Tag: Horse Racing

King George VI Chase Preview

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We finished in profit from Ascot last weekend thanks to Irving (11-4), Houblon Des Obeaux (4-1) and Flaxen Flare (16-1 each-way). Let’s hope that we can keep up the good work over Christmas when we all need a bit of a cash boost.

The King George has never been a particular favourite of mine because it is often won by the same horse at prohibitive odds. Kauto Star (5 times) and Desert Orchid (4 times) have been great in terms of popular racing winners but the race is generally not that competitive.

That is certainly not the case this year with a virtual re-run of the Betfair Chase at Haydock and connections of the first three home all being quite bullish about their prospects. It was Cue Card that came out on top at the Lancashire track, comfortably holding off Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti who were both making their seasonal debuts.

The second and third were the two horses that I earmarked at the start of the season for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and they certainly didn’t do their chances any harm at Haydock. Silviniaco Conti surprised by how well he travelled. In fact, he may have travelled a little too well and just ran out of puff in the closing stages.

Dynaste bowled along nicely and jumped like an old hand rather than a second season chaser. David Pipe must have been delighted by that and he appeared to love Kempton last season when bolting up in the Feltham. I just feel that Dynaste is more likely to be suited by this track than Silviniaco Conti, although I can see the Nicholls horse running a big race.

Cue Card improved over a stone from his first run to his second and Colin Tizzard has since revealed that his stable has been trying to shake off a virus all season. He is at pains to stage categorically that Cue Card is not affected and is in great shape for Boxing Day.

Al Ferof has always been regarded as a likely candidate for this race and he did nothing wrong when winning at Ascot. Admittedly he only had a single rival but that horse came out and ran well in a handicap at Cheltenham so it may have been a better run than it first appeared. It’s hard to see any of the others getting involved but it is set up for a cracking race between the trio from Haydock.

Dynaste at 100-30 Bet365, Coral

Ascot Friday Preview

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There are some very promising novices on show at Ascot on Friday on the opening day of the Ladbroke meeting. 21 runners have stood their ground for the big race on Saturday with our midweek selections of Dell Arca (10-1) and Flaxen Flare (16-1) among them.

The pick of tomorrow’s action is the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Hurdle and I believe Irving is over-priced at 11-4 in the early betting. It is true that Nicky Henderson has his usual endless supply of promising young hurdlers and Volnay De Thaix is the hot favourite here.

Whilst he could hardly have been impressive when winning at Newbury last time, it could justifiably be called an “egg and spoon” race and he hasn’t faced anything as smart as Irving. He may well prove too good for the Nicholls horse but the disparity in the odds making it a simple choice.

Irving was just as impressive at Ascot, cruising clear of A Hare Breath. That horse was only fourth subsequently but never seriously threatened to get near to Irving. Nick Scholfield is making the most of the glorious opportunity given to him at the Ditcheat yard and he rates the horse very highly.

My second selection is Raya Star in the novice chase. I must admit I am slightly worried by reports of a “mystery malaise” affecting some of Alan King’s runners but I’ve long been a supporter of this horse. He was a very good hurdler, winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr and the Ladbroke Hurdle over this course.

I am not convinced that Cheltenham suits him because he ran poorly there in the County Hurdle and he was well held when beaten by Dodging Bullets in November. King’s novice chasers have been slightly disappointing of late but this fellow should run well providing the going doesn’t deteriorate too much.

His best form has been on a sound surface but he handles soft ok. Fox Appeal may have been flattered by his second to Wonderful Charm and Mr Mole was not the most reliable performer over hurdles. He is one of several promising rides for Tony McCoy including Carningli who should return to winning ways in the last.

Irving 11-4 William Hill

Raya Star 7-2 Coral

Ladbroke Hurdle Preview

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The Ladbroke Hurdle is one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season and a massive 27 horses were declared at the six-day stage. With multiple entries from several of the top stables, this looks a bit of a minefield to untangle.

Paul Nicholls has the two top weights in Ptit Zig and Sametegal plus Irish Saint who was considered a high class novice. As a rule, I don’t like backing top weights in races such as this. They need to be Champion Hurdle class to win off anything over 11st 7lb and I don’t think there is anything of that calibre here.

