Hi all,
There’s a veritable feast of top class racing this weekend. I don’t think it gets much better than today with 19 races live on ITV4.
On Saturday the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase (3.00) is the feature race of a seven race card at Wetherby.
Yesterday’s Wetherby card was cancelled due to parts of the track being waterlogged. It was dry and sunny there on Friday lunchtime so fingers crossed they should be able to race on Saturday.
There’s also a strong Ascot card on Saturday featuring two Premier Handicaps with £56,950 on offer to the winner.
ITV Racing are covering five races live from Wetherby and another five from Ascot this afternoon.
The attention switches across the Atlantic on Saturday evening to Day 2 of the Breeders Cup.
Sunny weather, fast turf, and great horses. It’s the greatest show on turf and nothing beats it in flat racing in my opinion.
You can see all this evening’s nice Championship races at the Breeders Cup live on ITV this evening.
I have had a look at nine of the ten races on ITV and I’m going to start Saturday’s two part preview at Wetherby. My Wetherby & Ascot betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Wetherby
1:15 – Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m 3 ½ f
Mount Tempest, trained by Dan Skelton, was twice a winner over hurdles on rain softened ground. Probably needed the run when 2nd of 3 at Newton Abbot on seasonal return/chase debut last month. Stamina to prove but should make a chaser and there was encouragement to be taken for his first start over the larger obstacles.
Ladronne won this corresponding race 12 months ago and followed up at Catterick. He’s just 1lb above his last winning mark and this dual course winner must be respected on seasonal return.
Gallic Geordie latest win came here in March with Ladronne 1 ½ length back in second. That one is 9lb better off here. Gallic Geordie has a good win strike rate over fences (5-17). Won on his seasonal return in 2021 and finished runner-up last year so can go well fresh and isn’t ruled out.
Thor De Cerisy ran well on his seasonal return/chase debut last season. Has only had three starts over the larger obstacles and has his first start for new trainer Neil Mulholland’ Goes well in the mud and isn’t of it if ready to roll on his seasonal return.
Duo D’Enfer is interesting on stable debut for Micky Hammond. The trainer won this in 2021 with an ex-French recruit at 40/1 who was also making his stable debut. Went well on testing ground when trained in France. Hard to assess his form but was top on unadjusted RPR’s for the race which is no negative.
1:50 – Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m
Dan Skelton has won this race for the last two seasons, and he’s got a good chance of the hat trick with Kateira. The mare ended last season with a 3 ½ length 2nd of 14 against the boys in the Grade Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2m 4f) at Aintree. Back to 2m but if she’s ready fitness wise can win this.
2:25 – bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) – 3m
The likeable Dashel Drasher finished a ¾ length runner-up in the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The 10-year-old likes soft ground and won first time up last season. The one to beat on official ratings.
Thyme Hill has a good record fresh and finished runner-up the 2022 Stayer Hurdle. Yard in great form 5-15 in the past 14-days.
Botox Has is another who goes well fresh and is well suited 3m and soft ground. Can’t be dismissed but yard is struggling for winners (0-18 in the past 14 days).
Red Risk goes well off a layoff and is effective on testing ground. Stamina for 3m is unproven but if he stays has a chance.
3:00 – bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) – 3m
Just the four for the Wetherby feature. Twelve months ago, we were eagerly awaiting the clash between Ahoy Senor & Bravemansgame. Sadly, it didn’t turn out to be the race we hoped for as only one of then gave their running. Ahoy Senor was sent off the 11/10 favourite, but he finished a well beaten last of five to Bravemansgame. Bravemansgame is the far better jumper of the pair and although Ahoy Senor isn’t likely to be taken on for the lead this time around I still prefer Bravemansgame.
Irish Challenger Gentlemansgame shaped well on his return from a nine month lay off when a 1½ length 2nd of 6 to Easy Game in the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park in September. Given that was just his second start over fences it’s not to think that the 7-year-old has the scope to do even better over the larger obstacles. Could prove the biggest threat to Bravemansgame.
Midnight River has won here in the past. He’s been aimed at next month’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, and you would think trainer Dan Skelton will have him primed for that day.
3:30 – Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m 3 ½ f
Top weight Albert’s Back is at his best at Wetherby with 4 wins from 8 runs, 6 placed. All his five career wins have come under Brian Hughes, but James Bowen is a decent substitute. Goes well on soft ground and he’s not handicapped out if this fit enough on seasonal return.
Foster’sisland went close here in December and ended last season with a win at Bangor. Strats the campaign off a career high mark but can’t be ruled out.
