Tag: Newbury

Hawkesbury the star attraction at Kempton

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There is plenty of racing in the UK for punters on Wednesday with jump meetings at Newbury and Newcastle and all-weather action at Lingfield and Kempton.

Both Newbury and Newcastle must pass early morning inspections but are expected to go ahead. That does at least tell us to expect very testing conditions which may be partly responsible for a disappointing turnout for Newbury’s 1.45 race.

I have been a fan of Far West over the past couple of seasons following his exciting juvenile campaign which ended in defeat in the Triumph Hurdle. He laboured under a stiff handicap mark last season as a result and is gradually getting the hang of things over fences. He looked to be in trouble here at the last meeting, losing ground at most of the fences before rallying on the flat. In the end, his flat speed proved too much for Seventh Sky.

Tomorrow he faces a really progressive chaser in Top Gamble, trained by Richard Lee. Strangely for a horse that fell in his last two races over hurdles, the gelding jumps like a stag and has been very impressive at Wetherby and Warwick. If Jamie Moore is positive on him from the start, I can see Far West struggling to keep in touch. Nicky Henderson should chalk up another couple of winners in the novice events but the odds are likely to be prohibitive.

John Gosden sends a couple to Lingfield and should be on the mark with Nancy Astor at 2.25. She ran a couple of nice races here, notably when chasing home stable companion Falling Petals last month. She is entered in a couple of Tattersalls sales races at Newmarket in April so will need to win a race like this if she is to follow that route.

You don’t get too many horses rated in the 100’s on the all-weather at this time of year but Godolphin send Hawkesbury to Kempton for a Conditions race at 6.40. The grey son of Shamardal looked pretty smart when winning by seven lengths at Doncaster in June but was beaten on both of his last two starts.

He hung badly at Newbury behind Belardo and pulled hard before weakening at Newmarket. He is clearly very talented but his ungainly style of racing is a concern. Even so, he should outclass his three opponents before connections map out a plan for the season.

My only other bet on the Kempton card is Thomas Blossom in the 5.40. He laughed at his rivals last time out and it is no surprise that Patrick Charmings has decided to run him quickly under a 6lbs penalty. David Probert should be able to settle him in this big field and come with a late run.

Top Gamble 1.45 Newbury @7-4 Paddy Power

Nancy Astor 2.25 Lingfield

Thomas Blossom 5.40 Kempton @11-10 Paddy Power

Hawkesbury 6.40 @4-5 Betfair

Newbury Monday Preview

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We had to settle for second place in both of the big Christmas features with Dynaste (King George 8-1) and Benvolio (Welsh National 14-1). The show moves on to Newbury on Monday with a decent card featuring the Challow Hurdle and the Mandarin Chase.

The Grade 1 Challow Hurdle has attracted a top quality field with the more established novices Blaklion, Parlour Games and Vyta Du Roc taken on by Arpege D’Alene. It should be close between Parlour Games and Blaklion on Cheltenham form but I am going to take a chance on the lightly-raced Arpege D’Alene. It looked a decent race that he won decisively at Ascot last month despite drifting out to 12-1. This will obviously be a tougher test but Newbury is one of the fairest tracks in the country and he can spring a surprise.

The Mandarin Chase can go the way of Alan King’s Ziga Boy who beat Silver Commander at Wincanton last time out. That was only the sixth start of his career so there is plenty of scope for improvement and a 9lbs rise may not stop him. The main danger is probably the consistent Knockranrawley.

Morito Du Berlais will have plenty of supporters after finishing third in a hot race at Haydock last time. He did not hurdle with any great fluency up the home straight so it was no disgrace to finish less than three lengths behind On Tour. I am going to oppose him with Wincanton winner Polamco who showed signs of inexperience before drawing clear of Muckle Roe. He has also gone up in the handicap but receives 7lbs from the Nicholls runner and that could prove significant.

The handicap chase at 1.05 is going to take some sorting out but I’m siding with Phone Home who should have won here last time out. He held a good lead at the last but lost concentration in front and allowed Bertie Boru to get up and beat him. I expect Brendan Powell to hold on to him a little longer this time before delivering his challenge.

Nicky Henderson can land a first and last race double with Top Notch and Clean Sheet. Both are exciting additions to the powerful Lambourn yard and have Cheltenham aspirations. Top Notch won both of his races in France comfortably while Clean Sheet was only beaten through fitness at Sandown last time out. Nicholls can also complete a double on the day with Far West in the 2.45 after a couple of promising efforts over fences.

