Hi all,
General Principle ran a cracker to finish 4th in Tuesday’s BoyleSports Grand National Trial at Punchestown. Not a winner but at an each-way advised 25/1 it was a great return. My other selection Rocky’s Silver wasn’t at his best on this occasion and probably didn’t stay the marathon trip.
Some good racing on Wednesday. There’s Class 2 handicap at Newcastle which looks the most competitive handicap we have seen on the all-weather this winter season. There’s a Veteran’s Handicap Chase Series Qualifier at Doncaster which has attracted a good field. Finally, there’s a previous eyecatcher running in the Pertemps Series Qualifier at Punchestown.
I’m going to start with the Newcastle race.
Newcastle
3:10 – Fourteen go to post for this Class 2 handicap which has £28,013 on offer to the winner. We have last year’s winner Keyser Soze, an ex-Group 1 winner Librisa Breeze and the pattern class Oh This Is Us. Add in six last time out winners and we have the makings of a cracker.
Keyser Soze, won this 12 months ago off 2lb lower. Returning from a 83-day break shouldn’t be a problem as he has winning form off a longer lay off. This year’s race is tougher than last year’s, but he can go close again if he’s in last season’s form.
Straight Right, on the race in 2018, off 2lb higher. The 6-year-old bounced back to something like his best when winning a 6f conditions race at Kempton last month. Back up in trip again but if he can settle has a good chance of another win in the race.
Glen Shiel is the forecast favourite. A decisive win over C&D last month on his first start at 7f since his racecourse debut. The drop back in trip suited that day and he clearly relished the tapeta surface. Nudged up 4lb and in a deeper race but he’s in form and shouldn’t be far away at the finish.
Aljari, finished ahead of Straight Right at Newcastle when runner up to Above The Rest over C&D in December. The 4-year-old has just had the five starts so remains capable of further progress and the first-time blinkers are applied today which could eke out the improvement needed.
Verdict: A race that wouldn’t look out of place on a Saturday winter card. The unexposed on the surface Glen Shiel can go close again. Aljari has each way claims in a better race than last time especially if the first-time blinkers have the desired effect. Previous race winners Keyser Soze & Straight Right are both capable of winning again.
1pt win – Keyser Soze – 11/2 @ Bet365
1pt win – Straight Right – 6/1 @ Bet365
Doncaster
3:55 – Warrior’s Tale is having his first run since pulling up in the Grand National. In the meantime, the 11-year-old has had a wind-op. Best form last season came when winning the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the National fences in December 2018, off 3lb lower. Has good C&D form to his name finished a head second in the valuable Sky Bet Handicap Chase in January 2018. Capable of going close if fully tuned up and trainer Paul Nicholls has his horses in great form.
My Old Gold made it 3 wins from 6 runs over fences when winning over C&D 67-days ago. The 10-year-old is lightly raced for her age and is up just 3lb for her last win. Looks capable of more progress over fences and deserves to head the market.
Missed Approach returns from an even longer lay off than Warrior’s Tale. This is the 10-year-old’s first start since finishing 6th of 18 in the Becher Handicap Chase over the National fences in December 2018. Won the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival that year, off 3lb lower. Stays further than 3m and if fully tuned up, has won first time up in the past, is on a good handicap mark.
Verdict: My Old Gold is capable of more progress which is an unusual for profile for this veterans’ races but this a better race than last time. However, my preference is for the returning Warrior’s Tale & Missed Approach.
1pt win – Warrior’s Tale – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Missed Approach – 6/1 @ Bet365
Punchestown
3:15 – I try to stay away from Pertemps Series Qualifiers but previous eyecatcher Great View runs in it and he’s tempted me in. The 9-year-old won a valuable C&D handicap hurdle at the 2018 Punchestown Festival, off 4lb lower. Just the three runs since and made a solid seasonal reappearance over an inadequate 2m here, doing all his best work at the finish to finish when fourth to Drop The Anchor. Before disappointing back over 3m at Leopardstown over Christmas. The cheekpieces return for the first time this season and he could be set for a better run today on ground that suits.
1pt each way – Great View – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places 1/4 odds)
Cheers
John