We preview all the live ITV races for Saturday from Warwick, and Kempton
Here are today’s delights;
Warwick
1:50 Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (3m)
2:25 Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (2m5f)
3:00 Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (3m5f)
3:35 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 2) (3m1f)
Kempton
1:30 Handicap Chase (Class 2) (3m)
2:05 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2) (2m41⁄2f)
2:40 Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (2m5f)
Firstly, a little nod in the direction of last week’s effort. Eight races. Eight selections. Five winners advised; at odds of 9/1, 7/1, 7/2, 5/2, and 4/6. We also landed an each-way selection (6/1), in an extra place race. A golden day we’d just love to get close to again, please!
Every Saturday between now and the Festival in March will be deemed trial-time for some horses – it’s just inevitable. Tracks like Warwick replicate ever-so-slightly the contours of Cheltenham, too – left-hand course, undulations, stiff finish, accent on stamina. No surprise then if some entrants have very lofty additional ambitions.
Let’s get stuck in to our magnificent seven without further ado.
Kempton
1:30 Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase (Class 2) (3m)
Only seven slated to start, but a nice 3/1 the field ‘feel’ to proceedings will kick us off nicely.
A key event took place over Xmas – David Pipe’s Remastered, taking a cracking pot at here at Kempton. Tile Tapper and Smarty Wild were second and third respectively on that occasion, not beaten far, and this for me is a trifle easier.
Both are nine years young so shouldn’t be hiding many secrets from the handicapper, but Tile Tapper is a recent convert to this kind of trip and there could be more to come. Connections will know much more after that fact-finding outing and I’m hoping Chris Honour’s gelding can do the business for us here.
Selection – Tile Tapper to win
Warwick
1:50 Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (3m)
A small but select field of promising novice chasers. Paul Nicholls saddles Complete Unknown, circa 6/5 in the market, who jumped well on chase debut at Ffos Las and won a minor event very nicely. Galia Des Liteaux (around the 15/8 mark) found the Kauto Star here over Xmas a bridge too far, and the mare is on something of a retrieval mission for the Skeltons.
Gordon Elliott sends The Goffer, decent enough without so far looking outstanding, over from Ireland – but anything from that address warrants close attention. The only remaining entrant is Gentleman At Arms, a big price but a decent hurdler who’s won on heavy. It’s likely to be very testing today, so he’s no forlorn hope.
Selection – Complete Unknown/Gentleman At Arms reverse forecast
Kempton
2:05 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2) (2m41⁄2f)
A race that bears the name of a very fine chaser indeed – and Paul Nicholls, who trained the late former King George hero, saddles two. Pic D’Orhy is in great nick, and is looking for a three-timer (circa 11/8). Saint Calvados is one for owner/rider David Maxwell, and will strip fitter perhaps after a pipe-opener last time at Ascot.
He’s mixed it in some exalted company in the past (neck second to Min in a Festival Ryanair), and though now ten years young has a big chance, at around 9/2.
Paint The Dream is favoured by the race conditions and is officially top-rated at 160 – though he gets 2lbs from Pic D’Orhy. Collected a nice prize at Newbury very easily last time, and could follow up here.
Selection – Paint The Dream to win
Warwick
2:25 Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (2m5f)
A lovely pot has attracted a decent field, with some top yards represented. 3/1 the field takes in Knowsley Road for P Nicholls, closely followed in the market by Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning (circa 7/2). All have recent winning form, and ‘Ginny’s has done it here at Warwick – on testing ground, too. This is a big step up though.
Knowsley Road won well at Chepstow, and you really need to stay up that long, galloping straight. His last win in early December was a career-best, and showed he’s on an upward curve. I feel that may well be continued here, in what’s a cracking heat that should be very informative.
Selection – Knowsley Road to win
Kempton
2:40 Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (2m5f)
We’re paying five places each-way, and plenty line up looking to nab the fifty-odd grand top prize.
Nicolls saddles Outlaw Peter, a fascinating entrant (5/1), plus outsider Red Risk (20s) for Middleham Park Racing. ‘Outlaw’ hosed up at Exeter last time, following a terrific effort in the Persian War at Chepstow in October. Is he better than his mark of 130? We’re about to find out ..
Green Glory raids from Ireland. Ready Leopardstown winner last time off 111, he’s running off a rating today of 127. Handicapper could be in charge, methinks. Harry Fry, in great nick at present, has Dubrovnik Harry short enough in the market (circa 7/1). Had just the one run this term, Exeter late-November, and carries the delicious racing weight of 10st 9lb.
Red Risk, showing much-improved form, beat Petit Tonnere at Newbury last time, and the runner-up is around 12/1 to take this. Representing the O’Neills and JP McManus, Petit could be a danger to all.
Selection – Dubrovnik Harry to win, Petit Tonnere each-way.
Warwick
3:00 Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (3m5f)
Four places e/w for this stamina test, and we’ve a raider from the great Willie Mullins’ stable in Mr Incredible, which sums up the Closutton genius perfectly. The horse hasn’t shown much for some time but tell that to the market – he’s only about 5/1 as I write.
This is an extreme trip without even considering the undulations and likely heavy ground, so staying-power is definitely the name of the game today. Welsh National hero Iwilldoit qualifies with nobs on, but has the steadier of 11st 10lbs to deal with.
I like anything Venetia Williams enters in events such as this, and her Commodore ran very well at Cheltenham on reappearance last month. Has e/w possibilities at around 14/1.
Nestor Park (about 8/1) seems to fit the ‘stay all day’ bill – cracking effort in the soft at Haydock in November – and with 10st 12lbs looks reasonably weighted. A smashing staying test for brave horses and riders to show exactly what they’re made of.
Selection – Nestor Park each-way
Warwick
3:35 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 2) (3m1f)
Half a mile less to travel than the previous event, but another massive stamina test nevertheless. Ashdown Lad heads the market for the Skeltons at around 11/4, winning the Becher Chase last time. Runs off 9lbs lower than his chase rating, and has an obvious chance.
Glimpse Of Gala won a mares’ hurdle nicely at Kempton last time, and has performed with distinction at this venue before – a big plus. The Bomber Liston has a featherweight, and represents Henderson/McManus. Is of definite interest, and at 4s a big run is expected, methinks.
Gordon Elliott fields Level Neverending, at around 10/1. Hard to fancy on form, but with only 10st 2lbs it wouldn’t be the biggest shock, now would it?
Selection – Ashdown Lad to win, Glimpse Of Gala e/w
Have a lovely afternoon’s racing, have fun, and as always, take care.
Alan
