Selection
wise last weekend was a mixed bag, Newbury went appallingly but there were a
few winners on the other cards so not too tragic. Racing wise it was an
absolute corker! We enjoyed an excellent day at Newbury (as always!) and the
racing was not only of a very high standard, but also very informative with
regards to the Festival. Tomorrow’s card at Ascot (pictured below) looks equally mouth watering
and a few extremely exciting horses look set to stake their festival claims!
The
first race sees Donald McCain’s promising young novice hurdler Up And Go, who
has won impressively all 3 times he has completed (he’s fallen in 2 other
starts), attempt to give 5lb to a fairly strong field containing formerly smart
flat horse Aaim To Prosper, eye catcher last time out Sausalito Sunrise, and
Copper Birch who finished close behind At Fishers Cross 2 starts ago. This 7
runner Class 2 affair could turn out to be a pretty competitive one and I
personally wouldn’t be getting involved.
Aside
from the Betfair Ascot Chase later on the card, I’d say the Reynoldstown is the
race I’m most looking forward to seeing tomorrow. Rocky Creek is a horse I followed throughout last season
though knowing he was definitely one who’d improve for bigger obstacles this
season, and so far he has proven to be an exciting recruit to the novice chase
ranks. However, tomorrow is no walkover and Donald McCain’s Real Milan is a
more than worthy rival having won both his chase starts with considerable ease
(even giving 7lb away last time) and receives 3lb from the Nicholls horse. Though
these 2 are both extremely smart, this is by no means a 2 horse race (excuse
the pun!) as Tour Des Champs was still challenging Rocky Creek when falling at
Warwick (he also won a minor affair by 31 lengths next time out) and enjoys a 6lb
pull in the weights which could see him serve up a serious challenge to the
likely favourite. The other horse to add to the mix is Houblon Des Obeaux,
trained by the in-form Venetia Williams, who should relish the step up to 3m
and slightly better ground. He also has to give a few lb to most of them but
has contested 5 races over fences already this season so has experience on his
side. I doubt I’ll be backing at the likely prices, but my colours will be
firmly attached to Rocky Creek as I think he’s a horse you will be hearing a
lot more about over the next couple of years. The form of his races so far this
year looks very strong and I hope he’ll take this before side-stepping
Cheltenham as he looks a serious prospect for the future.
I
won’t be looking too hard at the next race as I think it could go to anyone,
but find General Miller and
The Bear Trap interesting in the following race. The former was a smart novice
(he won at Aintree in the spring) but has only run twice since the end of that
season due to injury. However, the most recent of those runs was a 5 length 2nd
behind Overturn off 145 and whilst he received plenty of weight and was beaten
comfortably, he has been dropped to 139 now so if retaining any of his old
ability he could be competitive. It’s interesting Nicky Henderson has
persevered with him and has won fresh a couple of times so maybe worth chancing
if he is a half decent price. The Bear Trap catches the eye as although his
form to date doesn’t look to special, he wouldn’t be the first JP McManus horse
to appear that way and improve past a mark of 123. He has looked better since
going handicapping and has a nice racing weight of 10st 4lb, which isn’t far
off AP’s lowest (he did 10st 3lb aboard Mr Watson for the first time in 2 years
a fortnight ago) so he would be worth a market check.
On
to the feature race and it looks a cracker! I’m a huge fan of Cue Card (pictured above) and he’d be my idea of the Ryanair,
particularly on slightly better ground, so if pushed I’d be taking his side.
But this is no walk in the park as Arkle winner Captain Chris has looked back
to his best recently and didn’t mind the conditions in the King George at
Christmas. Somersby is another dangerous rival as he ran a decent race behind
Sprinter Sacre having been off for 9 months and that could well have put him
spot on for this. He always runs a big race at the Berkshire track and it would
be no surprise if this was his season target. Finians Rainbow obviously can’t
be ruled out but I think he needs better ground to be seen at his best and he
ran very poorly here last time, and Ghizao and Pigeon Island don’t really look
up to taking a race of this quality anymore (though the latter ran a massive
race last time out).
The
4.25pm is a 4 runner race, but in reality it is likely to only really concern 2
of them. Far West has arguably been the most impressive juvenile so far this
season, hosing up a couple of times at Cheltenham and cementing himself as a horse
to be reckoned with. River Maigue has also looked a smart prospect having
finished 2nd in a hot race at Cheltenham (when supposedly in serious
need of the run) and then hacking up in a race at Kempton that hasn’t worked
out too badly. Strictly on the figures you’d have to side with Far West as his
official rating is 5lb higher than that of River Maigue (pictured below), yet he still receives 9lb in
weight from the Seven Barrows inmate. I think the best way to pick between them
could be to toss a coin and hope for the best as I think we could enjoy a great
battle!
The
final race of the day is no easier to decipher as 2 horses strongly fancied for
the Champion Bumper both take their places and aim to strengthen their claims
for that coveted prize in March. Captain Cutter beat a promising horse on debut
here and they were 11 lengths clear of 3rd so it’s almost
unsurprising that he has since been bought by the mighty JP McManus. He’ll
certainly need to be smart to take this as Red Sherlock absolutely hacked up on
debut and looked a horse with a bright future. As always with a bumper, there
could be something else in there unraced or unexposed who could surprise and
take it, but you’d have to think this pair will be fighting it out between
themselves and should make the forecast between them (if only we knew which way
round!).
On
such a competitive day I think it would be foolish to get too involved but I
will take a chance on General Miller
retaining some of his old ability if the price is right. The Bear Trap is unlikely
to be much of a price but if he were he could tempt a saver. I like Rocky Creek very much and may
stick him in a double, possibly with Cue
Card, or maybe a horse from one of the day’s other meetings (one of
which is also housed at Ditcheat!), so have a read of the next article that
will highlight a couple elsewhere! Good luck, and enjoy the racing!
