Betfair Hurdle Day at Newbury - Friday and Ascot Chase Day - Saturday

SPRINTER SACRE is a horse I have harped on about for months now and I got on early in the Arkle ante-post market. I fully expect him to rout his opponents in the Game Spirit Chase on this, his last stop before Cheltenham. The race has been good to trainer Nicky Henderson and his winner from last year, French Opera, is also entered although the ground will dictate whether he’ll run or not. Sprinter Sacre is the top rated horse in the line up following his demolition of Peddlers Cross at Kempton. Sprinter Sacre is top class and it’d be no surprise were he a multiple winner of championship races in years to come so, although he will be a short price, follow him on Friday and lump on in the Arkle.

The rescheduled Betfair Hurdle is one of the most exciting races in the national hunt calendar and the Paul Nicholls trained Zarkander is the short priced ante post favourite. He looks the most obvious candidate in this two mile handicap hurdle but the value prices have now gone.

The two mile handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is usually a firm pointer, and four have made the cut, Get Me out of Here and Final Approach, Soldatino and Alarazi, but all are overlooked.

Five year olds have a terrific record in the race, a pointer to the chances of EMPIRE LEVANT and THIRD INTENTION. The Colin Tizzard trained Third Intention finished nine lengths behind Zarkander in the Triumph Hurdle and has the same 9lb in receipt at official weights here. He ran well in the Greatwood at Cheltenham, before an even better second behind leading Triumph contender Ranjaan and the run should have him sport on.

Empire Levant won a handicap by 28 lengths at Taunton, hard held. He then ran two days later and got out-battled by Rock on Ruby, who went onto to finish a narrow second in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, with the third Raya Star winning the Ladbroke. He is up 12lb but the trainer fancies his chances and he could be another with something in hand of the handicapper.

Another horse using this weekend for a prep race is BOBS WORTH for the in-form Nicky Henderson stable, a yard coming back from an impressive treble at Kelso on Wednesday. Bobs Worth will go for the RSA Chase en route from Ascot and has been impressive since switching to chasing. He outstayed Cue Card at Newbury, before finding only Grands Crus too good in the Feltham Chase at Kempton. He is progressing, and sets the obvious standard in a tricky race with plenty quality about it.

SWINCOMBE FLAME is a progressive handicapper who we tipped up here in the Lanzarote Hurdle and we’ll remain loyal here in a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Ascot. Up only 5lb, she should be good value for it.

The highlight at Ascot is the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase, over the extended two and a half miles. A specialist trip, may will look to use this as using this as a pointer towards the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, run over a similar distance. Last year’s winner Riverside Theatre turns out, as does the much hyped Kauto Stone, who carries a large reputation. However the value could lie with MEDERMIT, who comes here on the back of a terrific run in the Cheltenham Handicap Gold Cup in December. The Alan King trained horse won the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase, before finishing third in the Amlin Chase behind Master Minded and Victor Chandler Chase winner Somersby, The form of both looks good, and he should be a very tasty price. The trip looks ideal.

Newbury (Friday) 12.10 – Sprinter Sacre (Nap)
Newbury (Friday) 13.15 – Third Intention (Ew) & Empire Levant (Ew)
Ascot Saturday 1.50 – Bobs Worth
Ascot Saturday 3.00 – Medermit
Ascot Saturday 3.35 – Swincombe Flame

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner @ JJMSports

Ascot Amlin Chase Day and Haydock Betfair Chase Day November 19th.

A feast of jump racing lies ahead this weekend, with terrific cards at both Ascot, where their highlight is the Amlin 1965 Chase with Master Minded defending his crown, and at Haydock, featuring the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, where Gold Cup and King George hero Long Run is scheduled to make his seasonal debut.

Haydock’s Betfair Chase day has a fantastic card. The Betfair Hurdle race is where GRANDOUET can regain his reputation after coming down at Wincanton last time out, handing Celestial Halo the race. He was absolutely cantering in behind when misjudging the second last and would have been a definite winner in my eyes. He is all class this French import, as he showed last year when winning the Irish equivalent of the Triumph Hurdle at Punchestown in May, after decent previous efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree. I think he is a lively consider for this years Champion Hurdle, and is one to stay on the right side of.

