Hi all,
Janet my partner was in hospital for some surgery on Friday, so this preview isn’t as detailed as I would like.
A bumper day of high class racing its Trials Day at Cheltenham and there’s Premier Racing Day at Doncaster. The highlights of an eight-race card are three Grade 2 contests and the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (3.15). The latter race offers £100,000 in guaranteed prize money and is likely to be one the most competitive races at either track.
ITV Racing cover five races from Cheltenham and a further three from Doncaster on the main ITV channel. Sadly, only three of the ITV races have more than seven runners. Mind you, small fields don’t have to mean unexciting races.
Let’s begin Saturday Preview at Cheltenham.
Cheltenham
The first two races and the final race on the card are not live on ITV.
12:05 – JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m 1f
Seven have been declared for this Grade 2 at looks a match between Burdett Road and Sir Gino. Both juveniles are unbeaten over hurdles and capable of better in the sphere. However, I will be disappointed if Burdett Road, who should be suited by better ground, can’t maintain his unbeaten record.
12:40 – Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
With twelve set to meet the starter it’s a shame this competitive handicap isn’t on ITV.
Paul Nicholls won this with Stage Star 12 months ago and he could be set for back-to-back successes with Ginny’s Destiny. The 8-year-old has won his last two starts here and is capable of further improvement over fences.
Theatre Man has placed on both starts over the larger obstacles and will surely win races off his present mark. However, he does need to settle better than he did at Newbury last month.
Happy And Fine bids for a hat trick after win at Leicester and Haydock. He’s a solid jumper of a fences and an 8lb rise shouldn’t stop the 7-year-old running well. Both wins chase successes have come on testing ground. If the better ground doesn’t inconvenience him, he can get into the money.
1:15 – Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – (Class 1) – 2m 4 ½ f
Il Ridoto will be popular with punters in his bid for back-to-back wins in this race especially after his short head defeat to Fugitif in last month’s Virgin Bet December Gold Cup over C&D. He’s got solid claims of going one better than last time and the 4/1 whilst skinny enough is fair.
Grandeur D’Ame was 10 lengths back in 4th in the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup. An 8lb pull in the weights shouldn’t be enough to finish in front of Il Ridoto but he’s entitled to finish much closer.
I thought Victtorino would head for the big 3m handicap chase at Doncaster so it’s interesting that trainer Venetia Williams opts to drop him trip and come here instead. He’s won both this season’s starts at Ascot (3m). Good/good to soft ground suits the improving 6-year-old and a 4lb rise might not prevent the hat trick, if he’s as good going this way around and on this more undulating track.
Excello a winner over fences when trained in France got off the mark at the second attempt for Nicky Henderson when beating two rivals at Ascot last month. This is a much tougher ask than the Graduation Chase he won last time but he’s open to further progress and must be respected.
If you’re looking for one at bigger odds, you could do worse than Straw Fan Jack. The 9-year-old has won round here in the past and was a 12-length 4th to Banbridge in a Grade 1 at Aintree last April. He was poor last time but on a going day has the form to be competitive back in handicap company.
1:50 – Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) – 3m 1 ½ f
Just the six runners but it’s a competitive race despite the small field. Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille must give weight to all but one of his rivals. The ground is likely to be similar to what it was at Haydock, but he has to convince me Cheltenham suits hm as well as Haydock.
Ahoy Senor won this 12 months ago, but he’s been poor on both this season’s starts.
The Real Whacker wasn’t disgraced when a 10-length 4th to Hewick in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last time. A return to front running will suit and he could bounce back to something like his best but needs to.
Datsalrightgino won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time. Looks worth his place in the line-up and he’s capable of better over fences.
Paul Nicholls throws novice chaser Stay Away Fay in the deep end here. Last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner at the Festival has won both his starts over fences. A tough ask against more experienced chasers but you must respect the trainer’s decision.
Irish challenger Capodanno isn’t dismissed either. The 8-year-old was back to form last time when a 23-length 3rd of 8 to Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown. A Grade 1 winning novice two seasons back if he builds on his latest effort, he wouldn’t be far away with better ground looking a plus.
2:25 – My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) – 2m ½ f
Rescheduled from last Saturday’s abandoned Ascot card. Nicky Henderson will be delighted that the race has been salvaged as it’s a penalty kick for Jonbon who faces just four rivals. In truth it’s a race that didn’t have to be run and adds nothing to the competitiveness of the Cheltenham card.
Editeur Du Gite was back to winning ways in a Grade 2 at Kempton last time and won this race last year. Should Jonbon underperform he looks the one most likely to take advantage.
3:00 – Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) – 2m 1f
Lossiemouth won the Triumph Hurdle over C&D at the festival and makes her seasonal return here. Love Envoi was runner-up to Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival. She sets a high standard, but you would be disappointed if Lossiemouth can’t make a winning return to action.
3:35 – McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) – 3m
Paisley Park has finished runner-up on both this season’s starts and won this three times between 2019 & 2022.