Sametegal ran a game race when only beaten half a length by Dell Arca in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. He looked as though he may even win jumping the last but was just run out of it in the closing stages. Both horses have gone up in the handicap and there should be little between them but you have to favour the Pipe horse with only 10st 11lb.

The classy French import has gone up 8lbs for that win but he looks capable of featuring again here. That was his first race outside of France and he seemed totally unperturbed by the hustle and bustle at Cheltenham. He looks outstanding each-way value at around 10-1.

Flaxen Flare interests me most of the others that ran in the Greatwood. Trainer Gordon Elliott won this race 12 months ago with Cause Of Causes and has had this event pencilled in for some time for his Fred Winter winner. He has a handy pull in the weights with Dell Arca and Sametegal and also warrants each-way support at 16-1.

Nicky Henderson’s Rolling Star was a bitter disappointment in the Triumph Hurdle and again at Liverpool last season. The Haydock race he won may not have been a high quality renewal and I can’t support him under a welter burden of 11st 11lb. Willie Mullins has not really set the world alight with his raiders so far and he could rely on hat-trick seeking City Slicker. He is difficult to assess but could go well off a nice racing weight.

The sports columns have been tipping Totalize and his price has tumbled this week. He may have been interesting at 25-1 but he looks less attractive at half those odds. Chatterbox could finish ahead of Rolling Star and should finish ahead of Chris Pea Green and Irish Saint on Newbury form.

Dell Arca (each-way) 10-1 Bet365

Flaxen Flare (each-way) 16-1 BetVictor

Racing Preview – Saturday 14th December

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All of our selections ran well on Friday but only Oscar Whisky emerged as a winner. Full credit to Wonderful Charm for putting up a game effort trying to concede 8lbs. Both horses look to have a bright future over fences.

I must admit to being surprised by Monbeg Dude coming to beat Theatre Guide. I had mistakenly believed that he really needed soft ground to be at his best but clearly he can cope with anything in this grade. I don’t think that I will be rushing to back him at 20-1 for the Grand National though as he is a bit on the small side and could find it difficult to lay up on the first circuit.

Not that size is everything at Aintree as old Sunnyhillboy reminded us when winning the staying hurdle under AP McCoy. He was so unlucky to be pipped by Neptune Collonges a couple of years ago but was well beaten when departing at the last this time around.

There is a disappointing turnout for the supporting card at Cheltenham on Saturday with The New One having only Zarkandar as a realistic opponent in the International Hurdle and a miserable turnout of just four for the Relkeel Hurdle. I’d have to question the race planners on having Grade 2 two-mile and two and a half-mile hurdle races on the same card. You could easily merge the fields to make one decent race!

Johns Spirit and Colour Squadron were my choices for the December Gold Cup earlier in the week and I still cannot split them. I can’t help feeling that Easter Meteor is over-priced at 16-1 so am going to have a little each-way on him too.

There are more interesting betting races over at Doncaster and I’m going to have a flutter on Ted Spread at 12-1. He won the Chester Vase in 2010 before beating only one home in the Epsom Derby. Clearly he showed Paul Nicholls something at home as he was heavily backed for races like the County Hurdle and Imperial Cup but failed to deliver the goods.

He is now with Suzy Smith and this might be the time to catch him. It wouldn’t be the first time a horse has been transformed by a change of stables.

I also like the look of Bear’s Affair in the handicap chase for Nicky Henderson. The Lambourn maestro is sending a strong team up north including Triumph hope Royal Irish Hussar and I wouldn’t be surprised if he bagged a few winners. Bear’s Affair has come up against Le Bec and Wonderful Charm, arguably two of the best staying novices seen so far this season. He won at Kempton last time and is only up 4lbs for this.

*Ante-post Colour Squadron 6-1

*Ante-post Johns Spirit 13-2

(each-way) Easter Meteor at 16-1 BetBright

Ted Spread 12-1 Bet365

Bear’s Affair 4-1 William Hill

Cheltenham Friday Preview

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Channel 4 is screening four races live from Cheltenham on Friday with plenty of competitive racing. Possibly the most informative race regarding the Cheltenham festival takes place before Channel 4 come on air with Oscar Whisky and Wonderful Charm meeting in the opening novice chase.