Betfair have also sponsored the handicap at 1.55, which has a decent turn out. I am very sweet on the Reveley family’s EYRE SQUARE. He won a novice hurdle on his seasonal beau. He then ran well in a chase, finishing second to a well handicapped horse. The favourite finished third that day and the three pulled 43 lengths clear. Eyre Square rallied and stayed on, and the extended 3 and a half miles should suit this resolute galloper, who has remained on a nice figure of 120.

The Betfair Chase has developed into a jewel in the crown of the National Hunt season and this year’s event looks like living up to that billing. Long Run is the very short favourite, too short for a horse who disappointed in the Paddy Power last season, running after a 241 day absence. The drying ground could prove a worry for Diamond Harry, who loves running fresh and is 2/2 at Haydock.

KAUTO STAR won this race 2 years ago and when the 11 year old is at his best he is still a horse sitting at the top table of British chasing. He has won first time out on both the last two seasons, Down Royal last year, and in this race two years ago. Trainer Paul Nicholls is adamant he has been working like his old self and he could turn out to be significantly over-priced at the current 8/1.

Switching attention to Ascot, and the first race, the novices chase. The Nicky Henderson trained MUSH MIR, who came from James Boyle on the flat, showed at Southwell he is a good prospect. He has made a successful transition to hurdling, and is now 3/3 in novice hurdles. He attempts a step up in class but, as his winning distances of 32 lengths for his three races indicate, he may well have better things ahead of him.

Similar sentiments apply to OSCAR WHISKEY, who runs in the Coral Hurdle, a Grade 2 contest. This Welsh Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle winner is rated 165 and is being aimed at a clash with Big Bucks in the World Hurdle. His only defeats in the last two years have come in the Champion Hurdle to Hurricane Fly (3^rd) and to Menorah in the Supreme Novices (4^th). He should be too classy for the likes of Celestial Halo and Overturn.

MASTER MINDED could be overpriced in the Amlin Chase, largely due to his disappointing reappearance run at Aintree. The 8 year old, who won this same race in impressive fashion last term, appears to need soft ground over 2 miles or 2 and a half miles these days to be shown at his best and he should get his preferred conditions on Saturday.

He has won his second run of the season, using the first as a tune up, on each of the last three seasons, and although the likes of Somersby, who chased him home in the Victor Chandler, and Arkle winner Captain Chris are young guns snapping at his heels, hopefully Master Minded, still no pensioner at only eight, can show he retains plenty class.

12.15 Haydock Grandouet (Nap)

12.25 Ascot Mush Mir

2.10 Ascot Master Minded (Nb)

2.45 Ascot Oscar Whiskey

1.55 Haydock Eyre Square (Ew)

3.05 Haydock Kauto Star (Ew)

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Weekend Tipping, Ascot, Newmarket and The Arc

A fantastic weekend of racing afoot, with Ascot hosting a fantastic card, including a Group 2's, a listed race as well as the Challenge Cup, a tough 28 runner handicap, with the seasons most versatile and arguably the best handicappers in racing this season. There is also racing at Newmarket, with more of the rich sales races for two year olds, not to mention the richest race in Europe with the Arc being at Longchamp Sunday, and lots of European challangers aiming to bring the prize across the channel for the third successive year.

The Arc is the richest and arguably the most coveted race in the world, and is the second most important race when it comes to the breeding industry, only behind the Derby and with top breeding operations having the Arc as their number one target. Coolmore, Juddmonte, Darley and The Aga Khan have stamped their print on this race, and all will have entrants aiming to carry on their fine tradition. Coolmore and Ballydoyle are likely to have southern hemisphere sensation So You Think as their spearhead, and should go well on ground that will suit, with little rain forecast. Despite disappointing in the Prix Foy, St Nicholas Abbey could still turn out, although would be suited with more cut in the ground. They are also represented by Irish Derby first and second, Treasure Beach and Seville, Epsom Oakes second Wonder of Wonders and likely pacemaker Regent Street.

