Hi all,

Inside today's main piece you can read my review of Saturday's racing at Kelso, Newbury and Doncaster.

Saturday's racing lacked in quality, and finding winners proved to be challenging. Only one favorite managed to win the nine live ITV races. That said there were plenty of talking points to emerge from the day’s racing.

Kelso

Saturday's Morebattle Hurdle boasted a larger prize for the winner than any of the Cheltenham Festival Handicap Hurdles. This emphasizes the notion that when you increase the prize money, you attract more competitive horses, proving the old adage correct once again.

They’ll Be Dancing In the Streets of Hawick

It was good to soft at Kelso according to the official going description but looking at the times it was softer.  

Seventeen went to post for Saturday’s most valuable race, after ante post favourite Under Control was a non-runner. Still, it was the biggest field for hurdle race at Kelso since 2009.  

On paper, the race looked tricky, but the locally trained Cracking Rhapsody emerged a comfortable winner. Successful over C&D on his previous start. Cracking Rhapsody had looked open to improvement given this was only fifth start over hurdles and so it proved. On his previous start he had Ginger Mail 2 ¼ lengths back in third. That C&D form proved crucial with the pair finishing first and second. Despite Ginger Mail being was 4lb better off with Cracking Rhapsody, he finished further behind his old rival, trailing by 4 ½ lengths on this occasion.

The well backed Sky Cutter (7/2 Fav) ran well to finish third. However, this was all about one horse the Hawick trained Cracking Rhapsody.

I didn’t mention the winner in Wednesday’s race preview. However, looking at the race at final declarations I became interested in his chance, and I put him up for Victor Value subscribers.  I was on at 14s and even a 20p rule 4 deduction didn’t damp enthusiasm.

Personal Ambition Digs In For Grade 2 Win

Earlier on the card the Ben Pauling trained Personal Ambition needed to be driven out to win the Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle. The winner had ½ length in hand of runner-up Jango Baie at the finish although I think winner was always holding him. There was encouragement for Nicky Henderson in the run of the second who seemed to finish off his race.

Pauling has a strong hand of novice hurdlers this season and the winner should do well over fences next season.

Rock Thunders Home

The Listed bet365 Premier Chase is the most prestigious chase run at Kelso. However, in terms of quality, this year's race seemed lacking. Thunder Rock caught my attention as a potential winner, if he could stay the extended 2m 7f distance. The well backed 9/4 favourite was ridden to get the trip and it proved the perfect ride.

Approaching three out, Thunder Rock still had ground to make up, but he steadily gained momentum to challenge Minella Drama at the final fence. From there, it was clear that the favorite had the race in hand, maintaining a strong finish to win by 7 lengths.

Thunder Rock's solid jumping and now proven stamina opens more options for the 8-year-old in the future. We know he’s well suited to a single-figure field, the next challenge for Thunder Rock is to demonstrate his effectiveness in larger line-ups.

It was a welcome big race success for Sean Bowen. It’s been a tough couple of weeks since the jockey returned from injury with just 1 winner from 27 rides in the previous 14 days.

Monbeg Genius, previously prominent in Grand National ante-post betting disappointed. The lack of a stamina test over three miles at a sharp track like Kelso may have played a role, and it's possible he needed the run. However, it was worrying to see him tire so quickly approaching three out. He’s better than this performance suggests, but it wasn’t an ideal preparation for next month’s big race.

Newbury Survives Two Inspections

Newbury passed to morning inspections to be able to race.  According to the official going description it was heavy at the Berkshire track. I didn’t think it looked that bad and indeed on times it was soft ground.

Top weight Highland Hunter produced a solid round of jumping to win the BetVictor Veterans' Series Handicap Chase.  He was 7/2 in the Racing Post betting forecast but was returned 10/1 after all the money was for Copperhead and the old rogue Fortescue. The latter ran well enough in second, albeit well held by the winner, but Copperhead could never get competitive.

