Hi all,
It’s a case of quality action on the flat and over jumps today. At Sandown we have the Group 2 bet365 Mile (3.00), the Group 3 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (2:25) and there could be classic clues on offer in the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial (3.35).
It’s day four of the Punchestown Festival and we have two Group 1’s. The Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5:25) and the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6:00). It’s the final day of Perth’s three day BetVictor Festival with the feature race being the BetVictor Highland National Handicap Chase (2:05).
The ITV Racing cameras are covering four races from Sandown and two from Perth on a six race programme this afternoon.
Punchestown Festival – Day 4
Not the best of betting cards for me anyway with just one handicap on an eight card. The highlights are two Grade 1’s and a Grade 2 Mares Chase (4:50). The latter races see’s Impervious bid to follow up her Cheltenham Mares’ Chase success.
Champion Hurdle runner-up State Man face five rivals Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5:25). A reproduction of his Cheltenham performance should be good enough for him to gain a fifth Grade 1. Vauban has finished behind State Man on all three starts this season and has 6 ½ length to find on their running in the Champion Hurdle. Although I don’t expect him to beat State Man, I think this previous C&D winner could get much closer than he has done previously.
The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6:00) looks a penalty kick for impressive Ballymore winner Impaire Et Passe. He’ll be long odds on to follow up his Cheltenham success and I will be mazed if he’s beaten here.
4:15 – EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase – 2m 5f
An interesting handicap chase where the front two in the betting come into the race with question marks.
So Scottish might just have needed the run after 4 months lay off when a 10 ½ length 7th of 23 to Seddon in Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Still unexposed over fences and trainer Emmett Mullins had a winner her earlier in the week. I think he will prove at his best on a sounder surface.
Kilcruit a winner of a beginners’ chase here (2m 3 ½ f) on his debut over fences he’s come up short in Grade 1 company on his last two starts. Good record at Punchestown 3 from 4 is a plus but he ultimately disappointed over hurdles. Dropped in class for his handicap chase debut though and respected. Yard bids for a fifth successive win in the race and seventh win since 2015.
Life In the Park gained a second hurdle success when winning a handicap hurdle at this meeting last year. Made a winning chase debut Listowel last September and bounced back from a poor run to finish a useful 2 ¾ length 3rd of 6 to Thedevilscoachman in Grade 3 novice at Limerick last month. One to be interested on handicap chase debut after his latest run.
Grandero Bello finished one place and a neck in front of Life In the Park at Limerick. The third was having his first start for five months that day though and is arguably open to more improvement of the pair. Grandero Bello gets the first time tongue tie for his handicap chase debut and isn’t discounted. Yard saddled the winner of the race in 2012.
Slip Of The Tongue was a 6 ¾ length 3rd of 16 to Grandero Bello in a Gowran Park beginners’ chase two starts back. The 6-year-old didn’t build on that promise when only 8th of 12 on handicap chase debut at Navan (2m 7 ½ f) last month. Drop back in trip is a plus and this dual hurdle winner remains capable of better performance over fences.
Sit Down Lucy, a useful handicap hurdler, won on chase debut at Galway in September and might have needed the run after a 98-day lay off when an ultimately well beaten 5th of 7 in a Listed mares chase at Fairyhouse 20-days ago. Could go well on handicap debut at big odds.
Sandown
It was being described as heavy, soft in places on Wednesday for Sandown’s first flat fixture of the season. The forecast testing ground meant that just 39 horses were declared for a seven race card.
Just four were left in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (2:25). Adayar a top class colt when winning the 2021 Derby & King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot only ran twice last season but was an excellent ½-length 2nd of 9 to Bay Bridge in Champion Stakes at Ascot on the second of those runs. He get’s 5lb from the progressive Anmaat who completed a hat trick when winning the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp last October. It won’t be easy to give Adayar 5lb but could make up to Group 1 performer this season.
Seven have been declared for the Group 2 bet365 Mile (3:00). This looks a good opportunity for the Group 1 placed 4-year-old Light Infantry to add to his two juvenile successes. He has to concede race fitness to recent Lincoln winner Migration who will like the ground but does have 10lb to find with Light Infantry on Official Ratings.
I’m not sure if there will be many classic clues on offer in the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial (3:35). Just five have been declared for the race which was won Westover last year.