The drying ground is also likely to suit dual Oaks heroine Snow Fairy, who ran So You Think home in the Irish Champion Stakes, and seems prime for a fine autumn campaign. Last year's winner WORKFORCE seems to suit the track, especially the long punishing straight, but with him again having fitness worries given his recent King George run after hanging badly, he could not backed with high amounts of confidence. A horse with a good chance is GALIKOVA, half sister to champion miler Goldikova, and put her Prix De Diane second behind when winning the traditional Arc trial the Prix Vermaille. The daughter of Galileo seemed to thrive when stepping up to a mile and a half, after previously winning a Group Two at Deauville, turning the tables on French Oaks winner Golden Lilac. Galikova will get lumps of weight being a three year old fillee, and has to be considered. The main challenge and leading threat however represents HH Aga Khan, who aims to follow Zarkava's win in 2008 with SARAFINA, who looks to build on a disappointing third last year. She was badly hampered in running, and arguably would have finished much closer were it not for the argy bargy in behind. She has been a model of consistency since starting her four year old campaign, taking her career earnings over the £1 million mark. After finishing second in the Prix Ganay, she has won a further three races, the last two over 12 furlongs. She travels like a dream, and stays so well, winning her last three races in the final strides, all winning on hands and heels rides from Cristophe Lemaire, and providing she can avoid trouble in running, she should carry on her record over never finishing out of the front three at Longhchamp on Sunday.

WAHYLAH runs in the Tattersalls 2yo Trophy at Newmarket, and aims to give connections back to back wins after Clive Brittain's Masaya won last year under Tom Queally. Wahylah stepped up on her maiden run by running well in a group two before winning a good sales race at Newmarket last time out, and looks to have the experience and the pedigree to take a race of this calibre.

Richard Hannon's stable jockey, Richard Hughes can't be at Ascot Saturday, but the chances of MONSIEUR CHEVALIER look very good, following his late win at Goodwood in a listed contest last time out. He got a master ride from Steve Drowne that day to win by a nose, and based on his Golden Jubilee Stakes form, he looks to set a high standard. Six furlongs seem to be his optimum trip, and although the Golden Jubilee form has not worked out too well, he still looks to be the best horse in a highly competitive Group 3 contest.

QUEST FOR PEACE looks to be another chance for Kieren Fallon to make some ground on champion jockey Paul Hanagan when riding for boss Luca Cumani in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot. Closely related to multiple Group 1 winner Misty For Me, this son of Galileo was last seen building on maident promise by winning a very good listed race at Roscommon over a mile and a half. Hayizna, Address Unknown and Unity, all down the field have all come out and ran well, and the colt looks to have bags of improvement to come. He has tough competitors in last years St Leger winner Arctic Cosmos and John Smiths Cup favourite Pekan Star, but the unexposed three year old can build on an already promising start to his career here at Ascot.

Prix De L'arc De Triomphe - Sarafina & Galikova (Ew)

2.25 Newmarket - Wahylah

2.40 Ascot - Quest For Peace (Nap)

3.15 Ascot - Monsieur Chevalier

Saturday Tipping - Ascot, York and Newmarket

The Darley July Cup this Saturday at Newmarket is the showpiece of a great weekend of racing. In addition to the famous sprint we have a great supporting card at Newmarket and good racing from York, Ascot, Chester, Hamilton and Salisbury.

Our first selection is in the July Cup itself where I’ve gone for DELEGATOR, who seeks to provide race sponsors Darley with their first victory in this Group One contest. I was fortunate to witness his win in the Group Three Duke of York Stakes last time out in person and he was scintillating. The ground was the key that day, and he clearly loves it as firm as possible. He was pulled out of the Golden Jubilee due to the ground going soft and that enforced break may be another factor that works in his favour here.

The John Smiths Cup is run at York Saturday and is another tough, competitive handicap with a strong field. The standout is PEKAN STAR, a horse who may be a group class horse masquerading as a handicapper. He blitzed a field of 15 last time out at York in his first run in a year. He should come on a fair bit for that run, as much of Roger Varian’s string do, and, in my opinion, he may be several steps ahead of the handicapper and could turn out to be pretty special.

CITYSCAPE ran an absolutely blinder to get just three lengths of two of the best milers in the world when finishing third to Goldikova and Canford Cliffs in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He looks like he should have conditions to suit in order to finally get his nose ahead this season at Ascot on Saturday.

He has been rather unlucky this season, and has not had his ideal soft ground. That looks set to change with showers forecast. Last year he posted wins in Listed and Group races and is highly thought of by trainer Roger Charlton. He runs against Dick Turpin, who has beaten him already, once more but I think he can get the better this time, with Turpin running poorly in the Lockinge Stakes and then finishing last of nine at Longchamp in the interim. Cityscape is on an upward curve and could make all under recent Group One winning jockey Pat Cosgrave.

3.15 York – Pekan Star

3.35 Newmarket – Delegator (Nap)

3.45 Ascot – Cityscape

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner