Hi all,
ITV4 are covering four races from Newmarket and one from Cheltenham’s two day April Meeting this afternoon. Today’s feature meetings at Newmarket and Cheltenham are as good as any Saturday during the winter. Outside the big festivals you would be hard pressed to find a better Tuesday in the racing calendar than today’s offing.
Like yesterday I’m mainly looking at the action from the Craven Meeting. Although I have to say the Cheltenham card looks a cracker too with some big fields and I have selections from that meeting too which you can find at the end of the main piece.
Newmarket
1:50 – Connaught Access Flooring Handicap (Class 4) – 1m
Supreme King showed he had improved from two to three when finishing short-head 2nd of 9 at Nottingham 14-days ago. He handled heavy ground well that day and despite a 4lb rise in weights should remain competitive.
Gulmarg isn’t handicapped out of this and returned from a five month absence with a good 1 ½ length 3rd of 7 at Kempton three weeks ago. He’s yet to race on ground worse than good though.
Bussento placed in maiden/novice company at Newbury at the end of last season. He was a disappointing 11/8 favourite on his return at Wolverhampton 20-days ago. He’s better than last time but he’s another unproven on ground worse than good. Although his half-sister was a winner on heavy & soft ground.
Gentle Whinny got off the mark at the third attempt when winning a Windsor novice (good) last October. The filly looks capable of doing better now stepped into handicaps for the first time.
2:25 – Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
Aleezdancer likes soft ground and posted a career best when winning at Doncaster 17-days ago. He’s 7lb higher but if there’s soft in the going description he’s got to be respected.
Orazio a useful juvenile returned from a 17 month absence with an encouraging 4 ½ length 6th of 11 at Kempton in January. He remains with plenty of potential although soft ground is an unknown.
Admiral D, twice a winner as a juvenile on soft ground when trained in Ireland, couldn’t win for new trainer Richard Fahey last season but didn’t run badly on several occasions. He probably needs genuinely soft ground to add to win his tall.
Above made a decent return to action at Chelmsford last month. He failed to win last year but did finish a good 1 ½ length 2nd of 19 over C&D at the 2,000 Guineas Day. No 6lb lower and needs respecting.
Chairmanoftheboard was a short head behind Above on 2,000 Guineas Day and the pair are handicapped to dead heat. Behind Aleezdancer at Doncaster on his seasonal return but will be sharper for that run and drying ground won’t inconvenience the 7-year-old.
3:00 – bet365 Feilden Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 1f
Intinso looked stamina laden when winning on his racecourse debut at Newcastle in October. This likely to prove a minimum trip for the colt who holds a Derby entry.
Charlie Appleby saddles Bold Act and Regal Honour and both these previous course winners have strong claims. Bold Act has race fitness on his side having won at Chelmsford 18-days ago. Regal Honour looked a useful prospect when winning here over 7f last October.
Blanchland improved to finish a length 2nd of 9 in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes (1m 2f) here last October. He improved with each start as 2-year-old and there’s no reason why he wont train on from two to three. Yet to race on ground with soft in the going description but on pedigree he should be suited by it.
3:35 – Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
Coppice, a daughter of Kingman, won on racecourse debut at Kempton last October. She overcame greenness to win that day and looks a useful 3-year-old in the making.
Snow Fairy won the Group 3 Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood in August and has the benefit of race fitness on her side having run at Meydan in February.
George Boughey won this last year with Cachet who went on to win the 1,000 Guineas. He saddles two fillies with chances in Queen Olly & Believing. The first named finished a nose in front of her stablemate in a Listed race (6f) here last October. There shouldn’t be much between the pair once more, but I have fancy that Believing may prove best of his pair stepped up to 7f.
Barefoot Angel finished a neck in front of Believing when winning the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes at Ayr in September. Finished well, after struggling to go the early pace, when a 3 ½ length 4th of 16 to Cold Case in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar final start. Looked in need of 7f at Redcar and has solid each way claims.
Cheltenham
1:30 – Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
Heltenham has won his last three and couldn’t have been more impressive when winning at Newbury last month 25-days ago. Up 9lb but he’s only six and capable of more improvement. Best form on soft ground and drying ground would be an unknown. The forecast strong pace with suit and he’s the right favourite.
Captain Tom Cat bounced back to form when a length 2nd of 6 to the useful Black Gerry at Plumpton 9-days ago. A previous course winner. Good ground suits the 8-year-old but he will face pressure for the lead.
Deyrann De Carjac has run well around here in the past including a running on 5 ¾ length 5th of 14 to Ga Law in the Paddy Power in November. Edging down the weights and will be suited by the forecast strong pace. Last success came in November 2019 though and is on a losing run of 15.
Herbiers, a useful handicap hurdler, got off the mark at the third attempt over fences when beating two rivals at Newbury 47-days ago. This is a much deeper race but he’s capable of doing better and does well on a sound surface. Went close over hurdles at this meeting last year.
Coole Cody is a three time C&D winner and was a fair 11 ¼ length 8th of 23 in the Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Capable of going well off a declining handicap but will face pressure for the lead.
Gemirande is another who likes to get on with it from the front. He’s been in good form this season not finishing out of the first two on his five starts. A winner at Wetherby two starts back the 7-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 7 to The Big Bite in Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury last time. Up 3lb but shouldn’t be far away if nit doing too much up front.
3:50 – Percussion, Anightinlambourn and Definite Plan are well suited to good ground. I can see all three going well but my preference is for Percussion. He hit form for getting a sound surface last spring and finished third in the Grand Sefton & Becher Chases at Aintree on his first two starts this season. Probably wasn’t suited by soft ground at Kempton in January and 2m 5 ½ was to short for him at Wetherby last month. Capable of returning to form back at 3m 2f and on better ground.
Betting Advice:
Newmarket
2:25 – Chairmanoftheboard – 1pt win – 17/2 @Coral & Ladbrokes and Admiral D – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:35 – Barefoot Angel – 1pt each way – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places)
Cheltenham
1:30 – Herbiers – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Bet365
3:50 – Percussion – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John