Heltenham Cruises To Greatwood Gold Cup Success

Newbury's feature race, the Greatwood Gold Cup, was won by the previous course and distance winner, Heltenham. The strong pace set by Gustavian and Gemirande suited the winner well. Heltenham travelled strongly throughout the race and seemed to effortlessly join the leaders approaching the second last. However, he possibly hit the front too soon, as he tends to idle when in the lead. This allowed the runner-up, Kandoo Kid, to close the gap to within 2 lengths at the finish, although Heltenham always appeared to have the race under control.

I had to check that Grandeur D'Ame hadn’t lost a leg on the way to Newbury as he was so weak in the betting. A 4/1 chance in the morning he was returned 8/1 and ran dreadfully. He was found to have bled which explains his poor run. Uncannily that market expected him to run so poorly.

Co-favourite Highstakesplayer was a beaten horse four out. He could well have bounced after his recent Kempton win after a 458- day absence. He’s probably better off a longer layoff and isn’t one to give up on just yet.

Another Co-favourite Bill Baxter continues to disappoint with no apparent excuses for his lacklustre effort.

Finally, the race was a good one for trends followers with the both the winner and runner-up among the five qualifiers.

It’s Grim at Doncaster

It was soft according to the going description on Town Moor but the rain had clearly got into the ground and on times it was closer to good to heavy by the time of the Grimthorpe Chase.

Despite the rain at Doncaster, Susan Corbett, based in Northumberland, enjoyed a shining moment as Pinot Rouge clinched victory in the Listed mares' novices hurdle, marking Corbett's biggest training success. On only her second start over hurdles, it was a courageous triumph in challenging conditions, although the form may not hold much weight. Nonetheless, winning connections will be delighted with the win.

I opted for just one selection in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase, Charlie Uberalles. I was hoping trainer Dianne Sayer would withdraw the 8-year-old, due to the ground which by the time of the race was bordering on heavy, Unfortunately, he took his place in the line-up and while he ran well for a long way, he faltered four out, highlighting his need for a sound surface.

Only two of the ten runners finished the race, with Does He Know emerging as a game winner. The winner always maintained a good position and delivered a fine weight carrying performance despite the deteriorating ground. The application of the first time cheekpieces worked the oracle but he’ll have had a hard race here and there have to be doubts whether he can follow up.

Coming to three out, it seemed like the 3/1 favourite, Some Scope, might pick off the eventual winner. However, he faltered over the last two fences and the stronger stayer prevailed. Some Scope's chances might well have won on a sounder surface. He remains a horse to watch in handicap chases going forward.

Monday Preview:

Plumpton

Plumpton’s Howden Handicap Hurdle (3:52) is Monday’s most valuable with seven set to compete for £10,562 in winners prize money. Holly is sure to be popular after her 7 ½ length success at Market Rasen 55 days ago. She had plenty in hand at the finish last time and a 9lb rise looks lenient. Different ground here but if she handles it is the one to beat.  Top weight Mr Freedom can usually be relied on to run his race. A good 1 ½ lengths 2nd of 12 at Taunton (2m 3f) last time and he’s got previous winning form at the track. Highway One O Five might need further than a bare two miles and does need to improve for the step into handicap company for the first time. Trainer Chris Gordon has a 27% win strike rate with his handicap hurdlers here in the past two years.

There’s not much else to get enthused about today.  

At Southwell (4:40) Joker Du Chenet makes his stable debut for James Owen, gets the addition of the first time cheekpieces and Harry Cobden has been booked.

I was half interested in Upper Hand in the first time cheekpieces and with Rossa Ryan booked at Wolverhampton (7:00). However, the yard is struggling for winners.  Twenty Bob was back to form over C&D last time and looks interesting on handicap debut.

Monday Selection:

Undecided between Highway One O Five and Twenty Bob, I'll choose the larger priced option.

Plumpton

3:52 – Highway One O Five – 9/1.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John