Hi all,
Some high-class performers on show today. The Shishkin & Energumene clash is on Ascot in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase (3:35). Up at Haydock Jonbon bids to enhance his Supreme Novice Hurdle claims in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (1:25) and later on the card Royale Pagaille is the ante post favourite to gain back-to-back to wins in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2:35).
Like yesterday I’m concentrating on those races where I have selections.
Ascot
1:45 – SBK Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m 3 ½ f
Garry Clermont put in a career best when a 3 ¼ length 3rd of 12 to Tritonic in the valuable Betfair Exchange Trophy here last time. He stays this longer trip, is effective on rain softened ground and should go close.
Steller Magic returned from a 10-month layoff and looked has good as ever, travelling like he’s on a good mark when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 9 to Up For Parol on his handicap debut at Haydock last month. Up 4lb for his last performance. Both wins over hurdles have come right-handed and he goes well on soft ground. Trainer Philip Hobbs saddled the winner of the race in 2016.
2:55 – bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m 5f
Palmers Hill made it 2-2 over fences this season when winning here over 2m 2 ½ f 35-days ago. He’s been hiked up 8lb for that success but he’s open to further improvement for the step up to this sort of trip and the fourth in that race won nicely at Lingfield yesterday. He goes well on good to soft but really soft ground would be a slight concern.
Fanion D’Estruval is another last time out winner. The 7-year-old built on his fourth placed effort in Old Roan Handicap Chase at Aintree when winning at Newbury 57-days ago. He’s been raised 8lb for his Newbury success but Lucy Turner does take off 7lb.
Phoenix Way is lightly raced for a 9-year-old and he bounced back from a underwhelming run behind Fanion D’Estruval on his seasonal return when a 4 ¼ length 2nd of 13 to Annsam in Silver Cup here last month. That run came over 3m but he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the drop back in trip.
Both Killer Clown’s career wins have come right-handed. The latest of those successes came at Wincanton two weeks ago. Up 7lb for that Wincanton win and in a deeper race today. He’s open to further improvement over fences and showed last time that he can be effective on soft ground as well as a sounder surface.
Haydock
2:35 – Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) – 3m 1 ½ f
Top-weight Royale Pagaille faces nine rivals in his attempt at back-to-back wins in the race. Better than his 22-length 2nd of 7 to A Plus Tard in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase here on his seasonal return. It was only good to soft that day and he’s much better horse on more testing ground as he showed last season.
Empire Steel finished runner-up over C&D on his seasonal return. He was in the process of running a big race in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day when falling four out. I think if he had stood up that day, he would have won that day. He’s only had six starts over fences and is open to further improvement.
Remastered who was going strongly when falling in the Ladbroke Trophy. He had been expected to make amends for that mishap in the Tommy Whittle last time. However, he found the concession of 18lb to the improving Enqarde to much on the day.
Lord Du Mesnil’s form figures at Haydock are 1121. Last season’s Grand National Trial winner here. He had race when runner-up in the Rowland Meyrick last time and maybe be better over further in this company.
I have two other selections one from Haydock and one in the valuable handicap hurdle at Navan.
3:45 – A chance is taken with top weight The Last Day. The 10-year-old is 1lb above his last winning mark which came over 2m at Ascot in November 2019. He’s not been the easiest to keep sound though, as this will only be his third run since that success and his first since making a bad mistake back at Ascot later that month. Both starts last season came over hurdles. He likes plenty of cut in the ground and has win fresh in the past. If Evan Williams has him ready to roll he could surprise some better fancied rivals here.
Navan
1:40 – Damalisque won this handicap hurdle last season and bids to give connections a third successive win the contest. Granted he’s 12lb higher than 12 months ago which makes life tougher but he’s had a couple of decent enough runs this season and this will likely have been the plan for the 9-year-old.
Betting Advice:
Ascot
1:45 – 1pt win – Steller Magic – 9/2 @ Bet365 or 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:55 – 1pt win – Phoenix Way – 6/1 @ Bet365 or 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Haydock
2:35 – 2pts win – Royale Pagaille – 5/2 – Gen
3:35 – 1pt win – The Last Day – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Navan
1:40 – 1pt win – Damalisque – 15/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John