in 2018, well beaten 12 months ago and can’t be discounted.
Aye Right was an eyecatcher over an inadequate 2m 1f at Kelso 27-days ago. Outpaced coming to two out he rallied and stayed on well all the way to line to finish runner-up to Nuts Well. Remains unexposed over fences and although this a tough ask for the 7-year-old he should give a good account of himself and could get into the money.
Ascot
1:20 – Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) – 2m 3f
The ante post betting is headed by Dr Sanderson broke his maiden tag over fences at the fifth attempt when winning under top-weight at Plumpton 12 days ago. Just 7lb higher and looks capable of winning more races off his new mark. Best form on good or good to soft.
Dorking Boy made a good start to chasing career when runner-up at Exeter 11-days ago. It was good to firm at Exeter but his winning form over hurdles came on soft ground. Should the ground ease further he would need respecting!
Nicky Henderson who saddled the winner of the race in 2018, had a couple of entries at the five-day stage and he relies on Falco Blitz who won over hurdles here last season and makes his handicap chase debut off a fair enough mark.
1:55 – tote.co.uk Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (Class 1) – 2m 1f
Just the nine declared at the five-day stage but eight have stood their ground which is good news for each way punters. As with previous race it’s hard to look beyond the front end of the betting
Capeland won a handicap chase over C&D last November. Was unlucky in this race 12 months when taken out at the last by stablemate and eventual winner Diego Du Charmil. Now 7lb higher than for that C&D win but remains the one to beat.
Ibleo returned from an 838-day absence to win his first two starts over fences at Wincanton & Huntingdon. Maybe found 2m 4f to far when beaten favourite back at the latter venue. Goes well fresh but best form has come on soft or heavy ground. Trainer Venetia Williams saddled the winner of this race in 2013 & 2015.
Flaminger made it 3-6 over fences when winning at Fontwell on his seasonal reappearance 28-days ago. Another who’s best form has so far come on soft or heavy ground. Remains open to further improvement over fences. Little Light was a well beaten third at Fontwell but will be sharper for that run and Jack Tudor takes off a handy 5lb.
3:05 – Sodexo Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) (Class 1) – 1m 7 ½ f
Two of my initial for the race weren’t declared but one does run.
Countister has been lightly raced since finishing third in the 2018 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Probably on a competitive mark but she needed the run on her seasonal return last season.
Kid Commando a useful bumper horse won his hurdle debut at Plumpton (soft) and then finished 3rd of 9 in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices Hurdle at Kempton. Handicap hurdle debut and open to further improvement. Won first time up last autumn so fitness shouldn’t be a problem.
Course & distance winner Malaya has run some of her best races at Ascot. Goes well on soft and is just 2lb her last winning mark. Capable of going close if ready to roll.
Sebastopol made it 2-5 over hurdles when winning a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Musselburgh 273-days ago. Both wins going right-handed and looks like there could more progress to come from the 6-year-old this season. Won on his seasonal return last season so fitness shouldn’t be an issue if he’s good enough.
Hang In There won two of his three starts over hurdles last season but struggled in better company on his final two starts. Wasn’t given a hard race on his seasonal return at Fontwell 28-days ago and the better ground will suit him better. Not without a chance, if bouncing back to last autumns best.
3:40 – Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 3m
No Cyrname or Vinndication, who both head to Wetherby, but the race has still attracted a competitive field of fourteen handicap chasers.
Commanche Red beat Simply The Betts in a novices handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas. Before returning to that venue to finish third in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices Chase. Handicapped to win races but has yet to race beyond 2m 4 ½ f, so stamina for a strongly run 3m is a bit of an unknown. Yard having a quiet autumn.
Whatmore is 1-6 over fences and finished fourth in valuable handicap chases at Kempton and the Cheltenham Festival. Just the two starts over 3m but shaped at Kempton like a stiff 3m would suit provided the ground isn’t too soft. Looks a big handicap chase winner in the waiting.
Plenty of C&D winners in the race.
Course & distance winner Regal Encore rarely runs a bad race here and has a decent chance. Militarian is just 1lb higher than when over C&D last November. This is a much hotter race though for his seasonal return.
Valtor won a valuable C&D handicap chase on his first start for Nicky Henderson back in December 2018, off 2lb lower and won a novice hurdle here on his seasonal return last season. Showed his liking for the track once more when second to Ballyoptic over C&D in February. The more rain the better his chance.
Black Corton is a previous C&D winner and finished a 3rd of 16 in this race 12 months ago. He’s 2lb lower this time around and the top-weight seems sure to give his running again.
Mister Malarky won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices Chase over C&D two seasons back. Was well beaten in this race 12 months ago before finishing a respectable 6th of 24 in the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury. Went on to win a valuable 3m handicap chase at Kempton, beating Black Corton into second, in February. Last seen pulling up at the Cheltenham Festival. The form of the Colin Tizzard yard is a concern but the 7-year-old is capable landing another nice handicap put this season when getting no worse than good to soft ground.
Down Royal
2:25 – Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) – 3m
Nine stand their ground for the first Grade 1 of the National Hunt season either side of the Irish Sea. Gordon Elliott saddles four in Delta Work, The Storyteller, Ravenhill and Presenting Percy. The latter named is having his first start for the trainer since moving stables and it will be interesting to see what Elliot can do this season with the talented 9-year-old.
Grade 1 winner Delta Work is top on official ratings and heads the ante post betting. The 7-year-old ran poorly in this race 12 months but if ready to roll is the one to beat.
Henry De Bromhead saddles two in: Chris’s Dream & Balko Des Flos. The former is the clear the pick of his pair and although he was well beaten in the Gold Cup, he’s a much better horse after a break and goes well right handed. Has 6lb to find with Delta Work but he could take this if the favourite needs the run.
The Storyteller and Tout Est Permis were first and second in a Grade 3 at Punchestown 17-days ago. The winner won on merit that day but Tout Est Permis was conceding race fitness and I wouldn’t be surprised if he reversed placings here. He’s only seven and although he’s got a bit to find on OR’s I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran into the places.
3:00 – Lough Construction Ltd. Chase – 2m 3 ½ f
Not on ITV and only five have been declared but it’s a race of quality.
Cheltenham Festival winner Samcro makes his seasonal reappearance. He’s the headline act but does face three decent second season chasers.
Battleofdoyen won first time up last season. A 3m Grade 1 winning novice chaser at Leopardstown last season he wasn’t disgraced when 4th of 10 in the RSA Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. May find one or two a bit to quick over this trip.
Easy Game runner-up to Faugheen in a Grade 1 in February. Was beaten when falling at the last in the RSA. He has race fitness on his side, having already had three runs this summer and last time out put in a career best on RPR’s when beating The Storyteller by 7 lengths in a Grade 2 at Gowran Park. This is his trip and he looks sure to go close.
Sizing Pottsie has just had the four starts over fences and his form figures are U11F. The 6-year-old really impressed when winning a 2m Grade 3 at Navan in March. Fell two out on his final start at Thurles later that month. A bad mistake at the 7th seemed to knock his confidence of this normally good jumper. First start beyond 2m 2f but should stay this far although may prefer softer ground. If none the worse for his Thurles mishap he should win more races this season.
Cheers
John