Morning all,

The great thing about February it’s a short month. Spring is getting closer and each day we see the days getting longer. As witnessed on Saturday where the last race at Fairyhouse went off at 5:25.

A busy Saturday of action just gone. Ok, it wasn’t of the highest quality but it was good enough with the handicaps being of most interest.

Inside today’s main piece, you can read my weekend review. Plus, there’s a Monday tip from Carlisle.

Saturday Review

Knight Salute justified favouritism in winning the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. Returning from a 77-day break he probably improved on his already high level of form to win.

Runner-up Tiger Blue was having only his second start over hurdles ran a cracker to finish 3 ¼ length of a smart juvenile. Indeed, he would probably have finished closer but for making a mess of the last when making his challenge. He’s an improving juvenile hurdler.

Knight Salute is now 5-5 over hurdles, will be sharper for this run and he’s won at Cheltenham so handles the track well enough.  He will need to improve again to beat the leading hopes at Cheltenham. However, there’s plenty to like about his attitude.  He also stays well and is very effective on a sound surface.

Now as short as 10/1 with William Hill for the Triumph Hurdle but a more realistic 14/1 with Coral & Ladbrokes.  He looks the best of the home contingent and should give a good account of himself next month.  He’s really growing on me.

Pic D'Orhy gives Paul Nicholls a 12^th success in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices Chase.

Despite being friendless in the pre-race betting he bounced back from a below par effort behind L'Homme Presse at Sandown. Taking up it up 3 out he faced a strong challenge from the well fancied Millers Bank coming to the last. The winner found a great stride at the last and plenty on the run in to hold off the runner-up.

Millers Bank was getting 5lb from the winner and didn’t have the speed of Pic D'Orhy on the run-in. He’s an improving chaser though and can win a nice pot before the season is out.

The winner is more an Aintree horse than a Cheltenham one. He goes well on a sound surface and should be competitive in big races in the spring.

It was a massive 30 minutes for trainer Christian Williams who landed both the big handicap chases.

The first leg of the double came courtesy of Win My Wings success in the marathon Eider Chase. The application of the first time cheekpieces and the step up to 4m suited the mare. Taking it up three out from top-weight Éclair Surf.  Nicely clear coming to the last it looked she would go onto an easy success but she idled on the run-in which allowed Éclair Surf to get within 1 ¼ length of her at the finish.

Both the winner and runner-up will more races. The winner showed she stays 4m and could go to the Scottish Grand National, likes good ground, and the trainer will no doubt be looking even further ahead to next season’s Welsh Grand National with the mare.  The runner-up would have preferred softer ground but ran a cracker under his big weight.

The second leg of the big Saturday handicap Williams double. Came with Cap Du Nord’s success in the valuable Grade 3 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton.

Cape Du Nord, fifth in last years race he was well handicapped on the best of last season’s form when a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 11 to Royale Pagaille over C&D.

He travelled much better in the re-applied cheekpieces than he had done in his recent races and was also suited by Saturday’s decent gallop. Taking it up two out he was always looked to be holding off stablemate Kitty’s Light after the last.

I thought Brian Hughes gave the runner-up a great ride. Coming into the straight I feared he might be coming with a winning run but fortunately for me and Victor Value subscribers the winner had enough in hand.   

Third home Our Power shows he stays three miles, doing his best work at the finish. That opens a few more options for the improving 7-year-old.

The well fancied Annsam never got into any sort of jumping rhythm, making mistakes and was pulled up. He’s better than this run.

Another fancied runner Phoenix Way (6/1 joint fav) fell at third and looked a heavy one. However, if his confidence hasn’t been dented there will be other days for him.

This and the Eider once again showcased the talents of trainer Christian Williams. On what was a ‘Super Saturday’ for the Welsh trainer.

Monday Racing

Carlisle and Plumpton provide the jumps action this afternoon and there’s an all-weather evening card at Wolverhampton. Today I’m heading to Carlisle to put the 3m 2f handicap chase (3:20) under the microscope.

Carlisle

3:20 – Camp Belan had yet to be asked for his effort when unseating his rider four at Wetherby 12-days ago. Prior to that the 6-year-old had finished runner-up on his two starts over fences.

Skyhill and Gipsy Lee Rose were separated by a length when first and second here over 3m three weeks ago. At the revised weights there shouldn’t be much between the pair. Yet Skyhill is 9/2 and Gipsy Lee Rose is 12/1. That said the latter is 0-12 over fences so it may still pay to look elsewhere.

No Cruise Yet has been in good form over fences this season, including last time when a 1 ¼ lengths 3rd of 13 at Doncaster. This is slight step up in grade for the 7-year-old today but he will be suited by the step back up to 3m 2f.

Morozov Cocktail a winner at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Bounced back from a below par run when 5 ¼ lengths 3rd of 9 here over 3m. He’s another who steps up a notch in class but today’s extra distance looks set to suit.

Peter Bowen is 2-10 with his runners at Carlisle in the past five seasons. He’s runs two at the track Downtown Getaway (4:30) & Dalkingstown and both run in the first time cheekpieces.

Dalkingstown won over fences at the fifth attempt at Sedgefield two starts back an ran just as well when a 3 ¼ lengths 3rd of 5 back their last time. He stays well and remains unexposed over the larger obstacles. If the addition of the headgear has the desired effect, he can win this.

Selection: Dalkingstown –

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John