Hi all,
No luck with Al Muffrih at Wolverhampton and Admiral’s Secret came from just too far back. However, Orkan and Jaisalmer did the business for us at Warwick to make it a profitable day and clawed back some of the weekend’s losses.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week. There’s a good card at Wetherby on Wednesday and decent one at Sandown on Thursday. However, the action really kicks into gear on Saturday and then Sunday.
There is Grade 1 action at Ascot in the Ascot Chase and an excellent undercard of supporting races including the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase and the Listed Swinley Chase.
There’s also a good card at Haydock with feature races being the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle and a likely competitive Grand National Trial Handicap Chase. Ai Wincanton it’s the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle with the likes of Song For Someone and Goshen among the entries.
On Sunday, we have the rescheduled Betfair’s Super Saturday’ Newbury card and of course the big betting race of the weekend the Betfair Hurdle. There’s no Altior in the Game Spirit Chase but he’s been replaced by stablemate Champ who had been expected to run in the Denman Chase on the card.
You can see the best of the weekend’s action on ITV. The broadcaster will be covering the best of the action from Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton on Saturday as part of a seven race programme and also action from Newbury & Market Rasen on Sunday.
All in all, a cracking weekend ahead and even better its’ going to be run in spring like temperatures. Back to today there’s a competitive 3m 1f handicap chase at Catterick (2:15) which is the pick of Tuesday’s action.
Catterick
2:15 – Informateur heads the market and the 8-year-old took advantage of Birchdale unseating his rider when winning a beginners’ chase here over 2m 3f. He improved further when finishing 2nd of 7 at Carlisle on his handicap chase debut. He was only beaten a neck there, on heavy ground, and can race off the same mark here. First run beyond 2m 6f but he should stay and he comes into the race in better form than most. Trainer Sue Smith has saddled the last three winners of the race.
Ask Paddy goes well at Catterick with form figures 21115. All three wins have come over C&D so he’s got to be respected returned to his favourite venue and on soft ground that suits. This is a better race than he normally contests though and you would like to see the yard in better form.
Ibis Du Rheu is the most interesting runner. Very useful when with Paul Nicholls, won the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016. Made his debut for Richard Hobson when an encouraging 5th of 8 at Kempton 38-days ago. That was his first start for 637-days so he should strip fitter here and the return to 3m 1f should be more to his liking. Trainer is 5-12 42% +10.13 with his runners here in the past 5-years.
You can never rule out a Venetia Williams runner at Catterick. Didero Vallis is back down to his last winning mark and looks capable of big run if returning to his best form. He finished runner-up in last season’s Rowland Meyrick. Not much sparkle on his three starts this season, was sent off 5/1 favourite for the Grand Sefton at Aintree, but must fully prove his stamina for 3m for me.
Verdict: The unexposed Informateur must prove he stays 3m+ but if he does, he looks the likely winner. Ibis Du Rheu is interesting on his second start for Richard Hobson and rates the selection.
1pt win – Ibis Du Rheu – 13/2 @ William Hill & Sky Bet
Cheers
John