The Cheltenham Festival may have passed but it’s April
meeting brings a good bridge towards the riches of the Punchestown Festival
still to come and Newmarket’s Craven meeting signalling the return of the flat
proper as the two seasons combine for fantastic racing.
I’ll start with Cheltenham and the April meeting, which has
so often been used to compensate for disappointment in March, and Garde La
Victoire (2.05) can follow that route by atoning for a disappointing winter
with victory here. Phillip Hobbs’s charge looked to have a major future when
trashing Gone Too Far on the second of two early season hurdles starts and even
defeat to subsequent Neptune fourth Ballyalton here in a really strong novice
at the December meeting did little to dim his appeal, but he was a long beaten
fourth in the Tolworth hurdle and then was nowhere when unfancied at the
Festival. He wasn’t impressive when stepped upto today’s trip at Taunton
although he was hanging left for most of the journey, suggesting that the
return to Cheltenham will bring around improvement, and he was carrying a hefty
penalty that day too. Receiving 4lbs from My Wigwam Or Yours, for whom
everything clicked in style at Newbury when giving this trip and crucially this
ground for the first time, and Veux Lion Rouge, who is still unexposed but
disappointed upped in class facing a quick surface for the first time at the
festival, he can end his season an a high note. In a strong opener, Blue Heron,
Lookeslikerainted, and Sergeant Mattie all add depth although the ground is a
question mark for two of them and Sergeant Mattie was beaten at the same level
last time out.
Thomas Crapper (left) ran a fantastic race at the Festival when
second in what looked like a strong renewal of the Martin Pipe Conditionals
Handicap Hurdle (3.15) here, when failing only for stamina late on as the extremely
promising 3 mile Graded winner Don Poli had too much up the hill, but the form
of his effort was underlined by the third, Caid Du Berlais, going very close at
Aintree in a similar race next time out, only getting chinned late. All season
his form has held up to the highest security and if waited with more today in
the Longcroft Building Services Handicap Hurdle (3.15) – he was kicked on very
early at the Festival – then compensation could be waiting for him. This is a
very well contested race with two horses beginning Sandown’s EBF final form to
the table, with Brother Brian attempting to go three better than when a beaten
favourite, and Boondooma, who is 6lbs better off with him for a 3 and a half
length beating at Sandown despite two wins in small fry contests since. The
latter of the two is preferred although Volt Face, a good winner at Newton
Abbot upped in trip for the first time, can get involved if handling good
ground, and The Romford Pele has had a pretty good chasing season and comes
here 2lbs lower in the handicap then when fourth in this last year.
In the feature Silver Trophy (3.50), Buywise and Persian
Snow are of obvious interest, both having run creditably at the Festival,
Buywise’s bad mistake costing him any chance in the Novices’ handicap, and
Persian Snow’s hampering possibly costing him any chance of getting involved.
However there is value past the two of them and Real Milan, who should have won
in the first time blinkers at Haydock but for lacking focus latest, and
Carrickboy, who is just 4lbs higher than when winning at last year’s Festival.
Overall nothing has an edge for me though.
In the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (4.25), take a chance on
Paul Nicholls’ Pay The King showing his early season form. He was unable to
make much headway in a valuable Pertemps qualifier at Musselbrugh when last seen
but the time before he was a promising fifth in one of the stronger handicaps
run all season when held up behind and infront of him that day was Western
Warhorse, Sausalito Sunrise, and Liuetant Miller. If able to repeat that effort
today – it looks as if he should stay – then he holds a fine chance.
Over at Newmarket, in the Horsesource Seabuckthorn
Conditions Stakes (2.20) it’s a shock to no-one that Richard Hannon is likely
to have yet another favourite in a juvenile race, but Harry Hurricane could
have gotten closer to his Flyball if he’d had the benefit of a previous start
at Leicester. George Baker’s charge was slow to get out of the stalls and found
the early pace a tad too hot, but the way he was closing at the end of the race
leaves the impression that he could get much closer the next time the two met
and a 3lbs pull in his favour today makes him the choice of the two. Abscent
Friends will find this tougher than his Southwell win but was likeable in
victory there and can ensure a decent test for the newcomers Portamento, a half
brother to Belmont Stakes fourth Incognito, and Qatar Racing’s Mind of Madness.
The same outfit might also have claims in the Nell Gwyn (4.05) with
Queen Catrine (centre left) who ended a solid and consistent juvenile year with a third in
the Marcel Boussac. That day, upped to a mile for the first time and tackling
soft ground for the first time as well, being held up off a strong gallop
helped but she had plenty of useful sprinting form, enough to make one think
that the switch back to 7 furlongs on faster ground shouldn’t be an issue.
Paddy Power are paying an extra place and go 7/1, which is a nice surprise for
the market. Sandiva was a disappointing seventh that day but back on faster ground
going 6 furlongs, is a worthy favourite, while the trip should also suit
Dorothy B, second to Joyeuse last season behind being unsuited by the sprint
that the Cheveley Park became. Both are worth consideration while the
impressive Folk Melody is well worth a place here following a deeply impressive
maiden win last year when well supported and along with the unbeaten Euro Charline,
can make her presence felt.
Later on in the Fielden Stakes (4.40), Mark Johnston’s
Somewhat can make up for a poor effort in the Racing Post Trophy when it’s eminently
possible that soft ground didn’t suit with a win upped in trip. His thrashing
of Be Ready at Newbury, a close second to Berkshire over the Rowley Mile here
back in September, and a close second in the Superlative Stakes, are all
efforts that are entitled to make him favourite today and while there is a
considerable amount of unexposed talent, those efforts give him a strong chance
today and it’s possible he may improve more for today’s new trip, and he has
shown enough to defy a 3lbs penalty.
Advice
1 pt win Garde La Victoire, 2.05 Cheltenham (5/2 general)
1 pt win Thomas Crapper, 3.15 Cheltenham (9/2 general)
1 pt each/way Volt Face, 4.25 Cheltenham (10/1 general)
1 pt each/way Pay The King, 4.25 Cheltenham (8/1 general)
1 pt win Harry Hurricane, 2.20 Newmarket
1 pt each/way Queen Catrine, 4.05 Newmarket (7/1 Paddy
Power)
1 pt win Somewhat, 4.40 Newmarket, (4/1 general)
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