Decorated a winner of his last two starts at Sedgefield and Taunton. Starts the season off 5lb higher than last time but looked open to further improvement when last seen in action. First run since a wind op but has won off a lay off and goes well on testing ground. High on the shortlist.
Ascot
I have had a look at four of the five races on ITV just leaving out the novice hurdle (2:40). It’s soft. Good to soft in places at Ascot but rain is forecast for tomorrow.
1:30 – Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m 3f
Trainer Gary Moore won this in 2017 and he’s got a live contender with top weight Hermino AA. Twice a winner over hurdles last season he looks the type to do well over the larger obstacles and can go well on chase debut. Yard could do with a winner.
2:05 – Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – 2m 1f
Top weight First Flow remains a smart chaser on his day and is a dual C&D winner in the past. Testing ground suits the 11-year-old and he’s won twice off 121+ day layoff. Yard among the winners.
Funambule Sivola is 1-1 over C&D and trainer Venetia Williams, first runners of the campaign have gone well, had a winner at Chepstow earlier in the week. Won a Grade 2 at Newbury in February and must be of interest back in handicap company.
Boothill won over C&D last November and a Grade 2 novice chase at Kempton over Christmas. Didn’t stay an extended 2m 4 f at Kempton on his final start last season but is of more interest back over this sort of trip.
Red Rookie won a Warwick handicap chase last March (soft) from 3lb lower. More than capable of being of winning off a mark of 140 on soft ground and is very much in the mix on seasonal reappearance.
3:15 – Seat Unique Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 1m 7 ½ f
Top weight Comprond takes a slight drop in class but would have to be respected if reproducing his ½ length 3rd of 26 in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Probably needs further than 2m but his yard is in tremendous form.
Faivoir won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Never got involved on seasonal return at Ffos Las but should be sharper here. Five pound higher than winning at Cheltenham and vulnerable to better treated rivals.
Teddy Blue fell at Cheltenham 8 days ago on seasonal return. He won at Plumpton on Apri; and might well have followed up in the valuable Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock but for a bad mistake at the last. His jumping is a big worry but has the ability to win with a clear round.
Altobelli won his first two starts over hurdles last season before finding Grade 1 company to hot at Aintree in April. The most unexposed horse in the line and very interesting on handicap hurdle debut with the tongue tie applied for the first time.
Chance A Tune has returned from a 2 year absence in good form, going close at Market Rasen before winning at Chepstow 22 days ago. Up 8lb and in a better race but should get the strong pace he needs and can’t be ruled out.
3:45 – Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 3m
A cracking handicap chase to conclude ITV’s afternoon coverage.
Eldorado Allen is a smart chaser but struggled last season after finishing runner-up in the Charlie Hall Chase and Betfair Chase. Interesting on seasonal return with a 7lb conditional booked. Yard among the winners.
Two For Gold won a veterans chase over C&D on final start last season. Goes well on soft/heavy ground 6 from 11 and is 3 from 7 when returning from a 121+ day layoff. Not of this although 4lb higher than last time.
Monbeg Genius did well over fences landing a hat trick at Chepstow in February. Ended the season with an excellent 2 ¾ length 3rd of 23 to Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in March. Looks set for big season over fences with the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury a likely target. Big chance at the weights but might not be fully tuned up on seasonal return.
Beauport didn’t really kick after winning the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle on his seasonal return/chase debut 12 months ago. However, he was still going well when falling at Aintree in a valuable handicap chase won by Midnight River on his final start in April. Has a good record first time up and is very much in the mix.
Larry gained a second C&D success when winning on seasonal return last November. Has been a sketchy jumper in the past but can’t be ruled out with a clear round.
Victtorino is in the could be anything category. He’s just the type of horse trainer Venetia Williams does well with. Twice a winner over fences when trained in France his sole run for the yard came over hurdles in March. Only a 5-year-old, he’s got a light weight and his winning form in France came on very soft ground. Trainer won this in 2013.
Irish challenger Yeah Man is 4lb out of the handicap, but the 6-year-old has only had six starts over fences and he could be capable of a bit better. The Gavin Cromwell runners are in tremendous form – 9 winners from 27 runners in the past 14 days so he can’t be easily dismissed.
My Breeders Cup selections will be with you overnight so watch your inboxes.
Betting Advice:
Wetherby
1:15 – Mount Tempest – 1pt win – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Duo D’Enfer – 0.5pts each way – 33/1 @ William Hill (paying 4 places)
3:30 – Decorated – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Foster’sisland – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Coral.
Ascot
1:30 – Hermino AA – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:05 – Funambule Sivola – 1pt win – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Red Rookie – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Altobelli – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Chance A Tune – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
3:45 – Victtorino – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Bet365 and Yeah Man – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power.
Cheers
John