Juddmonte who own Westover have this year’s likely favourite in Arrest. The son Frankel ended last season with an improved head 2nd of 9 to Dubai Mile in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Capable of further progress this season and he could emerge as a serious Derby contender should he win this in good style.
All four of Arrest’s rivals are open to further improvement including Group 3 Zetland Stakes winner Flying Honours and Salt Bay.
Salt Bay impressed when winning his racecourse debut at Haydock and ended last season with an improved 1 ¾ length 3rd of 7 to Proud And Regal in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. He handled heavy ground at Saint-Cloud, can do well as 3-year-old and comes from the Ralph Beckett yard who won last year’s race.
Circle Of Fire looked a nice prospect when winning at Salisbury last September. It was quick ground when he won last time and today’s underfoot conditions are unknown territory for the son of Almanzor who’s bred to appreciate middle distance as a 3-year-old.
Rest of the Sandown card
The testing ground has meant just five were declared for the first race on ITV the bet365 Esher Cup Handicap (1:50). The sponsors have made C&D winner Local Dynasty the 10/11 favourite slight odds against elsewhere. The colt ended last season winning a Listed race at Pontefract and is open to further improvement stepped up to 1m 2f as a 3-year-old. He handled soft ground when winning her last autumn and even under top weight of 9-9 will be tough to beat. His biggest rival looks to be Legend Of Leros who handled heavy ground when winning on his juvenile second start at Doncaster last autumn. He has fitness on his side having finished a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 5 to the potentially smart Slipofthepen at Kempton 18-days ago and might get an uncontested lead here.
Perth
On a day with surprisingly few good betting opportunities. I’m hoping that Perth’s two ITV races can provide something.
1:30 – Lengthen The Odds At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle – 2m
Ginger Mail won a handicap hurdle at Ayr on his seasonal return and has mostly remained in form since. Ran as well as ever when a ½-length 2nd of 7 at Ayr last time. He’s been nudged up 4lb for his latest effort but the cheekpieces go on for the first time and he has a favourites chance here. Cuban Cigar responded well to the fitting of the first time cheekpieces when gaining a second success over hurdles at Musselburgh last month and despite a 4lb rise in the weights should give his running once more. Trainer Ruth Jefferson had a winner here on Wednesday, so her runner Inca Prince needs respecting. The 5-year-old, a three time winner as a juvenile, has struggled so far this season but the first time visor replaces the hood and is now 1lb below his last winning mark.
2:05 – BetVictor Highland National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 6 ½ f
Concetto looked moderate over hurdles but has improved for going over fences. Jumped well to win on chase/handicap debut (2m 4f) at Huntingdon and followed up on the step up to three miles at Musselburgh last month. Beaten by an improver at Ludlow last time but he remains open to further progress over the larger obstacles.
Gentleman De Mai has finished runner-up on both chase starts. He’s not the most straight forward and the visor replaces the cheekpieces today. Up 2lb for his latest run but has shown enough to think he can win races over fences. Stablemate Rath An Iuir pulled up in last year’s race but stays well and wasn’t disgraced when 5th of 13 to Kitty’s Light in the Eider Chase two starts back. He might need softer ground and despite jockey bookings I prefer the claims of Gentleman De Mai.
Destiny Is All proved his stamina for 3m 5f when a 5 ½ length 2nd of 10 to course specialist Volcano at Warwick last month. Does not want to get too far back at a track like this but looks set for another good run for an inform yard.
Planned Paradise, a winner at Worcester last summer responded. Well to the fitting of the first time cheekpieces when a 4 length 2nd of 11 to Quick Wave in the London National (3m 5f) at Sandown in December. Possibly needed the run back from a 103 day break when only 6th of 14 at Haydock 20-days ago. Now 2lb lower than in the London National and has potential for improvement returned to marathon trips. If he’s ridden more prominently than usual then I can see him going really well.
Just Don’t Know produced a good effort on his first start beyond 3m 1f when a 9 ½ length 4th of 13 to Magna Sam in the Edinburgh National (3m 7 ½ f). The 10-year-old then gained a fourth win over fences when beating a sole rival at Ayr last month. Not as good at Kempton seven days later when the race may have come too quickly. He’s not out of this for all there may be stronger stayers at the finish.
Betting Advice:
Punchestown
4:15 – Grandero Bello – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Sandown
1:50 – Legend Of Leros – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Perth
2:05 – Planned Paradise – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Gentleman De Mai – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Ladbrokes
Cheers
John