Bouncing off some productive tipping on the all weather on Wednesday, we return to the spiritual home of National Hunt racing, Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, where there is another fantastic weekend of racing. The highlight of the weekend is the Stewart Family sponsored Spinal Research Handicap, a competitive handicap over 2 and a half miles, and it looks likely that recent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Great Endeavour will attempt complete a Cheltenham double.
He should surely give another good account, despite having been raised 6lb and having had a hard race in the Hennessy in the interim. Paul Nicholls has his usual strong big-race team, with Ghizao and Tatenen lined up for this, however, the horse that looks a good beta at a possible value price is WOOLCOMBE FOLLY, who has young claimer Ryan Mahon on board. Mahon gets on well with the horse and takes off a valuable 3lb off the top weight. He has run poorly in the last two Champion Chases and this step up in trip may help. He needed the run last time out behind Gauvain, and clearly thrives in the autumn as opposed to the spring.
There is also racing at Doncaster, who hosts their first important card of jumps racing of the season, with large field handicaps making it a difficult challenge for punters. The 1.40 race is a 16 runner minefield, but fortunately there are some pointers from trainer Emma Lavelle, who has great chances in both races. Her stable jockey rides both, passing up some rides at Cheltenham to do so.
WELL REGARDED looks to have a very workable mark and seems to be one step ahead of the handicapper after some solid efforts this season. After winning a novice hurdle, he followed up with a solid third behind two more smart performers at Exeter and then finished a respectable fourth behind Supreme Novice favourite Fingal Bay at Cheltenham. He is a horse on the upgrade.
Their other big chance runs in The Hague Printers Handicap Chase, the 2.15, where recent winner QIANSHAN LEADER runs off a decent weight of 10-13, with the Alan King trained Prêt a Thou heading the weights at 11-12. Qianshan Leader beat a good field last time out at Kempton, including two decent yardsticks in Insider Dealer and Midnight Appeal, and can build further on his steady progress.
Reverting our attention back to Cheltenham, HINTERLAND will likely go off a short price but should make short work of his rivals in the Triumph Hurdle Trial, the 12.10. He won a similar event last time out, beating a well supported JP McManus owned horse, Ozeta, in what looked to be a decent field. He can go in again.
Another similarly short priced favourite is OSCAR WHISKEY, tipped up two weeks ago when a last hurdle faller in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot. He beat Overturn who went and beat Celestial Halo and Binocular in the Fighting Fifth and through a form line with Overturn and Grandouet, Oscar Whiskey looks to be the one to be on in the Grade 2 Hurdle at 3.35.
Speaking of GRANDOUET, my personal pick for next March’s Champion Hurdle (currently available ante post at 14/1) runs in the StanJames.com International Hurdle and I fully expect him to deliver on the sporadic promise he has thus far shown. He is held in high regard at Seven Barrows and has been well supported in his two runs this season. An unlucky faller when alongside Celestial Halo recently and then winner of a Grade 2 Hurdle at Haydock by 8 lengths, he is opposed by last year’s winner Menorah and the in-form Overturn. However, Grandouet’s high cruising speed means he should be able to track Overturn and hopefully pick him off coming up that most famous gradient towards the finishing line at Cheltenham.
13.40 Doncaster – Well Regarded (Ew)
14.15 Doncaster – Qianshan Leader (Ew)
12.10 Cheltenham – Hinterland
14.30 Cheltenham – Woolcombe Folly (Ew)
15.35 Cheltenham – Oscar Whiskey (Nb)
15.05 Cheltenham – Grandouet (Nap)
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
No comments:
Post a Comment