Day 2 of the International Meeting promises to be another belter. With two Grade 2 events, the Racing Post Gold Cup and a key trial for the Triumph Hurdle on the card we have plenty to get our teeth stuck into on Saturday.
12.05 (Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle – Class 2) – MESSAGE PERSONNEL
After finishing third on his hurdling debut in a similar contest albeit at Grade 2 level last month, Yorksea has the best provable form and is the rightful favourite on the book for Gary Moore.
More interesting however is Message Personnel. His French form is hard to quantify and he carries a 7lb penalty, but his odds are juicy and there is plenty to like when you dig a little deeper.
Dan Skelton’s new recruit beat Selma at Dieppe in July, a horse whose subsequent form gives Message Personnel the look of a runner that could just be at a higher level despite the penalty.
As we know so little about these juveniles it’s better to go with potential along with form rather than only the latter so he gets the nod, Interne De Sivola also making the shortlist.
12.40 (Novices’ Chase – Class 2) – MY DROGO
The major competition hasn’t turned up for this extended 2½-mile novice chase and so it’s very hard to see beyond My Drogo here.
For those who may not remember; My Drogo was involved in a match race with Gin On Lime at the November meeting and while ultimately the result was a good one for this column, Dan Skelton’s six-year-old was a very unlucky loser!
Both horses appeared to have fallen that day, only for Rachael Blackmore to somehow remain on board her mount and claim victory.
My Drogo is better than that and better than the two rivals he faces here so as long as he stays upright this time, he should land a first victory of his fledgling chase career.
1.15 (Handicap Chase – Class 2) – FRERO BANBOU
This race has been named in honour of Simon Claisse, the long-time Cheltenham clerk of the course and a competitive wee bunch of eight horses has been assembled.
On our own private ratings, its very tight between Torpillo, if fit enough after 641 days off the track, Cheddleton who was too free last time and is capable of better, and likely market leader Editeur Du Gite who is the most solid of that bunch.
The one with the potential to offer more though is Frero Banbou. Venetia Williams’ gelding is three from 8 so far and doesn’t seem to have been properly collared by the handicapper.
Having run twice this season already but just eight times over fences in all, even natural improvement would make him potentially the best treated horse in the line-up at the weights and he’s a nice price too.
1.50 (Racing Post Gold Cup Handicap Chase – Grade 3) – FARINET
The newly renamed Racing Post Gold Cup is a brilliantly competitive 2½-mile handicap chase, one in which the form of last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup is likely to come to the fore.
Winner Midnight Shadow, third-placed Lalor, fourth Dostal Phil and sixth Zanza are all back for more while the runner-up that day, Protektorat, has since demolished a Grade 2 field at Aintree by 25 lengths.
They are all in with chances on the book, naturally, but coming out of novice company now is Farinet of the Venetia Williams yard and he is taken to improve past them off a handy weight.
A very good winner at Sandown in March on his second start in this country, Farinet is capable of very much more and could prove to be great value in the feature event.
2.25 (Bristol Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 2) – BARONY LEGENDS
Blazing Khal managed to see off Gelino Bello over 2 miles, 5 furlongs at the November meeting here and the two reoppose.
Blazing Khal now has a 5lb penalty, but given that he never showed much speed we can assume he’ll appreciate this step up to three miles and so may still be just a step ahead of his old rival who challenges him at the top of this market.
The one to take against them is the unexposed Barony Legends for the Olly Murphy yard. 41 days ago, he was a very, very easy winner at Lingfield over 2m3f and while his ability to stay the trip isn’t proven there is no end of improvement in him and he could be the best value in the race to small stakes.
3.00 (International Hurdle – Grade 2) – SCEAU ROYAL
Make no mistake; Alan King’s star Sceau Royal had a real chance at Newcastle last time in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth, the key trial for the Champion Hurdle back here in March.
While the ground officially was good to soft there, conditions at race time were horrible and Sceau Royal did well just to battle on and claim a close third place behind Not So Sleepy and Epatante.
He’s better than that and he can prove it here with a performance that should make him one of the frontrunners for the big one in March.
Ballyadam will have his supporters, but frankly his form over hurdles doesn’t match up to what is required here. Song For Someone is the likely favourite but, while there is talent there, he isn’t at Sceau Royal’s level in our opinion with a better bet for the forecast at these weights arguably being Guard Your Dreams.
3.35 (Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – Class 2) – TRAPISTA
Paul Webber’s mare Indefatigable is a real favourite around here and hopefully she’ll put up another big performance, but the young pretender Trapista looks like improving to just the right level and may take the lucky last.
Jonjo O’Neill’s horse, trained for JP McManus, made a very successful British debut at Huntingdon back in late October and has been given plenty of time to come to herself and is now ready to go once more.
Indefatigable is indeed next best, ahead of Martello Sky.
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