Dashel Drasher beat Paisley Park at Newbury but was one place behind his old rival at Ascot last time. Runner up 12 months ago he also occupied the same position in the Stayers Hurdle at the Festival. Should give his running but has six lengths to find with Paisley Park. He’s likeable and consistent and if his rivals allow him an easy lead, he’s tough to pass. He’s not certain to get a lead though with Strong Leader in the line-up. The 7-year-old ran poorly here on heavy ground on New Year’s Day but the cheekpieces go on for the first time and he’s suited to good/good to soft ground. He can’t be ruled out in a trappy race.
There’s been money around this week for Grand National winner Noble Yeats. He’s just had the two starts over hurdles but f he can translate his improved chase from to the smaller obstacles he would take the beating.
Botax Has is dual course winner in the past he finished 11 lengths behind Paisley Park last time but he’s better going left-handed and the first visor is applied. If the headgear change works, he’s not of this.
Flight Deck was just two lengths behind Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park at Newbury last time. A reproduction of that run would give him place claims. He’s done well here in the past and because he’s with a small yard he looks overpriced. The 25/1 that was available on Thursday has gone but he still makes each way appeal with bookies playing three places.
4:10 – SS Super Alloys Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Classic Novices’ Hurdle) (Class 1) – 2m 4 ½ f
I think Gidleigh Park, unbeaten on both hurdle starts, is the best British novice hurdler we have seen this season and I expect him to show that by winning this. His main market rival is Johnnywho who a 2-length 4th of 9 to Captain Teague in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury last time. That form looks solid and according to Racing Post Ratings is 4lb better than Gidleigh Park has so far achieved but the latter is open to more improvement. He was a best priced 6/1 on Thursday, compared to 5/4 for Gidleigh Park, so you could have argued that Johnnywho represented the better value of the pair but I still think Gidleigh Park could be special.
Doncaster
The ground has dried out to good, good to soft in places at Doncaster. Despite those conditions the field sizes for the 8 races have held up remarkably well. Ok Cheltenham Trial Day is the focus for today’s big race attention, but I think Doncaster’s is even more competitive and we do have the one of the leading fancies for the Supreme Novices Hurdle in Jeriko Du Reponet running in the Grade 2 SBK Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (1:30).
2:05 – SBK Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m ½ f
The first of the live ITV races from the track. The Willie Mullins pair of Ashroe Diamond and Gala Marceau head the betting. There’s not much between the pair on Official Ratings but Ashroe Diamond does have race fitness on her side.
2:40 – Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – 3m ½ f
Welcom To Cartries got off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles when winning an Ascot maiden hurdle last month. He looks a nice prospect and the step up to 3m should elicit more improvement from the 6-year-old.
Destroytheevidence and Kerryhill were second and fourth respectively behind the useful Shanagh Bob in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month. Kerryhill has 6 lengths to find with Destroytheevidence but that was just Kerryhill’s second start over hurdles and of the two he’s open to the more improvement. If he’s as good on better ground I think he can win this for a trainer whose father won this race in 2014.
3:15 – SBK Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) – 3m
It’s good to see given the prize money on offer 18 runners set to line-up. A very competitive renewal with plenty in with a chance.
Famous Bridge is bidding for the hat trick after a couple wins at Haydock over slightly further than 3m. Not sure the drop to 3m on goodish ground is what the 8-year-old wants though. Trainer Nicky Richards is 1-4, 3 places with his runners in the race in the past 10 years.
Surrey Quest is also seeking the hat trick after wins at Huntingdon and latterly Newbury. Like Famous Bridge he’s another who may need further than a bare three miles. That said given his present vein of form the hat trick could be on.
Forward Plan built on the promise of his seasonal reappearance when winning over C&D last month. That race was marred by omitted fences, but the 8-year-old goes well on flat galloping tracks and a 4lb rise may not prevent the follow up.
Erne River bounced back to winning ways over C&D last month. The application first time cheekpieces seemed to have the desired effect last time. Will they work a second time? On the plus side the 9-year-old has produced some of his best performances at Doncaster.
Cooper’s Cross had Cap Du Nord a length back in second when winning last year’s race. Cooper’s Cross has been running on unsuitable ground, and inadequate trips so far, this season which means he’s just 3lb above last year’s winning mark. He looks big at 16/1 and the drying ground is very much in his favour.
Cap Du Nord is handicapped to finish in front of Cooper’s Cross. He’s been well out of form so far this season but has tumbled down the weights. He could be gone at the game but the 16/1 available earlier this week has gone and he’s now half those odds.
Annual Invictus’ jumping will be tested but there was plenty to like about his 2 ¼ lengths 4th of 8 to Transmission at Plumpton over hurdles on his seasonal return 20 days ago. He should be spot on fitness wise and seems at his best on good ground.
Latitude is another who goes well on a sound surface. He’s been doing most of his running right-handed but tends to jump left-handed as he did at Kempton. Three miles on a galloping track like Doncaster 14 days ago. I think there’s a decent handicap chase pot in the 8-year-old.
Betting Advice:
My final selections and betting advice will be with you in the morning.
Cheers
John