Hi all,
The Listed Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (2:00) is feature race of an eight race card at Naas on Sunday. There’s also an interesting card at Sandown even though only 53 horses have been declared for the seven races.
Naas
Besides a competitive looking Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle. The other highlights of the card are the return of Corbett’s Cross in the beginners’ chase (3:10).
A high class staying novice hurdler last season, Corbett’s Cross is having his first since running out at the last when still holding every chance in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s an exciting recruit to the novice chase division and connections will be hoping the 6-year-old can make a winning chase debut.
His biggest rival is likely to be Grangeclare West, trained by Wille Mullins, who won first time up over hurdles last season and is bred to better over the larger obstacles.
Maximum respect for Grangeclare West but I hope Corbett’s Cross can start is chase career off with a win.
Thirty five minutes early five have been declared for the Grade 2 Barberstown Castle Chase (2:35). The betting is headed by Dinoblue who ended last season in fine form. The 6-year-old finished runner-up in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at Cheltenham before winning valuable handicap chases at Fairyhouse and the Punchestown Festival. The conditions of the race mean she gets weight from all bar one of her rivals.
Dinoblue’s stablemate Sir Gerhard won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival but although he won on chase debut last season, he didn’t really excel over fences last season.
Fil Dor was another to win on his debut over fences last season. However, he didn’t build on that effort on two further starts over the large obstacles and although he did win a Grade 3 over hurdles at Gowran Park in February he was well below par on his final two starts over timber. The 5-year-old remains with potential over fences but has something to prove on his seasonal return. Trainer Gordon Elliott does have his horses in scintillating form which is a plus.
2:00 – Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m 4f
Nineteen are to go to post for what looks a fiendishly competitive renewal of the race. Gordon Elliot could win with the stable cat at present and so you must respect early bird favourite Firm Footings who is back in handicap company after winning a Sligo condition hurdle 16 days ago on his seasonal return.
Common Practice returned from a 8 month absence to finish a 2 ½ lengths 3rd of 18 to Samui in listed handicap hurdle at Listowel 55 days ago. Looks on a competitive mark but the 2m 4f trip will test the 4-year-old’s stamina.
Thecompanysergeant a winner of a Kilbeggan novice hurdle (2m 3f) two starts back ran almost as well when a 6 ½ length 4th of 17 in listed handicap hurdle (2m) at Listowel 51 days ago. Back up in trip and is on a workable mark for his first start for a new yard.
Gaoth Chuil gained a second success over hurdles when winning a mares’ handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in March. She pulled up at Aintree in April on her next start, but the 5-year-old was back to form when a 7 ½ length 2nd of 17 at Punchestown on her return to action last month.
Lord Erskine might be one of the veterans of the line-up but has been running well on the flat this autumn. The 10-year-old would go close if reproducing his 1 ½ length 2nd of 23 in a Navan handicap hurdle (2m 6f) last November, from 2lb higher. If the forecast strong pace materialises his stamina will be come in handy.
Verdict: Given the form of the Gordon Elliott yard you must respect favourite Firm Footings. The forecast pace should suit a patiently ridden horse like Common Practice but he may find one or two stronger stayers at the business end of the race. Thecompanysergeant has let me down on a couple of occasions. I think he can win off his present mark but hopefully its not today. That leaves me with the veteran Lord Erskine and the mare Gaoth Chuil.
Sandown
It may pay not to stray to far away from the market leaders on this afternoon’s Sandown card
12:30 – Paul Nicholls saddled the winner of this 2m 4f handicap hurdle last year and he could win it again with Individualiste. The 5-year-old won a Taunton novice hurdle in March and made a promising seasonal return when 4th of 8 at Newton Abbot 22 days ago. Gary Moore won the race in 2018 with a 4-year-old and could do again with another from that age group in
Kansas Du Berlais. A winner of two novice hurdles in the springbefore a disappointing 11/2 favourite for a valuable C&D handicap in April. Surely better than he was able to show last time and should be competitive if returning at his best.
2:15 – This 2m handicap chase looks between In the Air and Jetronic. The formermade a promising chase debut when a 3 length 2nd of 6 to the improving General Medrano at Huntingdon 13 days ago. A three time winner over hurdles, the 5-year-old should be able to win over fences this season.
Jetronic was a chase debut winner in March, when trained in France, and made an highly encouraging debut for Paul Nicholls when a 3 length 2nd of 4 to My Mate Mozzie in a Cheltenham Novices’ chase 16 days ago. He gets the 4-year-old weight allowance from his rivals and must be respected on handicap chase debut.
2:50 – Legendary Day won on hurdle debut at Sedgefield last November and has improved on the flat this summer winning four times. Looks on a good mark back over hurdles if he can transfer his improved flat form back over hurdles.
Arqoob was a useful flat handicapper for William Jarvis and did well over hurdles last season winning a Huntingdon novice hurdle in March and ending the jumps campaign with a solid 6 ½ length 3rd of 15 in a valuable handicap hurdle over C&D in April. On a winnable mark and shouldn’t be far away.
Iliko D’Olivate won a Taunton novice in January on debut for Paul Nicholls and ended the season with another win at that venue in April. Capable of going close on seasonal reappearance/ handicap debut.
Totterdown might be a 12-year-old, but he showed last November that he was still capable of winning races when landing a Leicester handicap hurdle on his return from a 642 day layoff. He’s 3 from 5 when returning from a 121-day break and 2 from 7 +21, 4 places over C&D. He’s not of this despite being the outsider of the ten runners.
Fourofakind won a Haydock maiden hurdle on his second start for trainer Harry Derham last March. He didn’t build on that performance on two starts in handicap company. Returns from a 205 day layoff and wind surgery. If the procedure has had the desired effect, he remains with potential over hurdles for a yard among the winners.
Iontach Cheval has won first time up for the last two seasons and starts the new campaign just 2lb above his last winning mark. Has won on good to soft but is unproven on worse ground. Likely to close to his best here if the last two seasons are a guide and is another to consider in an open looking race.
3:25 – Seven old favourites line up for Leg 9 Of The Veterans’ Chase Series. Dual course winner Larry was withdrawn at the start from his intended assignment at Ascot last Saturday. The 10-year-old won first time up last season and ended last season with a couple of placed efforts in veterans chases. Goes well fresh and with a clear round won’t be far away.
Betting Advice:
Naas
2:00 – Lord Erskine – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes and Gaoth Chuil – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Bet365.
Sandown
12:30 – Individualiste – 1pt win – 100/30 @ Bet365
2:50 – Iontach Cheval – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:25 – Larry – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Bet365.
Not sure how many selections there will be until Friday when it’s day one of Cheltenham’s November Meeting. Keep an eye on your inboxes for any bets before Friday.
Cheers
John