Hi all,
A stellar weekend of the racing begins on Friday. It’s the first ever Winter Million Festival Weekend at Lingfield. The feature race is the 2m7f Winter Million Hurdle (2.25). Four of the races are being covered by ITV. The ITV cameras are also covering four races from Market Rasen, including the Listed Mares’ bumper (2:40) which last season was won Eileendover.
It gets even better on Saturday. Fingers crossed it will be Shishkin v Energumene in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase (3:35). Up at Haydock there are four Grade 2 races including the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2.35) and The New One Unibet Hurdle (2.00). There’s also a good all-weather card at Lingfield with a new race the Winter Oaks (3.40) a handicap, with £100,000 guaranteed prize money, the highlight of seven race card. ITV are covering the best of the action from Ascot and Haydock on a seven-race programme.
On Sunday its back to Lingfield for the final day of the Winter Million Festival. The highlights of seven race card look to be the Fleur De Lys Chase (3:00) which has £150,000 guaranteed prize money and the Surrey National (3:35). Once again ITV will be covering five races from the Surrey track.
However, before all that good stuff. I have another Cheltenham ante post selection and there are decent cards at Wincanton and Ludlow this afternoon. The feature of a seven-race card at Wincanton is the Somerset National (3.50). For which eight handicap chasers have been declared. I have a selection from both that race and one at Ludlow.
First though my third Cheltenham Festival ante post pick.
Cheltenham Ante Post Selection
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
First run in 2009. The Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle is the last race of the festival. It’s named after legendary trainer Martin Pipe who trained 34 Festival winners, as well as being champion trainer 15 times.
Eight of the 13 renewals of the race have been won by Willie Mullins (4), Gordon Elliott (2) and Paul Nicholls (2). The first named trainer won it last year with Galopin Des Champs.
It’s a race that Gordon Elliott likes to win and since 2009 his two winners and eight places have come from 21 runners. He had the winner in 2017 & 2018 and would probably have had the winner in 2020 but for Column Of Fire coming down at the last.
The Martin Pipe is one of those big field handicaps where I will have two or three running for me. However, for now I really like the claims of the Gordon Elliott trained Mr Fred Rogers. The 6-year-old has yet to run in a handicap but looks an ideal type for the race. He made it 2-4 over hurdles when winning at Thurles in December. He won that day despite plenty going wrong in the race. It was a slowly run race and his hurdling wasn’t particularly fluent either. That said he showed a good attitude to prevail last time.
He stays 3m so there are no doubts on the stamina front for him and he looks the type who is open to plenty more improvement when he gets a strongly run race which he should get in a race like the Martin Pipe.
A best priced 16/1 with Bet365 but generally available at 14/1. If gets to Cheltenham fit and well, I can see him going off single figure odds.
1pt each way – Mr Fred Rogers – 16/1 @ Bet365 (paying 4 places ¼ odds).
Thursday Racing
Wincanton
3:50 – Somerset National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 2 ½ f
Destinee Royale was in the process of running a big race on her return from a 9-month absence. Out in front and in a good jumping rhythm. The mare looked like she would be tough pass when stumbling and falling five out at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Unexposed over 3m 2f+ she was travelling like she’s on a good mark. If none the worse for her fall she will hard to beat.
Her biggest rival could be the progressive Favori De Sivola who bids for the hat trick after wins at Exeter and here. His last success here came over 1 ½ f shorter but he looks like a stayer and he can improve for the step up to 3m 2 ½ f. Up 6lb for his latest win but he’s open to further improvement and will do for me.
1pt win – Favori De Sivola – 7/2 @ Bet365
Ludlow
2:30 – Bobhopeornohope improved for the fitting of the first time cheekpieces on his third start over fences when making all to beat Omar Maretti at Market Rasen 25-days ago. Up 5lb for that win but the second has since gone onto to success at Newcastle this week so the form looks sound enough.
Karl Philippe, a useful enough hurdler, had shaped with promise when 2nd of 11 at Carlisle on his seasonal return and chase debut in October. Disappointed at Ascot last time, was said to have bled, and remains with potential over the larger obstacles.
The Venetia Williams trained Gardefort has won around here in the past and goes well fresh. The 13-year-old is the veteran of the seven runners but he’s dropped down to career low mark and can’t be dismissed on his return from 305-day layoff.
Topofthecotswolds bounced back to form, returning from a 4-month break when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 8 to the improving Palmers Hill at Wetherby three starts back. The 8-year-old was hampered an unseated at the first at Newbury on his next start before being below his best when a well beaten 7th of 13 below form in the Racing Post Gold Cup (Handicap) at Cheltenham last month. He’s handicapped to go close if at his best today.
1pt win – Topofthecotswolds – 13/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John