Top Notch 12.30 @10-11 Paddy Power

Phone Home 1.05 @5-1 Paddy Power

Ziga Boy 1.35 @5-2 Ladbrokes

Arpege D’Alene 2.10 @6-1 Ladbrokes

Far West 2.45 @9-4 Bet365

Polamco 3.15 @5-1 Coral

Clean Sheet 3.50 @10-11 Paddy Power

Racing Preview November 29th

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Our ante-post advice for the Hennessy Gold Cup was to go each-way on Smad Place and Many Clouds. I’m pleased to say that both horses are set to go in Saturday’s feature race at Newbury in a typically competitive renewal.

Denis O’Regan takes over in the saddle on Smad Place with both of Alan King’s regular riders side-lined through injury. The grey should run well and I haven’t lost any confidence in Many Clouds, despite his slight drift out to 9-1 in the betting. I am not a particular fan of Djakadam or Fingal Bay in the race with their limited jumping experience so I’m hopeful that we will get at least one of our runners in the frame.

Nicky Henderson has not had the best of weeks having had to admit defeat in his efforts to have Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig ready for their respective December targets. He has also admitted that he has been caught out by the soft ground with many of his top-of-the-ground horses in action at present. I am surprised that he has declared Triolo D’Alene for the Hennessy having frequently warned that the horse needs good ground. I tipped him last year at 14-1 but I’d be very surprised if he were to follow up this season.

Henderson could still have something to smile about on Saturday as Hammersly Lake can go one better than at the Cheltenham Open meeting. He was only beaten in a photograph by Roman Flight having travelled well throughout and he should go close off a 4lbs higher mark. David Pipe’s Home Run could be the danger as he was full of running when tripping up at Market Rasen last time out.

The Long Distance Hurdle should be a cakewalk for More Of That but I shall be watching the run of Shotgun Paddy with interest. He looks tailor-made for the Welsh National and this will tell us how fit he is for the Chepstow marathon next month.

Venetia Williams has her string in terrific form at present and is averaging a winner a day. The Clock Leary made a very impressive fencing debut at Ascot and runs in the 12.50 at Newbury on Saturday. The handicapper has lumped 12lbs extra on him for that win but a follow up looks extremely likely. Tara Road could be the main danger after winning on the bridle at Ffos Las. The handicapper didn’t miss him either and he is up 13lbs.

Over at Newcastle, I hope to see Irving get his Champion Hurdle campaign back on track after falling at Wincanton. It isn’t the greatest Fighting Fifth Hurdle ever run and he’ll need to win this if he has any chance at the festival in March.

Newbury

12.50 The Clock Leary @7-2 Bet365

1.50 Hammersly Lake @4-1 William Hill

3.00 Smad Place @10-1*

Many Clouds @9-1 Betfair

*Ante-post

Newcastle

2.05 Irving @Evens Betbright, Stan James

Hennessy Gold Cup Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup is fast approaching and has attracted several potential Gold Cup horses.

Last year we were celebrating a 14-1 ante-post winning tip with Nicky Henderson’s Triolo D’Alene. His season fell apart a little after that and it will be interesting to see if he makes his seasonal debut here. Henderson is more likely to rely on Hadrian’s Approach who departed early on last year but ended the season winning the Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly the Whitbread) at Sandown.

I had previously thought that his jumping didn’t stand up in big fields but there was nothing wrong with it at the Esher track. On the downside, he is up 7lbs and arrives here without the benefit of a previous run. Philip Hobbs had an unbelievable three days at Cheltenham’s Open meeting and pins his hopes on Fingal Bay.

I’ve always got the greatest respect for horses that can carry big weights in the festival handicaps but he has only ever raced twice over fences. He was a fair second on his debut before running out after continuously jumping to his left at Exeter. He reverted successfully to hurdles last season but this an enormous task for an inexperienced chaser. The same applies to Irish hope Djakadam who fell at the festival on his third start over fences and has not been seen since. Time may show that he is well handicapped here but he hasn’t done enough over fences to justify his current price in a race like this.

Ireland has a poor record in this race but Gordon Elliott’s Don Cossack would be an interesting contender after wins at Punchestown and Down Royal. He only had two to beat in the Grade 2 Powers Irish Whiskey Chase last time but did it well.

Paul Nicholls has won this twice as a jockey and three times as a trainer. He could saddle Rocky Creek and last week’s Cheltenham winner Sam Winner. Rocky Creek finished second last year and is up 5lbs but ran a cracker when runner-up to Road To Riches at Down Royal last time. Nicholls is aiming him at the Grand National in which he finished fifth last year.

Although plenty of horses have won this without a prep race, I usually like confirmation that the horse is fit and well and Many Clouds fits the bill. Oliver Sherwood was bitterly disappointed when he was brought down in the RSA Chase and it would have been interesting to see whether he could have beaten O’Faolains Boy. He reappeared at Carlisle and won impressively with the handicapper raising him 7lbs as a result.

