Hi all,
Less said about yesterday the better. Not for the first time I got involved in some races that I shouldn’t but I’m sure it won’t be the last time either. Moving onto some better racing today with a couple of interesting handicap chases at Exeter, including the marathon Devon National (3:10) and at Warwick there’s a competitive Class 2 handicap chase (3:53). I have selections m both meetings.
Exeter
The going at Exeter is being described as soft.
1:30 – Dartmoor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) – 3m
Last year Springfield Fox made all to win this novices’ handicap chase. This year’s renewal has attracted a small field but you can make a case for all six runners.
Hold That Thought heads the early betting. The 6-year-old has shaped well on all of three starts over fences and put in a career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 7 at Chepstow 48-days ago. A 3lb rise in the weights for that effort is fine and he’s capable of more improvement. He’s the one to beat in what looks a tight handicap.
Highland Hunter a useful handicap hurdler was making his debut over fences in the Chepstow race. He ran well to a point that day but was booked for third when falling at the last. He’s boosted that form when winning a novices’ handicap chase at Carlisle 10-days ago. He’s got a 7lb penalty for that success and is progressive but looks held by Hold The Thought.
Welsh Saint twice a winner on heavy ground over hurdles last season. The 7-year-old was sent off 11/8 favourite for his chase debut over C&D last month but unseated his jockey at the second. Finished 3rd of 8 in a Ffos Las novice chase 22-days ago. Needs to improve his jumping to win but should at least be suited by the step into handicap company for the first time.
Dolphin Square finished runner-up in the C&D novice chase where Welsh Saint departed early on. The 7-year-old won his maiden hurdle here and was a very useful handicap hurdler last season. He gets the first time cheekpieces for his handicap chase debut and can’t be dismissed if finding his best hurdle form. Although he may want better ground.
Verdict: He’s not much of a price but I will be disappointed if Hold The Thought can’t win a handicap chase off his present mark.
3:10 – Dartmoor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) – 3m 4 ½ f
Fifteen have been declared for a competitive looking renewal and is likely to be a good stamina test.
Samuel Jackson looked a progressive staying handicap chaser when winning over today’s trip at Taunton in March 2019. He showed a good attitude to win that day. The 9-year-old missed all last season and never got competitive on his first two this season over hurdles. The former course winner fared much better back over fences when 2nd of 12 over an inadequate 3m here last month. He’s now 9lb below his last winning mark and has great chance back up in trip.
Special Acceptance has improved with each of his five starts over fences this season. Showed he has the stamina for today’s distance when runner-up in the Sussex National last month and showed he remained progressive when finishing runner-up at Doncaster back over 3m, 27-days ago. Nudged up 4lb for that effort but is on the upgrade and needs respecting.
Christmas In April won this 12 months ago, off 6lb lower. That makes life much tougher but he can never be ruled out in these Regional Nationals.
Dawson City won this in 2018 & 2019 but was pulled up 12 months ago. The 12-year-old took advantage of a handy mark last month when winning the Somerset National under today’s jockey Millie Wonnacott. He’s up 5lb but remains on a good mark and given his race record has to be respected.
The Henry Daly yard has been quiet of late and could do with a winner but he’s got one here who could be on a good mark in Head To The Stars. The 10-year-old won at the ninth attempt over fences, at Ludlow (1lb higher) last February. That win came over 3m but it was stamina that won him the day at Ludlow. He’s pulled up on all three starts this though so his current well being had to be taken on trust but this is his second start since a wind-op and Richard Johnson up for the first time.
Verdict: Previous race winners Christmas In April & Dawson City must be respected. Special Acceptance remains on the upgrade. Attractively weighted Samuel Jackson comes into the race in good form and will be suited by a return to today’s distance. It’s hard to be confident about the well being of Head To The Stars, given he’s pulled on all the three starts this season, but he’s on a good mark if/when he bounces back to form.
1pt win – Special Acceptance – 6/1 @ Bet365
Warwick
The going at Warwick is soft, good to soft in places.
3:53 – Budbrooke Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 4f
Nine are declared for an interesting handicap chase which was won 12 months ago by Springtown Lake who bids for back-to-back victories in the race.
Precious Cargo won one of his five starts over fences last season. Winning a Haydock novice chase on debut over the larger obstacles before finishing runner-up, beaten a short head by Moonlighter on his handicap chase debut at Newbury. Didn’t have the pace to trouble Rouge Vif and Nube Negra when third in last season’s Grade 2 Kingmaker Chase here over 2m. He shaped like he needed further that day but he didn’t totally prove his stamina when falling at the last in the 2m 4f novices handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Brushed aside by Master Tommytucker on his seasonal reappearance at Huntingdon in November. First run since that day and this is also his first start since a wind-op.
Springtown Lake won this race easily, off 5lb lower. The 9-year-old made a promising return to action when runner-up to Modus at Aintree in November. Not so good over the National fences when only 5th of 18 in the Grand Sefton back at the same venue. Probably didn’t stay 3m when well beaten last time in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Bay. Blinkers on for the first time here
Champagne Court is the most intriguing runner in the race. The 8-year-old won his first two start over fences last season and finished 5th behind Simply The Betts at Cheltenham and 8th behind Imperial Aura in the novices’ handicap back there at the Cheltenham Festival. Was never travelling when pulled up in the Badger Beers Trophy Handicap Chase (6/1) at Wincanton on his seasonal reappearance and hasn’t reached last years best form on either start since. All this season’s starts have been over 2m 6f + and he didn’t stay 3m 2f at Newbury last time. Return to 2m 4f, both chase wins at around the distance, looks worth a go and the first time cheekpieces are applied. He’s now 3lb below his last winning mark.
Verdict: I had hoped Champagne Court would be a few points bigger than a best priced 6/1 but he’s dropped down to a good mark and looks the one to be with, ahead of Precious Cargo.
1pt win – Champagne Court – 6/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John