Hi all,
That’s the 2021 Cheltenham Festival completed for another year. That doesn’t mean the big race jumps action is completed. Far from it there’s plenty to enjoy between now and the end off April. Starting today with Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
The turf flat season also starts in Ireland on Sunday with the Irish Lincolnshire and next Saturday it’s the start of the flat season this side of the Irish Sea with the Lincoln Handicap.
Today, it’s back to the jumps. ITV are covering four races from Uttoxeter and three from Kempton and begin today’s preview at the principal meeting at Uttoxeter.
Uttoxeter
2:25 – A competitive novices’ handicap chase which has attracted a field of nine.
St Barts is having his first since a decisive success at Newbury, on just his second start over fences. The 7-year-old has been raised 8lb for that all the way success but is capable of more improvement and looks a decent staying handicap chaser in the making.
Éclair Surf is another last time out winner. The 7-year-old made it 2-4 over fences with a battling success at Sandown. He’s 5lb higher now but is another young staying handicap chaser with more improvement to come. Both chase wins have come on heavy and trainer Emma Lavalle saddled De Rasher Counter to win this in 2019.
Shanty Alley improved to win over C&D (heavy) and then followed up at Doncaster (good to soft). Made a bold bid for the hat trick when runner-up to Midlands Grand National ante post favourite Time To Get Up at Wincanton last month. Nudged up 2lb but his progress may not have ended yet.
Ask Me Early pulled up on his hat trick bid at Sandown last month when beaten favourite (5/4). The 7-year-old had looked progressive before Sandown. Trainer Harry Fry has saddled the winner of this three times since 2015 but the yard form is a slight concern.
Acey Milan was on the heels of the leaders when falling five out in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock last time. He’s not without a chance if his confidence hasn’t been dented by that heavy looking fall.
Seemorelights hasn’t really built on the promise of his Ayr chase debut on two subsequent starts. Seemed to stay 3m over hurdles and so might be open to more progress over today’s trip if he settles.
Verdict: Shanty Alley should give his running and is open to further improvement. St Barts and Éclair Surf are last time out winners with a preference for the latter at the prices.
1pt win – Éclair Surf – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Shanty Alley – 9/2 @ Bet365
3:00 – Dan Skelton has the ante post favourite in Wilde About Oscar. The 6-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when winning a Fontwell Listed novices hurdle last month. Up 10lb but he’s going to the right way and being ground versatile and will be tough to beat here.
Rockadenn got the better of a stablemate when winning at the third attempt since joining Paul Nicholls at Taunton 25-days ago. Up 5lb but the step up to 2m 4f could unlock more progress in the 5-year-old and this race was mentioned by the trainer after Taunton.
Thibault a three-time winner over hurdles but seemed to have improved when finishing 2nd of 15 at Ascot 28-days ago. Up 4lb today but is another on the upgrade.
Verdict: Wilde Of Oscar has a touch of class but a slight preference for the consistent Thibault who ran well at Ascot last time.
1pt win – Thibault – 13/2 @ Bet365
3:35 – Marston’s 61 Deep Midlands Grand National (An Open Handicap Chase) (Listed Race) – 4m 2f
Saturday’s feature race and twenty have been declared for the £67,524 winner’s prize.
Time To Get Up who I strongly fancied for the Kim Muir at the Festival comes here instead. The bookies are taking no chances with this improving staying handicap chaser who is 7/2 at the time of writing this at Friday lunchtime.
Paul Nicholls saddled Truckers Lodge to win this year and besides that one he also saddles Highland Hunter. The 8-year-old won at Carlisle two starts back and improved again when finishing runner-up at Exeter 22-days ago. He shaped on both his last two starts like a stayer and could improve plenty for this marathon trip.
Truckers Lodge has just had two start this season but this has been his likely target since he finished 7th in the Welsh Grand National. Now 12lb higher than for last year’s success
Captain Drake finished runner-up 12 months ago. Won a handicap hurdle here on his seasonal reappearance and bounced back from two low key efforts over fences when 4th of 18 in the Welsh Grand National, off today’s mark. Given his good track form he’s got be big contender back here.
Achille has finished runner-up on his last three starts over fences. The 11-year-old’s consistency means he’s gone up 9lb for not winning. Now 4lb higher than when finishing second in Haydock’s Grand National last month.
Golan Fortune is a late starter over fences. He won on his chase debut at Ludlow and has since run well in Grade 1 & Grade 2 novice chases on his last two starts over the larger obstacles. High class handicap form at 3m over hurdles and if he stays this marathon trip will be in the mix.
Coo Star Sivola has struggled since winning the 2018 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. More encouragement to be gleaned from the 9-year-old’s last two starts at Kempton and latterly when runner-up to Deise Aba at Sandown. On a good handicap mark if his stamina holds out.
Irish trained runners have done well in the race and Screaming Colours comes across the Irish Sea for the race. A winner at Punchestown on his seasonal return he’s finished runner-up on his three subsequent starts all at Punchestown. A clear second in the Irish Grand National Trial last time. It was a career best effort 10-year-old who is a thorough stayer and goes very well in the mud.
Verdict: Time To Get Up could be well ahead of his mark but I can let him win at a best priced 5/2. If he stays this marathon trip Golan Fortune looks on a winnable mark for his handicap chase debut. Irish raider Screaming Colours stays all day and should go well but his best form has come in the mud.
1pt win – Golan Fortune – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Screaming Colours – 7/1 @Bet365 & Paddy Power
Kempton
2:40 – Nightboattoclyro has been well placed to win his last three starts. He’s up 6lb for his last win at Wetherby but I’m not sure the handicapper has a handle on him just yet. Has won on good to soft but is unproven on good though.
Switch Hitter won a C&D novice hurdle (good) in November and ran better than his final position of 8th suggests here on his handicap debut on Boxing Day. First run since but the drying ground is a positive for the 6-year-old.
Didtheyleaveuoutto hasn’t had the best of luck in the past 12 months, falling on three of his hurdles starts, including this race last year. He was going well and closing on the leaders when coming down three out at Chepstow back in October. The 8-year-old returned has action in a couple “jumpers’ bumpers” wasn’t seen to best advantage on the last occasion. He’s on a competitive mark and if he gets a sound surface, which he needs. I’m sure he can win a win a handicap hurdle.
Verdict: Nightboattoclyro’s winning run may not have ended yet. Didtheyleaveuoutto will like the good ground and is handicapped to win a race like this with a clear round.
1pt win – Didtheyleaveuoutto – 6/1 @ Bet365
3:15 – Falco Blitz a good runner-up to Killer Clown over C&D two starts back. He built on that promise when winning at Southwell last month. Up 9lb but there could be more to come from the 7-year-old
My Way responded well to the first blinkers when making all to win over C&D last month. He’s well suited to good ground and despite a 9lb rise in the weight looks capable of another good run if the headgear continues to have a positive effect.
Smarty Wild won over C&D, despite jumping errors, two starts back. Jumping once again let him down at a crucial stage at Warwick last time and had to settle for fifth at the finish. Remains on a competitive mark if he can cut out the jumping errors.
Mellow Ben could find competition for the lead. Set a 2m pace in a 3m handicap here last month. Not surprisingly he wasn’t able to maintain the gallop and weakened out of it three from home. Drop backs to 2m 4f here and is on a winnable mark.
Verdict: Last time out winners Falco Blitz and My Way must be respected. If Smarty Wild cuts out the jumping errors he got major claims. The drop back to 2m 4f could prove ideal for the nicely treated Mellow Ben who like the good ground.
1pt win – Mellow Ben – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John