Saturday's Meetings Newmarket Flat 8 Races 1:03-5:08p.m. Galway N/H 8 Races 1:08-5:13p.m. Ayr N/H 7 Races 1-23-4:53p.m. Ascot N/H 7 Races 1:30-5:03p.m. Wetherby N/H 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 8 Races 4:58-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
In the 14:48 at Newmarket, a Class-4 Nursery over 1m1f on good-to-soft ground, the Free Eagle colt, Shahbaz, (Damsire: Dalakhani) has a sound chance in this event. Already has good Nursery form and should stay the distance well. Callum Shepherd rides for the Charlie Fellowes yard. 11/1 best price in three or four places at time of writing. E/W best option at these odds. Best of luck today, folks!
Interesting Gosden debutant, Medici Chapel, in the 2nd race at Newmarket. Out of a really good racefilly called Nannina, who was a top class 2yo trained by Gosden. She's been a shy breeder and this is only about her 3rd foal: you may know her first foal to race, Duke of Firenze. Traces back to Bireme's (Oaks winner) dam Ripeck (by Ribot). Could be worth some EW interest, or just to watch for promise..
So I was watching the Nicky Henderson stable tours on YouTube yesterday and the great man was talking about Jonbon. His early season target will be the Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown but he’d like to give him a run at a small track prior to that because he doesn’t want to pitch him straight in to a grade 1. He then comes out with the usual “I’ve spent hours poring over the fixture list and there just isn’t a 2 mile novice chase anywhere”. He must have missed the one at Huntingdon tomorrow where he has entered Pentland Hills. Or does he expect the BHA to put on enough races such that he never has to run 2 of his horses against each other? There is also the 2 mile novice chase at Cheltenham which was won by Third Time Lucki last year
The National Hunt season is really getting going now and ITV show 4 races from each of 2 nice cards at Ascot and Wetherby. The opening novices handicap chase at Ascot has a weird look to it due to the race conditions. The assessor has handed Goshen a mark of 157 for his chase debut and, with the minimum race weight being 10-13, this means his 3 rivals are between 3 and 6lbs "wrong" on official ratings. I think 157 is plenty high enough for Goshen and he will need to be foot perfect on debut to beat 3 very nice horses. Samarrive won impressively over hurdles on his final start of last season and will know his job today. Gowel Road clearly needed the experience on chase debut and should strip much fitter today whilst Cobblers Dream looks a fine prospect for chasing (although he seems to do best in bigger fields). As Goshen is awfully short and giving weight all round, I will take Samarrive to prevail today. The 2.05 handicap hurdle at Ascot features the only horse to have beaten Constitution Hill in any format - Anyharminasking beat the superstar in a point at Tipperary and, after a tentative start under rules, seemed to really get his act together at the turn of the year. I'm not sure whether he has been injured and might need the run today but his mark of 137 still looks attractive and he ought to take all the beating today. We then have two trappy handicap chases at the Berkshire track and my tentative picks are Amoola Gold (goes well fresh) and Poppa Poutine. Respect also to Regal Encore who again goes at his beloved Ascot at close to 15 years of age - I wish him a safe round. In the opener at Wetherby I'll be keeping an eye on the Skelton's William Of York in the opening novice hurdle - he may need this after 609 off the track - and the yard should certainly taste success in the Mares Hurdle with Molly Ollys Wishes. The West Yorkshire Hurdle hasn't been a bad hunting ground for Paul Nicholls over the years, including 2 wins with Tidal Bay, and he relies on another horse who mixes hurdling and chasing, Threeunderthrufive today. He runs here as a prep for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (the race we used to call the Hennessy - when did Coral pick up sponsorship??) but I think he can go well today and might cause a minor upset. The Charlie Hall has been won by some fine horses over the years and certainly was dramatic last year with Shan Blue falling with the race at his mercy after blasting away from Cyrname. This year's renewal looks to revolve around the two second season chasers, Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor (much as Eldorado Allen is respected, it will be tough giving weight to the two younger horses). I want Ahoy Senor to win, just because I think Lucinda Russell is a lovely lady and a very competent trainer.
Ascot 14,05 Washington 7/1 e/w three places Form fresh: 11 15,15 Mister Malarky 12/1 e/w bet365, Lads and Coral four places, 11/1 WH and sky five places Wetherby 15,35 Eldorado Allen 9/2 17,20 Vintage Fizz 9/2
Thank you guys, was worried the ground had become a bit too soft for Shahbaz, and during the race, whether the colt could get into it with a clear run, Need not have been concerned as his young rider, Callum Shepherd, showed a very cool head indeed and rode a fine race. No problems in predicting a very bright future for this talented jockey.
Absolutley brilliant round of jumping by Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall, never put a foot wrong and jumped like a stag.
