Hi all,
It’s Cheltenham Trials day on Saturday and there’s also a seven-race card at Doncaster where the feature race is the Sky Bet Handicap Chase.
Let’s begin this Saturday betting preview at Doncaster and the Sky Bet Chase.
Doncaster
3:15 – Alan King won the race in 2016 & 2017 with Ziga Boy has three entries: Dingo Dollar, Azzerti & Good Man Pat. The first named was 6th when 3/1 favourite for last year’s race. He should do better this time around if he can get uncontested lead. Azzerti could improve for the step up to 3m especially if the ground dries out this week.
Sue Smith won the race in 2018 and could saddle recent Haydock winner Ravenhill Road. That was the 9-year-old’s first win over fences, and hopefully he’s got his career back on track. Up 6lb for that win, isn’t too excessive as he the potential for further improvement, if he stays 3m. This would be much harder than last time, but he can’t be dismissed.
Calipto was third in this race before going onto win a listed handicap chase at Ascot off 3lb lower. A reproduction of his Ascot run would put the 10-year-old very much into contention.
Nicky Henderson saddles Burbank & O K Corral. Burbank made it 2 wins from 5 runs when winning at Newbury 28-days ago. That win came over 2m 6 ½ f but he looks capable of staying 3m on the evidence of that run. Up 11lb makes life more difficult for the 8-year-old but he remains on an upward curve which is a positive. O K Corral a smart novice although he did pull up in the 4m at the Cheltenham Festival. Well beaten, although well backed (9/1), in the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury on his seasonal return. Didn’t run well when dropped back to 2m 4 ½ f in a hot handicap chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day although to be fair he was hampered at the 12th that day. Can’t be ruled out here but has questions to answer.
Quarenta returned from a short break to beat two rivals at Fontwell last month before running just as well in defeat when beaten just a head into second at Kempton 29-days ago. Did well to get as close as he did as he made a mistake two out and was a slightly squeezed for room coming to the last. Ran on well on the run in and looked a shade unlucky. Up 4lb but today’s stiffer 3m should suit the 8-year-old.
Verdict: O K Corral is probably still better than his mark. Alan King has a strong hand in the race and his three can go well. But slight preference goes to the inform Quarenta who looked a shade unlucky at Kempton last time.
1pt win – Quarenta – 8/1 @ Bet365
Cheltenham
1:15 – Twelve have been declared for what is normally an informative novices handicap chase. Simply The Betts & On The Slopes were second and third in a decent novices handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas. It’s a race where the form can usually be relied on to produce plenty of winner. Indeed, the first three home in the Kempton race running between 16 to 30-days after that race have produced 6 winners from 12 runners +10.10 8 placed. You can expect good runs from both horses and there shouldn’t be much between the pair again, but preference is for Simply The Betts who wasn’t suited by going right handed at Kempton and remains a novice chaser open to more progress.
Champagne Court made it 2 wins from 2 runs since switching to fences when making all to win at Plumpton 68-days ago. A useful novice hurdler last season finishing 4th of 24 in last seasons Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The 7-year-old gets the first-time tongue tie and is 5lb higher than at Plumpton today but is a novice chaser worth keeping on side.
Last time out winners Mercy Mercy Me & Cloudy Glen are capable of more improvement over fences as his handicap debutant Imperial Aura who was runner-up to Pym here in a novice chase at the December Meeting.
Verdict: I can’t leave out Simply The Betts and Champagne Court shouldn’t be far away in his hat trick bid.
1pt win – Simply The Betts – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt win – Champagne Court – 6/1 @ Bet365
1:50 – A field of ten runners are declared to go post for this handicap chase over the same distance as the novice handicap chase.
Warthog won the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over C&D back in December he heads the ante post market. He’s up 4lb for that success but remain on a competitive mark here.
Spiritofthegames was a head behind Warthog and gets a 1lb from the winner here and there shouldn’t be much between the pair again.
Lalor is up 4lb after bouncing back to form when beaten just a short head by Oldgrangewood over C&D on New Year’s Day. Handled soft ground well enough that day but won’t be inconvenienced should the dry out further. Has run some good races here over fences and shouldn’t be far away at the finish.
Count Meribel is another who has won over fences at Cheltenham. The 8-year-old was runner-up to Lostintranslation on his seasonal return at Carlisle. Hard a hard race that day and didn’t seem to run to form when only 6th of 17 to Happy Diva in the BetVictor Gold Cup back in November. First run for 70-days but has won twice off longer absences in the past and maybe better when fresh.
Cepage is handicapped up to his best but the top weight has run some of best his races at Cheltenham and was a 2 ¾ length 4th behind Warthog in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and is 5lb better off with him today. Disappointed behind Oldgrangewood and Lalor on New Year’s Day but if he bounces back to his best can’t be ruled out on a track that suits.
Verdict: It’s a tough call between Warthog & Spiritofthegames with slight preference for the former. Lalor shouldn’t be far away if reproducing his last effort and Count Meribel is better fresh.
1pt win – Lalor – 6/1 @ Coral
1pt win – Count Meribel – 8/1 @ Bet365
4:10 – Ten runner are set to go to post for this 2m 1f handicap hurdle that concludes Cheltenham Trials Day.
Lust For Glory didn’t seem to take to fences at Doncaster on her last start and pulled to hard here two starts back over hurdles. The mare must be respected on her two length, second behind No So Sleepy at Ascot on her seasonal return at Ascot in November. A reproduction of that run would see her go close here.
The Twisler put in his best performance for some time when 2nd of 11 to Gunnery at Doncaster 27-days ago. He’s 1lb below his last winning mark and has each way claims but maybe more effective on a sounder surface.
We Run The Night is an intriguing contender. The 5-year-old won over fences on his last start when trained in France and his having his first start for Ben Pauling today. It’s hard to way weigh up his French form but he’s lightly raced and open to improvement.
Sofia’s Rock was runner-up at Huntingdon on his last start 74-days ago. The 6-year-old races off the same mark today and is another contender as is Ainchea who returned from a 700-day absence at Sandown recently. The 7-year-old should be sharper for that run and given he’s only had four starts over hurdles he could be capable of further progress.
1pt win – Lust For Glory – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John