Saturday's Meetings Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 12:00-4:00p.m. Uttoxeter N/H 8 Races 12:08-4:08p.m. Cheltenham N/H 8 Races 12:15-4:15p.m. Doncaster N/H 7 Races 12:25-3:55p.m. Lingfield A/W 7 Races 12:52-4:23p.m. Kempton(E) A/W 7 Races 4:30-7:35p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Nice card at Cheltenham Iceo or Pied Piper to book for favouritism in the Triumph Champ to demonstrate his class in the Cleeve and Chantry House to cock it up in the Cotswold Chase. Add A Different Kind in the 3:40 and be wowed by Fusil Raffles in the Sky Bet at Donnie.
The big question re tomorrow's racing at Cheltenham must be will Lieutenant Henderson win the 3 televised Grade 2 events. He's got the shorty in each contest - Chantry House (2.30), Champ (3.05) and Balco Coastal (3.40). Current odds of 1/2, 10/11 and 15/8 and are hardly inspiring. Although the treble does pay 7.23/1. The latter 2 look the most risky with Chantry House on something of a recovery mission after the wheels came orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrf, somewhat, last time in the King George VI. And Balco Coastal steps up in Grade after a pair of class 4 wins. Will he be good enough??? If someone held a gun to my head I'd say it will be a treble for the Lieutenant (that's all 3 horses win rather than a huge measure of GnT) but odds are on the short side of short, in my view. What do you think though, team??? Will be success, success, success for Lieutenant Henderson tomorrow??? Although no longer Seven Barrows based I also feel compelled to say a few words re my old fave Santini (and very topical as he's won twice, at this meet, in the past - Cotswold Chase in '20 and the Grade 2 novice hurdle in '18). I said a few months back that the aim for this one must be to get his perch down to somewhere in the region of 150 (now 154, started season on 159) prior to the release of the Grand National weights and I would imagine that ambition, just as last time out, will be at the forefront of connections minds at the weekend. Traipsing in 25+ lenghts behind the winner will most probably be 'mission accomplished' - and that is what I expect from Santini tomorrow. Incidentally, the 10YO would then be amazingly well perched bearing in mind that 13 months ago he was sat on 172, I say 172. Final question is there anything else running of interest??? As I've said a few times before in my opinion Iceo (12.45) put up the best juvenile hurdling performance of the term, thus far, when winning at Kempton over Christmas and I can't wait to see him run in the 4YO Hurdle. A repeat of that performance will I think make Iceo very, very hard to beat. Good luck all.
Tomorrow "Festival Trials" on first inspection looked dire, I mean, how is Santini and Simply The Betts running against Chantry House a trial for the festival? Mediocre as British jumps racing is in general. However, I have taken a closer look at the card and I see quite a few bets, however I am waiting until closer to the races for having my bets. The thing I will say about Iceo is - Kempton and Cheltenham are very different courses and does the hood suggest that he is a free going sort? If so, will he be too keen and will the Cheltenham hill find him out? I can't wait to find that one out.
The main Cheltenham trials will be in Dublin next weekend. Four Grade 1s on Saturday and another 4 on Sunday The most positive thing I took from reviewing the Cheltenham card is, at least they declared Coole Cody for the right race (having entered him for pretty much everything bar the bumper). He might struggle to give all that weight to Eden Du Houx though - his mark of 130 looks very workable. I think he is probably the best bet on the card at 12/1.
Don't shoot the messenger, bumped into ex jockey Davey Crosse whilst playing golf in Portugal and we all in same hotel, gave us Bold Reaction 355 Doncaster. If you play, good luck
Quick heads up for anyone that backed the gallant bear (thanks stick) with bet365 it was the free bet race offer. Which is the 1:55 at Cheltenham.
Cheltenham 12,15 Severance 9/1 e/w four places with PP, betfair and sky Back in trip maybe it's good for him. Doncaster 12,25 Creative Control 9/1 e/w bet365 five places, 8/1 sky six places
I’m going to oppose you with Whatmore. His fourth behind Imperial Aura and Galvin over this course and distance (getting only 4lbs off Galvin) gives him a great chance off 140.
Couple I like today, both at Uttoxeter: 13:13 - Western Baron (Westerner gelding, cost €30,000 as a 3-y-o. Debut run but worth a small interest e/w. Well-related to several good horses. Tom O'Brien on board for the Colin Tizzard stable. 7/1 best price at time of writing, freely-available). 16:08 - Doireann (Lightly-raced Shirocco mare, Can give a good account in this 2-1/2 mile Handicap Hurdle. Ciaran Gethings rides for the Stuart Edmunds stable. 15/2 best price at time of writing. e/w). Good luck today with your wagers!
Not even Elliot's best Juvenile and he smashes up Iceo - makes you wonder why the Queen didn't keep him. Timeform will be scratching their heads . Looks like the Triumph is heading to Ireland again .............
That Imperial Alcazar is a really decent horse. If he could become faster and more fluent at his fences he would be a top top horse i think. Huge engine, really enjoyed watching him in that race. Pied Piper was pretty useful there today too so far.
