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13:50 Cheltenham
This looks savagely competitive and attempting to dismiss any out of hand appears a rather thankless task. Venetia Williams had a winner at this meeting yesterday and has her string in good order at present. Double handed here, her runners appear a sensible starting point and Farinet very much catches the eye given Rachael Blackmore has been booked for the ride. Impressive when winning at Sandown on just his second UK start last term, the handicappers eight pound penalty for that appears rather lenient and one suspects he will go in again off this sort of mark. Cepage is a grand campaigner and he shouldn't automatically be considered the second string, his strong course form and ability to go well fresh brings him right into the equation today although his mark poses a very serious question.
Lalor has shown plenty enough on multiple occasions to be considered for a race of this nature and he ran well on his first start for Paul Nicholls. Making his second start since having his wind done, a good showing really ought to be forthcoming although his win record is off-putting and he has failed off similar marks four times previously.
Midnight Shadow won the Paddy Power when last seen and did so in much easier fashion than the winning margin suggests (Idled badly up the hill) his seven pounds penalty for that, on the face of it, appears fair and the second that day has since bolted up in a Grade 2. From another yard in decent form, there is every chance he will follow up here though it will require a career best.
Coole Cody attacks this course and these fences with real appetite and was still in with a strong shout before taking a crashing fall at the second last in the Paddy Power. Overlooking him around here would be foolish though the handicapper has rather distastefully shoved him up two pounds and he must prove he is over that mishap.
Beakstown ran quite well on his comeback at Aintree and represents powerful connections, still lightly raced and likely trained with this in mind, he makes plenty of appeal and could pick up the pieces if they go too quick up front. Fusil Raffles is another to consider, he appeared well beaten before being handed the Charlie Hall (Leader fell when holding a very big lead) there is every chance Nicky Henderson's six year old has improvement left in him though he doesn't always convince when the going gets tough.
Dostal Phil has something to find with a few of these on the Paddy Power form, he was however given an absolute mountain to climb from his position and he quite clearly caught the eye come the end. Silver Hallmark could be the potential dark horse and is another to consider, raced just half a dozen times under rules so far, he has any amount of improvement in him. The rest have claims of sorts but Dostal Phil left the strong impression he was being lined up for something last time and he is taken to land the spoils for a yard who have twice won this race recently.
written by Chris Connolly
14:05 Doncaster
This is a class 2 handicap with the distance just a shade over two miles. Sonigino will probably start favourite for this event representing the Paul Nicholls yard. He ran a fair enough race in a listed event last time at Haydock in his first run for the stable but it’s likely he will need to improve on that to take this contest, taking on some very good handicappers. There’s every chance he might as he’s lightly raced and only a 4yo but I’d rather look elsewhere for better value.
Tommy’s Oscar is the top weight for this event and he won very impressively at Haydock last time out. The drop back in trip isn’t an obvious positive though and he has taken a hike in the weights for that victory and it will have to be a very good performance to defy top weight here.
Donald McCain saddles the in-form Geromino with Theo Gillard taking off a useful 5lb in this contest. He has ridden him to victory at Sedgefield last month and is reunited with him for this race. There is every chance he is still improving and is still lightly raced and can take some stopping in this race.
written by Tom Bates
14:25 Cheltenham
This race is usually seen as a trial for the Albert Bartlett come march at the festival and 6 go here for today's race
Blazing Khal goes of favourite currently having beaten 2nd favourite in the market here Gelino Bello last month ago at Cheltenham that was at a slightly shorter trip of 2 miles 5 furlongs whereas todays is 2 miles 7 furlongs
Barony Legends was a 27-length winner at Lingfield last time out and obviously has a lot more of a test today. though 3rd and 4th in that race Barony Legends won have re appeared and if anything went backwards in their results. Which would suggest it was a poor race.
Current Mood was 3rd behind Blazing Khal and Gelino Bello last month and it's hard to see him turning that form around and gets a bit of weight from his previous rivals.
I'm not a fan of backing short price favourites but it's really hard to oppose Blazing Khal from what I have seen. I think he the step up in trip will suit Blazing Khal more although Gelino Bello gets 5 pounds in favour over Blazing Khal I can't see past Blazing Khal
written by Luke Tucker
14:40 Doncaster
Knight Salute is unbeaten in three since being sent over hurdles and as a Grade 2 winner last time out arguably sets the form standard, especially as he beat Magistrato by just over three lengths on that occasion. The Paul Nicholls’ runner re-opposes on 5lbs better terms and his trainer has an excellent record in this race, having won three of the last five renewals, so should be capable of giving the Milton Harris three-year-old more to think about this time around. That said, both have thus far done all their winning on good ground and Magistrato has also had to play bridesmaid to Porticello when they met in France in April. Gary Moore’s runner was a commanding winner on re-appearance in a Listed contest at Wetherby in October and looks to be a very exciting prospect, so with the promise of more to come and conditions in his favour he looks the one to follow today.
written by Dean Kilbryde
15:00 Cheltenham
Heaven Help Us boasts a nice record at Cheltenham, winning twice and being far from disgraced when finishing 7th behind some smart horses in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, last year. Additionally, she’s receiving quite a bit of weight off her rivals today, which helps her cause. However, she’s down significantly in distance today and her last two races haven’t exactly been to standard. If she bounces back, she could fill one of the podium places but possibly not the top spot.
Sceau Royal has been, as ever, in good form this year. He went down fighting in the last half a furlong of the Fighting Fifth, when he finished third. He’s won over course and distance before and is probably the form choice. The only chink in his armour would be that he has to give weight today. He definitely warrants favouritism and could be a danger.
Ballyadam was one of my horses to follow last year and won a Grade One, before playing second fiddle to Appreciate It. He felt the effects of a long season at Aintree and connections decided to down the chasing route for this season. That hasn’t seemed to work out, falling in his first race and having all the worse luck subsequently. He reverts back to hurdles and gains a bit of weight off others. Connections must fancy their chances as they made the trip over.
written by Kieran McHugh
15:15 Doncaster
A three mile handicap chase on potentially decent ground is the finale on the card.
Two For Gold heads the weights and has decent record fresh. The ground conditions will be in his favour, as will the flat galloping track. However there’s a possible question mark over the trip and he might find conceding a stone to the selection a tad tough.
That selection is The Wolf. He started his chasing career in October last year with a smooth success at Chepstow, and really looked a horse going places. For one reason or another he failed to build on that victory. However it’s still early days for this horse, and returning from his summer holidays he could definitely be capable of some improvement this term.
Kauto Riko may be The Wolfs biggest threat. Not the most reliable character, but the handicapper has certainly given him a chance here on some bits of form. His run in last season’s Paddy Power chase is certainly a stand out. He was a fast finishing fourth off a four pound higher mark. A reproduction of that run would see him go very close.
written by Matt Polley
15:35 Cheltenham
The closing race at Cheltenham today is a mares handicap hurdle with the JP McManus owned Trapista likely to head the market after maintaining her unbeaten record over hurdles at Huntingdon. However, I would have doubts about the depth of the form but she remains unexposed and may well improve. Indefatigable returns to the same C&D of her victory in the Martin Pipe at the 2020 festival and she is also running off the same handicap mark as that win. But she had a hard race last time out and that may have left a mark and I’d be keen to avoid her with that in mind.
Ben Case has been in good form of late and his mare Midnightreflection should go well dropping back down in trip after tiring late over 3 miles on her last run when finishing third behind the Willie Mullins trained My Sister Sarah. That was a listed hurdle and this represents a drop in class for this likeable mare and she is only 3lb higher than her last win and she goes on the ground.
written by Michael Taylor
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