The RSA Chase has been a great guide to the Hennessy Gold Cup in recent seasons and runner-up Smad Place has to be worthy of consideration. Alan King has already declared his intention to go here without a prep race and it would be difficult to ignore his chances if you fancy Many Clouds. He has only had four races over fences but has winning form at Newbury. With doubts about Djakadam and Fingal Bay, I’m going each-way on Many Clouds and Smad Place.

Many Clouds @17-2 Betway

Smad Place @10-1 Ladbrokes, Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Newbury Saturday Preview

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UK punters are spoiled for choice on Saturday with top class flat racing action at Doncaster and Newbury plus excellent National Hunt cards at Chepstow and Aintree. The going is soft at Newbury and that is certain to be a key factor on a tricky-looking card.

The opening race only has six runners but you could make a case for each of them. Lexington Times is the form pick but he has not lived up to the form of his win in a Newmarket maiden in July. He won a race that contained no fewer than eight subsequent winners. They include the high-class Latharnach, Basateen and Snoano.

He ran well enough when third to Aktabantay at Sandown but could manage only eighth behind Bond’s Girl at Doncaster last time. It is difficult to know how good Not So Sleepy might be after he quickened away from She Is No Lady on his debut. The son of Beat Hollow travelled nicely throughout in the heavy ground and that could hold him in good stead here.

Battalion has been very disappointing this season and William Haggas is resorting to the cheek pieces after he threw away his chance in the September Stakes by hanging. I was amazed when punters wanted to be on this proven soft-ground horse here in May when the going was clearly too quick for him. He has his conditions on Saturday but he still has a point to prove.

His main danger could be the Epsom Derby fifth Red Galileo, the mount of Graham Lee. He has finished fast in second at Doncaster and Newmarket and is finally learning to settle in his races. I have been very impressed with Lee’s riding this season and he will be looking to arrive late on the scene. Red Galileo just gets the vote because he seems a bit more trustworthy than Battalion.

The two-year-old fillies’ race at 2.50 looks wide open. Shagah is the form horse here having finished close up in the May Hill behind Agnes Stewart. That filly did the form no harm when second in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile last week. Shagah was fourth behind Local Time earlier this month and it may be worth taking a chance with something less exposed.

Silver Rainbow and Muffri’Ha both won impressively on their second outing. They have very similar profiles in that they both tend to pull very hard but stormed clear once given the go-ahead. It won’t be so easy in this higher grade but Muffri’Ha’s win was on softer ground and she is the selection.

Not So Sleepy 1.50 @4-1 Paddy Power

Red Galileo 2.20 @11-2 Paddy Power

Muffri’Ha 2.50 @5-1 Bet365

Racing Preview Saturday Sep 20th

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The Ayr Gold Cup is the highlight of UK racing on Saturday and this week’s results at the course suggest that a high draw is a big advantage. No horse drawn under ten made it into the first ten home in Friday’s Bronze Cup so there are likely to be a lot of jockeys edging to their right tomorrow.

One who does not have to worry is Amy Ryan who rides recent York winner Blaine. She is drawn in stall 26 so should be able to track along the stands rail to deliver her challenge. Blaine was a promising two-year-old but has had injury problems down the years and is only starting to fulfil his potential.

As you would expect, this is a wide open race and others to look out for could include Go Far and Hawkeyethenoo. Go Far didn’t run badly at all last time in a hot sprint after rattling off a hat-trick while Hawkeyethenoo may be getting a bit long in the tooth but was not beaten far at Ascot last time. He may just be finding six furlongs on the sharp side these days.

Amy also has claims in the Silver Cup with Bogart who is similarly well drawn in stall 25. He has a similar profile to Blaine and ran his best race for some time when chasing home Muthmir in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster. He must have a chance on that form but looks quite high in the weights.

The same applies to Redvers who looked certain to win at Ascot over seven furlongs last time out but was collared by Safety Check. He has got a visor on for the first time in an effort to sharpen him up for this six furlong dash.

A 13 draw is not insurmountable but I just prefer Majestic Moon from stall 24. Richard Fahey is mob-handed in the sprints but this course and distance winner stays seven furlongs and likes to race up with the pace. Lexington Abbey and Huntsmans Close are others with a good draw but the bookmakers have trimmed their prices accordingly.

Winners look very hard to find on Saturday but I am interested in the claims of Air Pilot at Newbury. I don’t know why the five-year-old has not run since finishing second to Farraaj at Epsom but he has presumably had his injury problems with only four career starts. I tipped him at Epsom and he beat all bar the well-handicapped Farraaj by seven lengths and is only up 4lbs. Oison Murphy looks a significant booking and it is worth taking a chance on his fitness.

Majestic Moon (each-way) 2.40 Ayr @16-1 Bet365

Blaine (each-way) 3.50 Ayr @12-1 Paddy Power

Air Pilot 2.55 Newbury @9-2 BetVictor