Oscar Whisky has his detractors but there is no denying that he was a seriously good hurdler. Things did not work out well for him over fences here last time when forced to make his own running. There was no pace whatsoever in the early stages and Oscar Whisky was all over the place with his jumping until Geraghty gave up the ghost and kicked on.

He was eventually run out of it by Taquin Du Seuil but that was no disgrace and he should strip fitter on Friday. I am a great fan of Wonderful Charm and I can see him going for the RSA Chase in March. I just wonder whether he will be able to concede 8lbs to such a smart horse as Oscar Whisky on good ground over this trip.

The Hennessy Gold Cup did this column a huge favour when Triolo D’Alene gave us a 25-1 winning tip and the form comes under the microscope tomorrow. The third home was Colin Tizzard’s Theatre Guide, a promising six-year-old with decent novice form last season. He didn’t run well at all here previously but connections believe that he is a different proposition this season so he’s worth supporting.

There are some familiar names in the field including Welsh National winner Monbeg Dude and formerly smart Burton Port. I fancied the latter for the Grand National a couple of years ago but he missed the race and has not recaptured the form that saw him finish fourth in a Gold Cup. Monbeg Dude has not had his favoured soft ground yet but has been running well and Aintree is his long-term objective.

Nicky Henderson saddles Fourth Estate and Livius in the handicap hurdle and everything seems to point to Fourth Estate. He finished second to Ranjaan at Kempton and will be better suited by this track.

Paul Nicholls could hardly believe his eyes when Southfield Theatre and Salubrious were both overhauled by Return Spring at the last meeting here and goes in search of revenge. His horses are running much better now and I take Southfield Theatre to come out on top with a small pull in the weights.

Finally, keep an eye on Garde Le Victoire in the last. His hurdling needs some work but that could be down to the fact that he has outclassed the opposition in his last couple of races. He looks Cheltenham novice material and can remain unbeaten.

12.30 Oscar Whisky Even money BetVictor

1.40 Fourth Estate 9-4 BetVictor non runner

2.10 Theatre Guide 5-1 888Sport

3.15 Southfield Theatre 4-1 Bet365

3.45 Garde Le Victoire 11-4 BetVictor

Huntingdon Thursday Preview

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Clearly I spoke too soon about the All-weather! Fog was one thing that I reckoned without and it duly descended upon Lingfield Park to cause the meeting to be abandoned after two races. Never mind, at least the funds are still in our pockets as Cheltenham’s big weekend meeting approaches.

The highlight of Thursday’s racing is an interesting Grade 2 contest at Huntingdon for the Peterborough Chase over two and a half miles. According to official ratings, it should be a straight match between Captain Chris and Riverside Theatre.

Captain Chris won the Arkle Trophy in 2011 but has had a few problems since. He unseated Richard Johnson at Exeter with the race at his mercy one day and then went through a spell of jumping violently out to his right. Despite a lot of schooling, he is still inclined to do this and he wouldn’t be one that I’d trust in a competitive heat at the festival these days.

When he is going right-handed, as he will be tomorrow, he is a different proposition. Last December he ran the race of his life when just caught in the King George by Long Run. Both horses looked dead on their feet in the heavy ground but he produced a thoroughly game effort and really didn’t deserve to lose.

He also won at Ascot first time out and chased home the smart Cue Card at the same venue. Assuming that his trainer has him reasonably fit, he will be tough to beat. Riverside Theatre won the Ryanair a couple of seasons ago but has had a similarly torrid time of late. After pulling up at Aintree, he has been beaten a total of 72 lengths in three subsequent outings. Nicky Henderson is a great trainer but it is a leap of faith if you are backing this one tomorrow.

The biggest danger to Captain Chris may come from the progressive Module who chased home Somersby at Exeter with Cue Card behind him in third. Cue Card went on to win the Betfair Chase whilst Somersby ran on well to finish second in the Tingle Creek on Saturday. That suggests that Module is better than his official rating of 157 and closer to Captain Chris’s rating of 169. In receipt of 8lbs, he must have a fighting chance.

Champion Court is the best of the rest, despite a lack-lustre effort under a big weight in the Paddy Power Chase last time. He should be able to settle nicely and his safe jumping will expose any weaknesses in his rivals. However, with fitness on his side, I just favour Module to get the better of Captain Chris.

Module 9-2 Totesport