Hi all,
Another profitable Saturday and I’m going to try to win some more money from the bookies on Sunday.
The race of the day is across the Irish Sea at Naas where the feature race is the Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase (4:52). There’s €59,000 on offer to the winner of the Leinster National and this year’s race has attracted 14 runners
Naas
There are also two Grade 3’s on the Naas card. The first the Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (2:32) see’s an odds on favourite in Irish Point.
Irish Point was 16 ¼ lengths 4th of 6 to Il Etait Temps in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month and takes a drop in class here.
The other Grade 3 is the Bar One Racing “Extra Places At Cheltenham” Directors Plate Novice Chase (4:17).
Journey With Me wasa ½-length 2nd of 6 to Impervious in the Grade 3 Killiney Novices’ Chase at Punchestown last time. That’s the best form on offer and the 7-year-old remains capable of more progress over fences.
Limerick Lace followed up her Downpatrick novice chase success with a win on her handicap chase debut over C&D 14-days ago. She gets the 7lb mares allowance and has to be respected.
Winning hurdler Flanking Maneuver made a very promising chase debut when a 1¼ lengths 3rd of 9 to Churchstonewarrior in a Grade 2 at Navan (3m) last month. The 8-year-old travelled well that day and although he’s dropping back in trip is very much in the mix.
Former high class hurdler Saldier is a later starter over fences but the 9-year-old jumped well to win a beginners chase at Thurles on his chase debut last month. He’s open to further improvement over fences and although he maybe better over shorter he cant be ruled out.
4:52 – Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase (Grade A) – 3m ½ f
Milan Native was formerly a very useful chaser three seasons back, but he’s started to look regressive. The 2020 Cheltenham Festival winner (Kim Muir) hasn’t won since beating two rivals at Galway in October 2020. Hard to make a case for him but he’s getting helps from the handicapper it and it wouldn’t be the first time a Gordon Elliott trained handicap chaser has returned to form out of the blue.
The Tack Room got off the mark at the firth attempt over fences when winning a handicap chase at Fairyhouse 46-days ago. Has a 11lb rise in the weight to contend with now but he’s only had 11 starts under rules and is capable of better. Stamina for 3m to be proved but there’s a good chance he’ll stay.
Now Where Or When put in a much improved display when 1½ lengths 3rd of 8 to Kemboy in the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse 15-days ago. The handicapper has raised him 8lb for that effort which looks lenient to me. Slight concern that this race will come to quick for the 8-year-old but if it doesn’t, he’s got a big chance.
Espanito Bello looked a novice chaser going places when beating Coko Beach by 18 lengths here (2m 3f) in a beginners chase in December 2020. That was his third course win and although he hasn’t been at his best since there was a lot more to like about his 10 length 5th of 18 in the Thyestes Chase last time.
Captain CJ looked a very useful staying novice chaser when running Minello Indo to 1 ½ length at Navan in January 2020 and then going onto win a Grade 2 at that track the following month. The 12-year-old returned from a 26 month layoff with a respectable 15½ lengths 9th of 19 over hurdles at Gowran Park 22-days ago. The first time cheekpieces are applied for a return to fences and there’s no doubt he’s on a good mark for a yard 3-9 in the past 14-days.
Verdict: I wouldn’t be shocked if Milan Native was to bounce back to form from a falling mark. The Tack Room is the potential improver in the field if he stays 3m. He’s a bit short for me as is Espanito Bello who ran with a degree of promise in the Thyestes Handicap Chase last time and is on a winnable mark for a yard who could be celebrating a Cheltenham winner next week. The market seems to be underestimating Now Where Or When’s improved performance behind Kemboy last time but I’m not. Captain CJ is back over fences in the first time headgear on his second start after a long absence and is an interesting outsider although not as big a price as I was expecting.
Now Where Or When – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Captain CJ – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Bet365
Besides the big race at Naas there’s another competitive handicap chase at Warwick.
Warwick
4:10 – Carol’s, Eddie’s & Dan’s Special Birthdays Handicap Chase – 3m 5f
Lucinda Russell has her horses in tremendous form – 10 winners from 26 runners in the past 14 days. The Scottish trainer brings down Destiny Is All from her Perthshire base. The 9-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when a head 2nd of 11 to Tile Tapper at Carlisle 20-days ago. The first time cheekpieces had the desired effect last time and although he’s been raised 5lb the step up to 3m 5f can hopefully eke out a bit more improvement.
Volcano has won the last two running’s of this race and indeed four of his five chase successes have come around here. He’s 5lb higher than when winning 12 months ago but must have a good chance of landing the hat trick.
Samuel Jackson has been waiting for softer ground and the recent rain /snow has come at the right time for the 11-year-old. Granted he hasn’t won since landing the Devon National in February 2021 but he’s now 4lb below his last winning mark. Back to form effort when a 16 ¼ length 3rd of 11 over hurdles last month. Step back up in trip is a positive and I think he can go well.
Hold That Thought doesn’t always convince with his jumping which isn’t a positive around here. However, Venetia Williams has applied the first time cheekpieces and of the headgear works then 8-year-old is back down to a good mark.
Verdict: Volcano’s C&D form means you can never rule him out and he could be worth a saver if he went to 5/1 given he’s likely been trained for the race. Destiny Is All is a worthy enough market leader and this marathon trip could being out further improvement in him. Samuel Jackson likes to be ridden prominently so this track could suit and he’s down to a winnable mark and he’ll do for me just ahead of Volcano.
Samuel Jackson – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
These are my last three selections until Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. I’m getting stuck into the Cheltenham handicaps now, and I can’t wait to get my first preview out to you. Which should be with you on Monday evening.
Cheers
John