Good morning all,

Finger’s crossed the weather gods do seem to be playing ball with jumps racing at least for now. The snow close to Wetherby is melting quickly, but there's an inspection on Friday morning and it could be all-hurdles card at the West Yorkshire track,

There's cold weather on the way but Musselburgh should be fine.  Sandown should also be able to race on Saturday but all the hurdle races were cancelled and it will be an all-chase card. I’m a shade disappointed that the Grade 3 handicap hurdle has had to be abandoned, as I had a fancy in the race. However, better some racing than none.

It’s a feast of Grade 1’s for racing fans on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday. The feature race is the Irish Gold Cup (3.40). At Musselburgh it’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day and you can see the best of the action from both tracks in ITV’s bumper ten race programme.

Inside today’s main piece I have had a look at two of the Sunday races from the Leopardstown. Plus, I have a couple of fancies at Wincanton.

Dublin Racing Festival – Day 2

Apart from the Irish Gold Cup, e have the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.40) which has the potential to be another good race. Sadly, Zanahiyr doesn’t run but Quilixios and French Aseel, (now with Willie Mullins), do.

Monkfish & Latest Exhibition first and second here in Grade 1 at Christmas are likely to renew rivalry in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase (3:10) and we could also see Andy Dufresne in the same race.

Add in three competitive handicaps with strong markets and we have plenty of good action to look forward to.

3:40 – Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade 1) – 3m

Despite the race cutting up to just five runners, hopefully we won’t lose anymore before post time. It still looks a good race, with just 5lb separating the top four on Official Ratings.

Last year’s winner Delta Work, failed to complete in the Savills Chase at the track over Christmas and needs to put that mishap behind him.  Trainer Gordon Elliott could also run The Storyteller who won the Grade 1 at Down Royal in the autumn.

Ante post favourite Minella Indo also fell in the Savills Chase and is another on a retrieval mission.

Kemboy & Melon finished second and third in the Savills Chase and still have entries. The pair give champion trainer Willie Mullins a strong hand in the race. Kemboy could get an uncontested lead and Melon showed last time that he gets 3m and is expected to be ridden more patiently.

Verdict: If there is a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in the field its likely to be Minella Indo. As far as today’s race it’s hard to rule out the four other winners. Both Delta Work and Kemboy go well at the track, in the latter’s case this is likely his Gold Cup, and it will be a brave punter who rules out The Storyteller, although he does have a bit to find on the figures.

2:10 – Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Appreciate It was a smart bumper performer, finishing runner-up in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season. He’s made a smooth transition to hurdling this season winning both his starts, including in a Grade 1 over C&D last time. He’s just 5/2 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and will take plenty of beating here.

Ballyadam was a disappointing 4^th behind Appreciate It, here last time. However, prior to that had looked a smart novice hurdling prospect winning both starts. He’s surely better than he was able show last time and the trainer does have his runners in better form now.

Irascible, a winner on his hurdle debut at Clonmel improved on that effort when finishing runner-up to Appreciate It last time. The 6-year-old has got nine lengths to find with the winner but is open to improvement and would have each-way claims again.

I’m anticipating my biggest weekend of punting so far in 2021. If you want all my race preview and weekend selections. You can join me here.

Thursday racing

I’m off to Wincanton for today’s selections in the 3m 1f Dick Hunt Handicap Chase (2:10).

Wincanton

2:10 – A field of 14 have been declared for a competitive looking handicap chase and it's 11/2 the field.

The market is headed by Shanty Alley who bids for the hat trick after wins at Uttoxeter and Doncaster. He’s up 13lb for his last success and in a deeper race here but should go well again.

The Kings Writ was runner-up in this race last year, he ran a cracker to finish runner-up in the Somerset National 14-days ago. The handicapper has nudged him up 5lb for that effort, however, he might well have won but for making a mistake at the last.

Final Nudge returned from a 12 month lay off to win at Market Rasen last February. The 12-year-old is having his first start since then and his first start for Fergal O’Brien. The 12-year-old isn’t handicapped out of this on his best back form and has run well here in the past.

Springfield Fox is arguably the most intriguing runner. The 8-year-old had looked an exciting prospect for staying chases when winning at Chepstow and Exeter early last year. He was sent off just 8/1 for the Coral Welsh Grand National but was never travelling and ran as if something was amiss. Trainer Tom George has been struggling for winners of late which is a slight concern.

Eden De Houx has only had three runs over fences. He looks steadily progressive and was doing his best work at the finish at Exeter over 3m last time. The first-time blinkers replace the cheekpieces today and this is the first start since a wind-op. He's won on heavy over hurdles so underfoot conditions shouldn’t inconvenience the 7-year-old.

Verdict: I'm going to give Springfield Fox another chance and it may pay to have a saver on Shanty Alley.

Springfield Fox – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Shanty Alley – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

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Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John