The National Hunt Chase is a race that has a great record for novice chasers, and the two classiest in the field look to be Back in Focus and Godsmejudge, with preference for the latter at the price. He outstayed the dogged Keppols Hill last time out in a decent novice chase over three and a half miles, prior to a game second in The Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick. Nico De Boinville is on board, and he rides out Sprinter Sacre at home, and has looked polished since starting to ride under rules. He looks to have everything in his favour.
Ponte Alexandre has every man and his dog on him it would seem, with Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins backers green with envy after their spectacular treble on day one, and instead the value could lay with the ever consistent The New One for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies. A previous course and distance winner, who was just out-stayed last time out, he has good course form on his back, and will appreciate the drying out ground, which should suit his trademark turn of foot.
Boston Bob was always going to be a chaser, and the way he battled to win the JP Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown, over an inadequate trip, shows how much this horse loves a battle, a profile that should suit him down to the ground in The RSA. He was second to Birindisi Breeze in The Albert Bartlett, which is usually a race that has pointers, with the likes of Bobs Worth and Weapons Amnesty building on their novice hurdling careers.
Sprinter Sacre will win The Champion Chase, just watch and admire.
The Coral Cup is a trappy little affair, and instead of looking at the head of the market, I will likely back a few outsiders each way, with some firms offering five places. Barbatos would be one, who looked badly in need of the run last time out, travelling well before fading. He is potentially well handicapped however, and is a course and distance winner. Ericht won a jumpers bumpers and then a novice hurdle in very smart fashion when hacking up at Kempton, which has worked out rather well. Young claimer Gary Derwin takes off 10lb, and he could be a lively outsider, as could Orsippus, who was second in the race a couple of years ago, and looks well handicapped to build on a run last time out that seemed to get rid of a fair bit of rust.
The Fred Winter looks just as messy, but the few stand outs look to come down to Megalypos, Counsel and Fatcatinthehat. Megalypos was hampered in The Future Champions Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, but was running well before, and a 7lb rise looks reasonable to build on. Counsel ran in a hot contest at Doncaster with Kashmir Peak, Vasco Du Roncercay and Sametegal, and built on that when hacking up on his next run, he could be well handicapped. Similarly Fatcatinthehat a very well bred son of Authorized has always been held in high regard, and finally got off the mark at the third attempt. He should have more to come.
Golantilla was something of a hype horse on debut, but duly bolted up at Cork, and after being an expensive purchase, has gone to Tony Martin, looks to have a bright future.
1.30 Godsmejudge
2.05 The New One
2.40 Boston Bob (Nap)
3.20 Sprinter Sacre
4.00 Barbatos, Ericht, Orsippus
4.40 Megalypos, Fatcatinthehat, Counsel
5.15 Golantilla
No comments:
Post a Comment