Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m opening up the Daily Punt notebook to unearth some future winners.
Daily Punt Notebook
There we’re plenty of horses that to varying degrees caught my eye last week. Most of them on Cheltenham Trials Day.
However, let’s begin on Thursday at Gowran Park.
Gowran Park
Ain’t That A Shame bounced back to form to win the valuable Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase. However, it was the second and third that were worth taking out of the race.
Glengouly jumped well out in front and proved his stamina for 3m 1f. He’s progressive and if he continues to jump as well as he did last week there’s a handicap chase to be won with him.
I was even more taken with the performance of Angels Dawn in third. Last season’s Kim Muir, winner at the Cheltenham Festival, was back to form over fences for the first time this season. Doing the best of those who came midfield, she was strong at the finish. The mare could try to follow up last season’s Kim Muir Chase success, but she will likely need soft ground. One to keep on side for valuable staying handicap chases later in the season.
Stormy Judge was also back to form over fences in 4th and with more fluency in jumping would have finished closer. The softer the ground the better and he shaped like he needs further than 3m 1f.
At Huntingdon on Thursday. It was a case of job done by connections of White Rhino as the 8-year-old is now qualified for the Pertemps Hurdle Final at the Festival. This was arguably as good a performance as winning at Cheltenham in December. He remains on a competitive mark would have each way claims in the final.
Chantry House’s 4th placed effort means he’s also qualified for the final. This was an encouraging effort from the 10-year-old who has been aimed at the Final all season.
Cheltenham Trials Day
Excelero – Jane Williams
Sir Gino will take the beating in the Triumph Hurdle, but I was really taken with the performance of the fourth home Excelero. On just his second start over hurdles the juvenile did well to get within 11 ½ length of a likely Cheltenham Festival winner. A juvenile hurdle has his name on it, and he could still emerge as a possible Boodles Fred Winter horse at the Festival.
Ginny’s Destiny won Saturday’s Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase; a race won by stablemate Stage Star 12 months earlier before that one went on to success in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival. That race is the target for Ginny’s Destiny and although Gaelic Warrior is a short-priced favourite I think Ginny’s Destiny can beat him. His jumping his excellent and he loves Cheltenham all three chase wins have come here whilst Gaelic Warrior has so far proved better going right-handed. He looks solid each way at the 13/2 available with Bet365 for the Turners.
It should be worth keeping an eye on both the second Theatre Man and third Es Perfecto. The first named was outpaced three out but stayed on well all the way to the line. He needs further than 2m 4 ½ f and will surely win a race over fences this season. Es Perfecto ran another solid race and is another who is handicapped to win a handicap chase when eased in class.
Fugitif’s Each Way Ryanair Claims
Ahoy Senor looked to be back to form before his jockey's stirrup broke in the Cotswold Chase. He tends to be a better horse in the second half of the season. Despite his jumping quirks he will pop up somewhere before the season is out.
Not surprisingly Fugitif found things happening too quickly dropped back to 2m 1f in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase. However, he did well o finish a 6 ½ length third. Given his form at the track he will surely take his place in the Ryanair Chase back at the festival. In a race that seems likely to cut up before final declarations the 33/1 available with Bet365 makes each way appeal.
I can’t end this piece without a quick look at Doncaster’s Saturday action.
Doncaster
Jeriko Du Reponet maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles but was forced to work hard for his win in the rescheduled Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices Hurdle. His jumping wasn’t great in a muddling race which turned into a sprint in the straight. Plus, his head carriage didn’t find favour with some pundits. A better run race should see his jumping improve and I think his slightly ungainly head carriage can be put down to residual greenness.
The bookies weren’t impressed as they pushed him out to 8/1 for the Supreme at Cheltenham. Some punters have called him the new Charlie Parcs. I think that’s harsh and I wouldn’t totally dismiss his Supreme chance after this performance.
Kerryhill did me a big favour in winning the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle. I was really taken with his performance given he remains a work in progress having wandered around having hit the front. Doncaster’s flatter track suited and hopefully connections will swerve Cheltenham with 6-year-old and save him for Aintree’s Sefton Hurdle in April.
Charlie Uberalles – Dianne Sayer
Charlie Uberalles struggled on heavy ground in the Welsh Grand National but was back to form when a 3 ¼ length 3rd of 18 to Annual Invictus in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase. He’s suited to better ground, stays well, and can win again when he drops back in class.
In the same Famous Bridge ran poorly back on better ground. He’s worth another chance back over further when the mud is flying.
Plenty of future winners should come out of the Daily Punt notebook and hopefully I have mentioned a few above.
Tuesday Preview
Newcastle
The Class 3 Quinnbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (3:35) is the Newcastle feature race. The improving Readysteadybeau made all to win at Ayr 50 days ago. His jumping was much better forcing the pace last time and a 7lb rise shouldn’t prevent him going close. Brayhill returned from a 359-day break to win here (2m 4f) last month. A 3lb rise is fair and he stays 3m so the return to today’s distance won’t inconvenience the 9-year-old. Of more concern would be, he might be better fresh and more testing ground. Fenland Tiger made it 2-3 over fences when beating four rivals at Doncaster (3m 2f) 20 days ago. He looks like an improving staying handicap chaser who goes well on soft ground. The drop back in trip shouldn’t be an issue for the 8-year-old if the forecast strong pace materializes.
Chepstow
The most interesting race at Chepstow is the Class 5 Chepstow Summer Sessions Handicap Chase (2:10). The step up to an extended 2m 7f should see Secret Plan in a better light than 2m at Southwell last time. A half-brother to the yard’s Welsh Grand National Winner Secret Reprieve the 6-year-old is open to plenty of improvement on just his second start over fences with Harry Cobden booked.
Haston Clermont and Leissieres Express are both last time winners over fences. The former comes into the race bidding for hat trick after wins at Lingfield and Wincanton. He was well on top at the finish despite still showing signs of greenness last time and a 6lb rise likely underestimates the 7-year-old. Leissieres Express got off the mark at the third attempt over fences when winning at Exeter 29 days ago. He jumped to his left last time so going this way around could be a plus. He’s up 5lb but is another with solid claims.
Tuesday Selection:
Chepstow
2:10 – Haston Clermont.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John