Wednesday’s highlight is undoubtedly the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which brings racing’s best 2m Chasers together in theory but the majority of those seem to be scared by the prospect of the mighty Douvan. Last year’s Arkle winner has been sublime since switched over the larger obstacles and is unopposable at his current price of 1/4 to maintain his unbeaten record chasing.
Stablemate Un De Sceaux, a beaten favourite in the corresponding contest 12 months ago, steps up in trip to tackle the Ryanair and was rumoured to take both Fox Norton and God’s Own (3.30) with him and I’m delighted to see Tom George’s charge opt for Wednesday’s engagement. The selection looks a cracking bet at 7/2 in the betting without market, improving on his fourth in the race last term, by winning at both the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals thereafter.
He took advantage of Vautour’s fall in the Melilng to bolt-up under regular partner Paddy Brennan but there was no fluke about his Punchestown success when bettering the pair of Simonsig and Vautour in the Champion Chase. He boasts a great record fresh and should finish inside the four at the very least.
Neon Wolf will be all the rage in the opening Neptune Novices’ Hurdle but I’m keen to oppose him on good, spring ground and have already backed the pair of Bacardys and Messire Des Obeaux (1.30) at double-figure prices ante-post. The latter remains a fair price at 8/1 after beating first Ballyandy at Sandown, then a strong field at Newbury for the G1 Challow Hurdle. He failed to give 8lb and a beating to a strong field in the Sidney Banks last time out at Huntingdon however, back on level terms must go well for Alan King and Daryl Jacob.
Nicky Henderson has three live chances in the RSA Chase, bidding to win the race for the first time since Bob’s Worth won en-route to scoring in the Gold Cup at the following festival. The Master of Seven Barrows has made no secret of his admiration towards Might Bite but the gelding looked buzzy when scoring last time out at Doncaster and took a crashing fall when had the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at his mercy.
Whisper should relish the step up in trip after two recent successes at Cheltenham however, Clan des Obeaux has let the form down thereafter. I’ve backed OO Seven (2.10) at 33/1 ante post and think he must go well under the excellent Aidan Coleman. He made a winning debut over the larger obstacles at the Open Meeting in November and was far from disgraced in tacky ground at Doncaster bidding to follow-up under a penalty. He was well-placed to score in handicap company over two and a half miles last time out at Huntingdon but looks an out-and-out three mile horse, and can hopefully reward each-way support at a price.
OO Seven was completing a treble for the Henderson yard that day, with Divin Bere the middle leg after bettering Alan King’s Triumph Hurdle hopeful Master Blueyes in the £20,000 4yo Hurdle and must go well under top weight in the Fred Winter. Connections expected him to need the run that day and he should make a nice chaser next term and is perhaps a little skinny at the prices.
Another King inmate that takes the eye is Dino Velvet (4.50) after his excellent second last time out at Ludlow. I was at the weights release at Cheltenham to hear his trainer delighted that Dino Velvet was left unchanged on a mark of 125 and he looks over-priced for an unexposed and progressive animal.
The Coral Cup looks a minefield and most importantly, it’s key to shop around with the high street firms offering just four places to each-way customers but five and even six places out there online. Tombstone could be absolutely chucked-in from a mark of 149 and trainer Gordon Elliott knows what it takes to win the race, with Diamond King doing the business for column readers 12 months ago, and should go close with either Tombstone, Automated or RunforDave. I’ll throw a few darts at the race with Hawk High, River Frost (2.50) and Monksland who are all likely to go close at massive prices.
I’ve little interest in the Cross-Country race and expect to see Any Currency run his usual race out in front, whilst Cantlow looks the most obvious winner. Likewise in the Champion Bumper, where Carter McKay is a deserved favourite based on his two bumper wins in Ireland. I had a good word for Warren Greatrex’s Western Ryder (5.30) when winning a Listed Bumper at Ascot earlier in the season and, after narrowly failing to defy a penalty last time out at Newbury, looks primed for another bold bid.
Selections
1.30 Messire des Obeaux
2.10 OO Seven
3.30 God’s Own
4.50 Dino Velvet
5.30 Western Ryder
No comments:
Post a Comment