The last meeting that was reviewed and a tough one too was Cheltenham trials day and now we concentrate on the 3m chase which in my opinion is the second biggest race at the track in the jumping calender behind the King George. This race always gets some going and you dont want to get caught napping as you'll know if your in with a shout or not 5 out. 13 runners go to post for the Grade 3 Handicap.
It's another competitive renewal of the Racing Plus Chase once again and Nacarat aims to win the race for the 3rd time. His previous wins have come under Paddy Brennan and AP McCoy. He has never come out of the frame in the race with his form being 1231. Eye-catching considering when you look at his overall profile elsewhere from Kempton isn't too inspiring. It could be his last race and I'm sure Tom George will want him to bow out with pride. George has been in great form of late and he should make a bold front running performance as expected. I'd love to see the grey win it, but I think there might be one or two that catch him out.
What A Friend towers the weights in the 2013 renewal and a massive 317 day lay-off will be enough for him. He is quirky, but on his day very good. I think Fergy will need added time for this lad, dismissed quite easily here. We revert to the bottom weight Summery Justice trained by Venetia Williams. Not shown any sort of form which warrents him a place in this line-up and although he is lightly raced, he has no notable form in graded races and doesn't take the eye. Mister Hyde has been a horse which for me has never been able to hit the hights. I can remember watching him run at Plumpton back in January 2011 and thought that he could prove useful, but his chase wins haven't grabbed my attention. He hasn't done nothing wrong with 3 wins out of his last 5 runs but he, like Summery Justice, is just not good enough for me.
Quantitativeeasing is a horse I usually judge right, having picked him to win at Cheltenham winning The Spinal Research Handicap at Cheltenham back in December 2011 and since then, he hasn't been himself and needs to recapture his early promise. I can see him running better than he has, but I'd like to see more before backing him. Another Nicky Henderson runner is Roberto Goldback, a big chasing type who won first time over here for him at Ascot, but has since been well held by the favourite Wyck Hill and he is passed over. Hector's Choice last year was a horse you;d be silly not to back throughout the season, showing some excellent form at Cheltenham and he ran a great race behind Nacarat in last years race. He hasn't been the same horse this year and you wonder with a long campaign last year, it might have knocked the stuffing out of him.
As many of you will know, I'm a firm believer of recent matches, that a horse who runs much better than another contender on the same terms and same conditions, that I think the form holds up better. An example would be with Rolling Aces vs Opening Batsman. Both at one time being from the Nicholls camp and once again they face eachother after form the former brushed aside the Harry Fry 7 year old. You must remember they both are novice chases and are learning with each run. Rolling Aces has been backed well leading up to the race and it would be no surprise to see him take the race, but I think it might be a year to early for the Nicholls charge. Duke Of Lucca isn't a horse I'd recommend to back any day, being quirky and not having the class to make good horses go! Relating to the novice ranks, Same Difference of Twiston-Davies is another who could just be going for the race a bit too early in his career. Likeable gritty sort who could run very well but experience could be the difference in winning and losing the race.
The two we are left with are WYCK HILL and QUINZ. The former I am more confident on, not just because of JP McManus buying him, but his attitude to win his races. Although he is creeping up in the handicap, he has a nice weight today, AP McCoy rides and the Bridgewater trained 9 year old looks like his better days are infront of him. With the Grand National, I dont think he can win the Aintree long distance race but this year he is thriving and is a worthy favourite. Quinz took the race in 2011 and his last 3 runs are PPP. However, he has a long lay-off to overcome, but he has won after a lay-off before, but I think that Phillip Hobbs can give his best shot a race to remember. He goes better right handed which Kempton is and he could sneak each-way money!
Early start at work tomorrow and a busy days racing to catch up on when I'm back, so feel free to tweet me at blue_bajan or email me - [email protected] with any Cheltenham news or feedback! Thanks :) BE LUCKY!
It's another competitive renewal of the Racing Plus Chase once again and Nacarat aims to win the race for the 3rd time. His previous wins have come under Paddy Brennan and AP McCoy. He has never come out of the frame in the race with his form being 1231. Eye-catching considering when you look at his overall profile elsewhere from Kempton isn't too inspiring. It could be his last race and I'm sure Tom George will want him to bow out with pride. George has been in great form of late and he should make a bold front running performance as expected. I'd love to see the grey win it, but I think there might be one or two that catch him out.
What A Friend towers the weights in the 2013 renewal and a massive 317 day lay-off will be enough for him. He is quirky, but on his day very good. I think Fergy will need added time for this lad, dismissed quite easily here. We revert to the bottom weight Summery Justice trained by Venetia Williams. Not shown any sort of form which warrents him a place in this line-up and although he is lightly raced, he has no notable form in graded races and doesn't take the eye. Mister Hyde has been a horse which for me has never been able to hit the hights. I can remember watching him run at Plumpton back in January 2011 and thought that he could prove useful, but his chase wins haven't grabbed my attention. He hasn't done nothing wrong with 3 wins out of his last 5 runs but he, like Summery Justice, is just not good enough for me.
Quantitativeeasing is a horse I usually judge right, having picked him to win at Cheltenham winning The Spinal Research Handicap at Cheltenham back in December 2011 and since then, he hasn't been himself and needs to recapture his early promise. I can see him running better than he has, but I'd like to see more before backing him. Another Nicky Henderson runner is Roberto Goldback, a big chasing type who won first time over here for him at Ascot, but has since been well held by the favourite Wyck Hill and he is passed over. Hector's Choice last year was a horse you;d be silly not to back throughout the season, showing some excellent form at Cheltenham and he ran a great race behind Nacarat in last years race. He hasn't been the same horse this year and you wonder with a long campaign last year, it might have knocked the stuffing out of him.
As many of you will know, I'm a firm believer of recent matches, that a horse who runs much better than another contender on the same terms and same conditions, that I think the form holds up better. An example would be with Rolling Aces vs Opening Batsman. Both at one time being from the Nicholls camp and once again they face eachother after form the former brushed aside the Harry Fry 7 year old. You must remember they both are novice chases and are learning with each run. Rolling Aces has been backed well leading up to the race and it would be no surprise to see him take the race, but I think it might be a year to early for the Nicholls charge. Duke Of Lucca isn't a horse I'd recommend to back any day, being quirky and not having the class to make good horses go! Relating to the novice ranks, Same Difference of Twiston-Davies is another who could just be going for the race a bit too early in his career. Likeable gritty sort who could run very well but experience could be the difference in winning and losing the race.
The two we are left with are WYCK HILL and QUINZ. The former I am more confident on, not just because of JP McManus buying him, but his attitude to win his races. Although he is creeping up in the handicap, he has a nice weight today, AP McCoy rides and the Bridgewater trained 9 year old looks like his better days are infront of him. With the Grand National, I dont think he can win the Aintree long distance race but this year he is thriving and is a worthy favourite. Quinz took the race in 2011 and his last 3 runs are PPP. However, he has a long lay-off to overcome, but he has won after a lay-off before, but I think that Phillip Hobbs can give his best shot a race to remember. He goes better right handed which Kempton is and he could sneak each-way money!
Early start at work tomorrow and a busy days racing to catch up on when I'm back, so feel free to tweet me at blue_bajan or email me - [email protected] with any Cheltenham news or feedback! Thanks :) BE LUCKY!