Terrific spread of racing at the weekend with more preparations in the run up to Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. We have racing at Doncaster, Newbury and Kelso, and all meetings have their own feature races, The Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, The Greatwood Handicap Chase at Newbury and the Premier Inn Hurdle at Kelso.
Starting at Kelso, the top northern trainer at the minute is Lucinda Russell who saddled Cheltenham Albert Bartlett Hurdle hopeful Birindsi Breeze ahead of an impressive win last week. After good efforts at Perth in the summer, the five year old TAP NIGHT has won consecutive novice hurdles at Carlisle and Newcastle by a cumulative total of 26 lengths. The form of the Carlisle win in particular is impressive with plenty of winners down the field. The yard is flying at the minute and, given the stables hit rate at the track, he has to have a great chance.
Record breaking Lucy Alexander has set records this past week, and the horse she became the winning most national hunt female jockey in a season was RED TANBER, who she teams up with again at Kelso. The pair have had a tremendous season, and run together again in a two miles handicap chase. The duo have had four winners and a second in their last five runs, all of which have come at Musselburgh. Switched to Kelso, they should have no problems carrying on their streak, despite a 6lb increase by the handicapper.
Kelso’s Premier Chase is another of their top races; Grand National winner Ballabriggs used it as a stepping stone towards Aintree glory last season. He aims to use this as a tune up once more but could find stern resistance in the form of ACCORDING TO PETE. Punted off the boards last time out at Haydock on heavy ground, he won well. He is seeking a hat-trick after wins at Haydock and Wetherby and, although now 12lb higher in the weights, he is on the upgrade. Benny Be Good could prove a big threat if he runs.
CORKAGE is a horse who has been followed for a while now, and was a very unlucky loser last time out at Doncaster. He runs over same course and distance in a three mile handicap hurdle, and looks to have solid claims. He went for home too soon last time out, and would appreciate being held up longer under the patient James Reveley. He should be around the 5/1 mark and will be a good bet.
The potent Gary Moore stable have a good string going into Cheltenham, not to mention having FIX THE RIB at their disposal. He’s one I’ve been keen on but he’s been unable to run due to the poor weather and frost over January/February. He is a horse gradually coming back to the form that he had shown before a two year absence. Bear in mind that he finished third to Master Minded in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in 2010, off a mark of 156.
Now down to 134, he could be very well handicapped. A line can be put through both his comeback run and his Tingle Creek effort. He looked a little better when finishing a game 7th at Ascot and further improvement came over two and a half miles at Kempton, against what seemed like a good field. The drop back down to two miles should bring the best out of him, and the drying ground is likely to bring even more improvement.
2.20 Doncaster – Corkage
3.05 Kelso – Red Tanber (Nb)
3.10 Newbury – Fix The Rib
3.35 Kelso – Tap Night (Nap)
4.10 Kelso – According to Pete
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
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