Hi all,
A bout of man flu kept me from Tuesday’s column, but yesterday’s weak spring sunshine lifted my spirits. With even milder weather ahead, it’s a welcome reminder that spring isn’t far off.
Meanwhile, the Cheltenham Festival preview circuit is about to hit top gear. Incredibly, we’re now just 20 days away from National Hunt racing’s Olympics. It’s all getting very real!
Inside today’s main piece, it’s a case of two columns in one. I’ve highlighted a couple of future winners from the weekend’s racing. Plus, I kick off the build-up to Saturday’s big races and look at one of the Ludlow handicaps.
European Pattern Committee Review and Champions Day Changes
The European Pattern Committee has met, and not before time, York’s City of York Stakes has been awarded Group 1 status. It’s a well-deserved upgrade for York, which will now have four Group 1 races at the Ebor Festival. Prize money for the race will rise by another £100,000 this year, further strengthening its appeal. It’s ironic that last year’s winner of the race Breege was one of its worst rated winners
It’s less positive news for Newbury’s Group 2 Hungerford Stakes, which falls just seven days before the City of York Stakes. The Hungerford has struggled to attract top-quality fields, and Newbury failed to invest in the race unlike York. It’s future looks uncertain. Maybe it’s time to get rid of the race or move it to a meeting earlier in the season
Champions Day at Ascot has also seen a shake-up. The Long Distance Cup has been upgraded to a Group 1, while a new £250,000 two-year-old conditions race over 6f has been added to the 2025 card. Ascot has long pushed for a juvenile race on Champions Day but having failed to secure an existing Group 1 from Newmarket or Doncaster, they’ve opted to introduce what feels like a forced addition to a day meant to showcase champions.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, which was under threat of losing its Group 1 status, has narrowly avoided a downgrade. In truth, it was probably fortunate to do so.
Future Winners
I checked my Racing Post tracker on Tuesday and noticed I only have 18 horses in it—a big drop from the 30+ I had this time last year. That says a lot about how this season has played out so far on the eyecatcher front.
At this stage of the jumps season, my eyecatchers tend to be horses being primed for the spring festivals and both today’s fill that criteria.
I mentioned one of them in Monday’s column—Git Maker. The Jamie Snowden-trained 9-year-old has been slow to come to hand this season, but there were positives to take from his 19-length fourth in Saturday’s Grand National Trial at Haydock. Last year’s Scottish Grand National third thrives on a stamina test, as he showed at Ayr, and while his jumping needs work, there’s a staying handicap chase in him if he sharpens it up.
Joyeux Machin looks like one Dan Skelton has a plan for. The 8-year-old has improved with each run since joining the yard, posting better RPRs in all four starts. His staying-on second to Altobelli over 2m 3f at Ascot on Saturday was another step forward. He probably needs further and could be worth another try at 3m.
That'll Do Moss caught my eye at Sandown on Thursday. She ran Hollygrove Cha Cha to a short head in the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle, finishing strongly. The step up to 2m 3½f suited her, and she shapes like one who’ll improve again over further. She wasn’t as well positioned as the winner and was only having her second start over hurdles, this was a fine effort. There are more races to be won with her against her own sex.
Looking Ahead to the Weekend
It’s one of the last opportunities for horses to stake their claims for the Cheltenham Festival.
The £150,000 Ladbrokes Trophy (Handicap Chase) (3.35) headlines Kempton’s seven-race card, backed up by three consecutive Grade 2 contests. The Pendil Novices’ Chase (2.25) and Adonis Hurdle (1.50) could be key races for Nicky Henderson, who may run Jingko Blue in the former after his early exit at Ascot last Saturday. Meanwhile, German Derby winner and €1.4 million purchase Palladium bids to follow up his successful hurdling debut at Huntingdon in the Adonis. The Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3.00) is the other Kempton Grade 2 set to feature on ITV, alongside Newcastle’s Virgin Bet Eider Handicap Chase (2.10). The ITV cameras will also be at Southwell which hosts the Group 3 Winter Derby (3.15).
Over in Ireland, Fairyhouse hosts the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase (3:25). While not a Grand National trial, last year’s winner I Am Maximus went on to land the big one at Aintree, following in the footsteps of Hedgehunter (2005). He’s likely to bid for back-to-back wins in the race on Saturday.
Wednesday Racing
The His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (4:10) at Ludlow is the standout race on Wednesday, especially with Doncaster facing a morning inspection due to the threat of overnight frost.
Kelce heads the early betting. A winner over this trip at Market Rasen two starts ago. He was running well when taking a heavy fall at the last in the Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day. He looked booked for second that day, but the winner has subsequently franked the form at Sandown.
Back On The Lash is unbeaten in three starts at Ludlow. His best recent efforts have come over Cheltenham’s Cross-Country course. But he can’t be ruled out back on drying ground.
Ballycamus set too strong a pace when pulling up at Windsor last time but is better judged on his win there two starts back. If his jockey gets the fractions right, he’s a contender.
Supervisor almost made a winning return at Warwick before unseating at the first in the Sussex National last time. He should be in the mix for a yard that won this race in 2020 and 2021.
In Thursday’s column, I’ll be previewing Punchestown’s Grand National Trial, which was postponed from Sunday following the tragic passing of jockey Michael O’Sullivan. I’ll also take a deeper dive into Saturday’s Kempton card.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John