Day three brings us seven more races, three Grade 1’s, £1.3 million in prize money and two major feature events.
As well the championship race, the Stayers’ Hurdle, we see the Ryanair Chase which has produced some fantastic horses and brilliant finishes in the recent past.
We begin right at the top level with the Grade One Turner Novices’.
1.30 (Turners Novices’ Chase – Grade 1) – APPRECIATE IT
The money has all been for Mighty Potter in this event ante-post and he opened up at even-money and 11/10 after the final declarations.
He’s three out of three over fences and he hasn’t put a foot wrong. Two of those wins were in Grade 1 company and the style of them suggested that he is out of the top draw.
The sort of numbers he’s produced however don’t make him unbeatable on paper, and a much better value alternative is 2021’s hugely impressive Supreme Novices’ winner Appreciate It.
Since belatedly going chasing this season he too has been excellent to watch. Two wins set him up for the Irish Arkle for which he went off the 11/8 favourite ahead of Tuesday’s Arkle winner El Fabiolo. Though beaten there, he was far from disgraced and it seems he wants this 2½-mile trip now.
Stage Star, Balco Coastal and Banbridge are all very good young chasers too and can also make their mark.
2.10 (Pertemps Network Final – Premier Handicap Hurdle – Class 1) – THANKSFORTHEHELP
Nicky Henderson can probably finish his festival a happy man after Constitution Hill’s Champion Hurdle demolition, but he does have another winning chance in the Pertemps Final with Walking On Air.
This 24-runner, three-mile handicap hurdle is frightfully competitive but Walking On Air could be nicely treated at the weights and that’s going to be the crucial factor.
The other big improver who is nicely handicapped is Thanksforthehelp and ultimately, he gets our vote.
David Pipe has won this race a couple of times before so knows what is required, as does the owner JP McManus. His form is solid, he won so easily last time, he stays and he handles the ground.
2.50 (Ryanair Chase – Grade 1) – SHISHKIN
Hopefully Nicky Henderson hasn’t quite gone home at this point, as he needs to saddle up another superstar in the shape of Shishkin.
While he had his wobbles towards the end of his two-mile chasing career, he was an awesome Arkle and Clarence House winner but he found a new lease of life over a longer trip last time.
Inexplicably sent off second-favourite for the 2m5f Ascot Chase, he scored by 16 lengths and just looked better and better the further he went. He drops back to 2m4f here, but around this track that should suit him well.
Blue Lord is a solid second choice in this race and is the main danger, while Janidil, Envoi Allen and Hitman have their work cut out.
3.30 (Stayers’ Hurdle – Grade 1) – HOME BY THE LEE
The 2019 winner (and three-time Cleeve Hurdle winner) Paisley Park is still competing in Grade 1’s aged 11, while the 2021 and 2022 winner Flooring Porter is also once again in the line-up.
Klassical Dream has also been around the block a bit without seeing out a three-mile trip like this one to his best level.
All in all, it seems that the stayers’ crown will go to someone new this year. The recent form of Teahupoo has been excellent and he will on many punters’ lips, while Blazing Khal could even go off favourite.
The one we like best however is Home By The Lee. Joseph O’Brien’s runner won a Grade 2 in November, then stepped up again on that to win the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
He is now a confirmed stayer, loves the ground, is improving, has the class and for good measure had Flooring Porter well in behind at Leopardstown.
4.10 (Plate Handicap Chase – Class a) – WAR LORD
Another hugely difficult handicap race is upon us here for punters. 24 runners line up for the late, a two-and-a-half-mile race which usually favours those having run in certain similar handicaps in recent weeks.
Il Ridoto and Fugitif are two horses to have run in just the right race, finishing 1-2 in the premier handicap chase over this course and distance Trials Day.
They should both make their presence felt, as will So Scottish if the betting is anything to go by, but great value is last year’s Arkle Trophy fourth War Lord and he looks well handicapped.
He reached a mark of 149 after finishing behind Edwardstone twelve months ago, and while it’s taken a while to get him back to his best, he’s just about there now and he gets in here off only 144.
4.50 (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 2) – LUCCIA
Otherwise known as the Dawn Run, this 2m1f race has been on the schedule since just 2016 and was won for the first five years by Willie Mullins.
In behind the favourite, opinions are bound to differ on at least ten mares in this field and the battle for places therefore could be a keen one.
Up at the top of the betting market however is Nicky Henderson’s Luccia and she really does deserve that position on what she’s achieved so far.
She was two from two in bumpers including winning at Listed level last March, while she has now also won both of her hurdle races, again the latest at Listed level. She was impressive at Exeter and should handle this ground OK.
5.30 (Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase – Class 2) – ROYAL THIEF
We finish the day with the Kim Muir, a chance for the amateur jockeys to take centre stage.
In amateur races we often rely more on the jockey than we often would. Their ability range is greater than with the pros, which is partly why Mr Incredible (Patrick Mullins) and Dunboyne (Jamie Codd) will be fancied.
Royal Thief however looks very smart in the context of this race and could send supporters home happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment