Racing on Friday comes from Cheltenham (hooray!!), Haydock, Redcar, Wolverhampton, Downpatrick and Dundalk.
First meeting of the season at Cheltenham and some intriguing races - no doubt plents of views on these to come
2.10 Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle - 6 runners declared at the overnight stage and you really couldn't rule out any of the 6. The top 4 all carry a penalty for previous hurdle wins but the quartet already set a pretty formidable standard, with Rum And Butter top on official ratings on 145. His second behind Kangaroo Court (to whom he was conceding 12lbs) has been well and truly franked by Emma Lavelle's charge going on to score again of an 11lbs higher mark. The top 4 have all been pretty busy over the summer and have gained vital experience but it is the bottom two who catch my eye, especially with a view to the season ahead. Cloud Brook took a P2P in Ireland before hacking up in a bumper at Bangor whilst Pure Science ran in 2 absolutely top class bumpers at Newbury and the Festival before probably finding Ayr one run too many at the back end of last season. He looks to be the one horse in the race who could have the scope to be very, very good and he looks to hold a great chance at the weights here.
2.40 Cheltenham Annual Members Novices Chase - just the 3 go to post but this is definitely quality over quantity. Rebel Fitz sets the standard having already won 5 times over the larger obstacles including a Grade 3 last time. Third Intention ran some good races last season and showed that he is a very good yardstick and probably a Grade 3 / Grade 2 horse on his day. But the one I am really looking forward to seeing is Jonjo's Taquin De Seuil. The French-bred gelding ran some fine races over hurdles last season and took an admittedly weak Challow in fine style before finding The New One et al too much at the Festival. But this lad was always going to be a chaser and for me he is one of the most exciting novice chase prospects of the season. The early price of 9/4 against Rebel Fitz 10/11 makes plenty of appeal.
3.15 Pertemps Qualifier - as usual more plots than an Agatha Christie novel (TM Sir Barney Chuckles, reproduced here with kind permission) but I am quite tempted by an each way punt on Restless Harry at 25/1. Robin Dickin's charge goes really well fresh (for example when taking the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle on seasonal debut 2 years ago) but the spectre of Big Buck's forced connections hand and they went novice chasing with him last season, which didn't really work. He gets in here off 132 which looks mighty generous and I think they will actually be trying to win this tomorrow and then decide where to go from there.
3.50 Ryman Stationary Cheltenham Business Club Novices Chase - I really like Alan King's Pantxoa for this - looks progressive, will love every yard of the trip and could turn out to be one of the top staying novice chasers this season.
Apart from that, Calling Germany will be well fancied in the maiden hurdle at 4.25 (but stick might have more to tell us on his chances) and the last 2 I will swerve with the amateurs and conditionals in the plate.
I'll be having a small e/w on Restless Harry and a win trixie on Pure Science, Taquin De Seuil and Pantxoa.
Best of luck everyone
First meeting of the season at Cheltenham and some intriguing races - no doubt plents of views on these to come

2.10 Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle - 6 runners declared at the overnight stage and you really couldn't rule out any of the 6. The top 4 all carry a penalty for previous hurdle wins but the quartet already set a pretty formidable standard, with Rum And Butter top on official ratings on 145. His second behind Kangaroo Court (to whom he was conceding 12lbs) has been well and truly franked by Emma Lavelle's charge going on to score again of an 11lbs higher mark. The top 4 have all been pretty busy over the summer and have gained vital experience but it is the bottom two who catch my eye, especially with a view to the season ahead. Cloud Brook took a P2P in Ireland before hacking up in a bumper at Bangor whilst Pure Science ran in 2 absolutely top class bumpers at Newbury and the Festival before probably finding Ayr one run too many at the back end of last season. He looks to be the one horse in the race who could have the scope to be very, very good and he looks to hold a great chance at the weights here.
2.40 Cheltenham Annual Members Novices Chase - just the 3 go to post but this is definitely quality over quantity. Rebel Fitz sets the standard having already won 5 times over the larger obstacles including a Grade 3 last time. Third Intention ran some good races last season and showed that he is a very good yardstick and probably a Grade 3 / Grade 2 horse on his day. But the one I am really looking forward to seeing is Jonjo's Taquin De Seuil. The French-bred gelding ran some fine races over hurdles last season and took an admittedly weak Challow in fine style before finding The New One et al too much at the Festival. But this lad was always going to be a chaser and for me he is one of the most exciting novice chase prospects of the season. The early price of 9/4 against Rebel Fitz 10/11 makes plenty of appeal.
3.15 Pertemps Qualifier - as usual more plots than an Agatha Christie novel (TM Sir Barney Chuckles, reproduced here with kind permission) but I am quite tempted by an each way punt on Restless Harry at 25/1. Robin Dickin's charge goes really well fresh (for example when taking the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle on seasonal debut 2 years ago) but the spectre of Big Buck's forced connections hand and they went novice chasing with him last season, which didn't really work. He gets in here off 132 which looks mighty generous and I think they will actually be trying to win this tomorrow and then decide where to go from there.
3.50 Ryman Stationary Cheltenham Business Club Novices Chase - I really like Alan King's Pantxoa for this - looks progressive, will love every yard of the trip and could turn out to be one of the top staying novice chasers this season.
Apart from that, Calling Germany will be well fancied in the maiden hurdle at 4.25 (but stick might have more to tell us on his chances) and the last 2 I will swerve with the amateurs and conditionals in the plate.
I'll be having a small e/w on Restless Harry and a win trixie on Pure Science, Taquin De Seuil and Pantxoa.
Best of luck everyone

