Somerset National Takes Centre Stage

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I’m continuing my look ahead to the weekend’s big races. Today the focus is on Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase. Plus, there's a preview of today's Somerset National at Wincanton.

Looking Ahead to the Weekend – Part 2

I looked at Saturday’s big handicap, the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase, in yesterday’s column. Haydock also stages the Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (1:25), which adds further depth to the card.

Haydock doesn’t host Saturday’s most valuable race, though. That honour belongs to Ascot, where the Grade 1 BetMGM Clarence House Chase (3:30) takes centre stage with £98,473 to the winner.

Ascot: Clarence House Chase

Just five were entered on Monday, but it’s a strong line-up if the main players line-up.

Il Etait Temps made it seven wins from nine over fences when landing his fifth Grade 1 in the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month. He bolted up that day and sets a very high standard. He’ll be hard to beat.

Jonbon finished nine lengths behind the winner in that race and was firmly put in his place. It’s difficult to see him reversing the form with Il Etait Temps. That said, he did win this race 12 months ago, and Nicky Henderson has been sounding positive about the ten-year-old’s chances.

Thistle Ask has been one of the most improved chasers in training. He started is career with Dan Skelton off a mark of 115 and is now 43lb higher. He fully deserves his place in the line-up, and good ground will suit.

Gidleigh Park, a Grade 2-winning novice last season, finished runner-up to Jango Baie here over 2m5f on his seasonal return. He’s unbeaten over two miles (3-3), so the drop back in trip makes sense. He’s a nice chasing type but this looks more about picking up prize money than winning.

Haydock: Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle

Old Park Star, second favourite for the Supreme, made it two from two over hurdles when winning impressively at Cheltenham last month. He’s the 4/5 favourite here, and it’s easy to see why. Nicky Henderson has won this race three times since 2019, including with Jonbon in 2022.

He faces a proper test of his Cheltenham credentials from Hurricane Pat, who is also unbeaten over hurdles after landing a Listed novice at Sandown last month.

La Conquiere was a comfortable winner of a Listed mares’ novice at Newbury last time and remains open to improvement. However, this looks a hot contest, and she also holds weekend entries at Ascot and Windsor in mares’ races that would suit her better.

Of the others, Japetus is interesting. The Nicky Richards-trained five-year-old was unbeaten in two bumpers last season and made it two from two over hurdles when winning at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. He looks the best northern-based novice hurdler for several years, but this represents a big step up in class.

Cobden is All Green and Gold

Five years after Barry Geraghty retired, JP McManus has finally appointed a retained jockey to ride his horses in Britain and Ireland. From next season, that role will be filled by Harry Cobden.

Mark Walsh has ridden McManus horses in Ireland with some success since Geraghty packed it in. Still, I’m surprised it took this long for a permanent appointment. I also thought Sean Bowen might get the nod.

Cobden is a very good jockey. Few judge pace better, which makes him excellent on front-runners. Like Ruby Walsh, if a horse travels strongly, Cobden is happy to sit still and let the horse do the work.

Bowen, by contrast, rides more like Tony McCoy. He’s stronger in the saddle and keeps horses going with constant encouragement. For me, that style would have suited the McManus string better. I simply think Bowen would have been the idea choice.

That said, my view is now irrelevant. It’s now Cobden’s job and it’s a hugely lucrative one. Aside from the Willie Mullins role, there’s arguably no better jumps retainer in Britain or Ireland.

As both Cobden and Paul Nicholls have said, it was an offer too good to refuse. The quality of horses running in the green and gold colours and the money on offer makes it a no brainer.

I wish him every success. Although the appointment is for next season, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get on some JP horses before then. In fact, Indeed it happens this weekend as he takes the ride on Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase.

Thursday Racing

It’s Somerset National Day with Wincanton serving up the best races on Thursday.

2:27 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 2m4f

Meatloaf is three from four at Wincanton, albeit over shorter trips. He has run with credit on both starts this season and steps back up in distance here. He won at Taunton over 2m3f last term, so the trip should suit. Effective on decent ground and should be involved.

One Eye On Vegas made it four wins from six going right-handed over around 2m4f when landing a Leicester handicap last time. He’s 4lb higher and back on less testing ground, but he should be thereabouts again.

3:07 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m1f

A Perfect Day improved to make a winning handicap debut at Lingfield (2m7f) 33 days ago. He stayed on well that day and a 6lb rise looks fair given he’s capable of better. He sets the standard.

Champagne Chic bounced back to form when beaten a neck at Chepstow last month. That was a step forward from his reappearance. He’s up 4lb but is a previous course winner, remains unexposed over staying trips, and can go close.

Turndlightsdownlow’s figures since going handicapping read 112. He went close to landing the hat-trick when a three-quarter-length second to the progressive Kikijo at Sandown last month. A 7lb rise demands improvement, but he may still have more to give.

3:37 – Somerset National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m2½f

Rivers Corner is consistent and ran well when third at Newbury last time, but he may be vulnerable to better-handicapped rivals.

Isaac Des Obeaux capitalised on a falling mark to win over fences at the sixth attempt at Exeter 28 days ago. He’s up 6lb and may struggle to confirm form with Operation Manna, who was a five-length second on chase debut. Operation Manna hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound but remains unexposed over fences and should go well.

Destroytheevidence hinted he wants further than 3m when a back-to-form second at Ludlow last month. The visor goes on for the first time and there could be more to come over today’s longer trip.

Our Power hasn’t won for nearly three years, but his consistency means he’s just 1lb below his last winning mark. He had no real excuses when a well-beaten sixth in the Berkshire National last time. However, he showed last season he can still produce smart from and that would put him firmly in the mix. Trainer Sam Thomas is 9-20 with his runners at Wincanton.

Iron Bridge stays well and returned to form when a neck second at Carlisle on his seasonal return over this trip. Cheekpieces go on for the first time and if he builds on that effort, he has solid claims. The yard won this race last year.

Rapper can be a hard ride, something that was evident again when last of six at Ludlow. He hasn’t won for three years but is 12lb below his last winning mark. He’s well handicapped if things fall right but that’s far from guaranteed.

Tomorrow, I’ll be turning my attention to the best of the action from the Berkshire Winter Festival which gets underway at Windsor.

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John