Return of Cheltenham and Aintree.
This weekend saw the return of two of the most famous racecourses as well as some peoples favourite horses, we will start things off at Prestbury Park on the Friday.
2:35 Cheltenham: The Squareintheair.com Novices chase saw a field of 4 runners turn up with Al Dancer opening up as the Even money fav, 2nd in the betting was one of my 10 to follow in Getaway Trump, the pair of them sat behind the leader for most of the race with them both sweeping past turning in, when they did Getaway Trump looked to be travelling the best of the 2 before making a mistake and looking to empty between the final 2 fences, leaving the race for Al Dancer, I thought they both ran with credit, Getaway Trump jumping the best of the 2 throughout the race, Its been well documented that the Nicholls horses are needing to get a run into themselves before being fully ready to go, I’d fully expect Getaway Trump to reverse the form should they meet again later in the season.
3:45 Cheltenham: 3m Novice Chase, this race for much of the way looked like it was going to be won by a horse that loves Cheltenham in Wholestone he led for most of the way and was 2 lengths clear jumping the last only to be headed in the final strides by Mulcahys Hill, who finished the better of the 2. This was a promising run from Wholestone who was beaten by a horse with more chasing experience, for me with the 3m trip you don’t get to see Wholestone at his best, he’s ran well over the trip in the past, but I feel 2m4f would be his ideal distance
going forward.
The weather took a turn for the worse Friday evening and into Saturday with the ground going from Good to soft on Friday to Heavy on the Saturday, this in turn lead to quite a few non runners.
2:00 Cheltenham: 3m1f Handicap Chase, the race started with the 15 runners but only saw the 7 get home with the rest being pulled up, the first 4 home finishing clear of the other 3, the winner being The Conditional for David Bridgewater and Tom Cannon, he was always in touch with Cogry (3rd) who lead most of the way till 3 out when he was headed by West Approach (2nd) who looked like he came there to win the race until he himself was headed jumping the last by the winner, who stayed on well to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The one to take out the race for me was West Approach, travelled like a dream throughout the race for Robbie Power only to have nothing left over the last, he has a win in him in one of these big handicap chases just when I don’t know seen as his last win was December 2017.
2:35 Cheltenham: Masterson Holdings Hurdle, with the race going off on heavy ground this saw Torpillo smashed into odds on favouritism, as usually a bit of cut in the ground has him in his element, but this wasn’t the case here where he eventually finished 3rd, Soviet Pimpernel (2nd) came there with every chance at the last but was no match for the winner, which was the Nicholls trained Quel Destin, who won well off of top weight, it was a very good performance considering he had an 8lb penalty to carry for being a grade 1 winner. Will be interesting to see what Paul does with him next, could he become Ditcheat’s Champion Hurdle horse if so needs to be seen against the older horses first or will we see him back on the flat.
3:10 Cheltenham: Randox Health Handicap Chase, this race was also like the one before won by the top weight this time being Saint Calvados, there was clearly a change of tactics with him as they normally like to go from the front with him making it a test for everything else, but they seemed happy enough to sit in mid division with him here. Wasn’t until 2 out where he took the lead over from Knocknanuss and kept on well after that. I wanna say he could be a bit of a dark horse for the Champion Chase this year but I’m not entirely sure if he is dependent on a bit of cut in the ground which there has been in his victories, I would like to see him out again on less testing ground before being sure.
Sunday saw the return of Aintree which was completely different weather wise to Cheltenham, they had a nice 7 race card, but there’s one race in particular I want to focus on.
3:00 Aintree: Old Roan Handicap Chase, this was probably the race I was looking forward to the most this weekend the thought of Kalashnikov and Frodon going head to head was something to get anyone excited. But unfortunately the race was ruined due to low sun which meant they had to avoid all 3 fences in the home straight leaving them with a half a mile run in. Meaning the race came down to a sprint to the line which for me isn’t what jumps racing is about. The race was won by Forest Bihan who ultimately had the better turn of foot over Kalashnikov, the pair of them readily going clear of Frodon who was jumping well in front as you’d expect under top weight. It will be hard to use this race as any sort of form guide given the loss of 6 fences being jumped, but I feel Kalashnikov ran well in his first race in one company, and Frodon will come on loads for the run as the majority of the Nicholls horses are with hi next race set to be the Betfair chase at Haydock.
Elsewhere other than the weekend there were two horses that caught my eye both of which were at Carlisle on Thursday and both trained but Olly Murphy. First was Overthetop who won the Novice hurdle by 12 lengths, travelling well throughout the race before being shaken up and quickening clear on the run in. Second was Brewin’upastorm who won his debut over fences, he was held up in last all the way round by Richard Johnson before making an effort at around 3 out and keeping on really well for pressure, beating another nice looking chaser in Good Boy Booby.
Finally I’d like to give a special mention for Bridget Andrews who managed to get her first treble under rules at Wincanton on Sunday with 3 brilliant rides on the Skelton trained horses.
going forward.
The weather took a turn for the worse Friday evening and into Saturday with the ground going from Good to soft on Friday to Heavy on the Saturday, this in turn lead to quite a few non runners.
2:00 Cheltenham: 3m1f Handicap Chase, the race started with the 15 runners but only saw the 7 get home with the rest being pulled up, the first 4 home finishing clear of the other 3, the winner being The Conditional for David Bridgewater and Tom Cannon, he was always in touch with Cogry (3rd) who lead most of the way till 3 out when he was headed by West Approach (2nd) who looked like he came there to win the race until he himself was headed jumping the last by the winner, who stayed on well to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The one to take out the race for me was West Approach, travelled like a dream throughout the race for Robbie Power only to have nothing left over the last, he has a win in him in one of these big handicap chases just when I don’t know seen as his last win was December 2017.
2:35 Cheltenham: Masterson Holdings Hurdle, with the race going off on heavy ground this saw Torpillo smashed into odds on favouritism, as usually a bit of cut in the ground has him in his element, but this wasn’t the case here where he eventually finished 3rd, Soviet Pimpernel (2nd) came there with every chance at the last but was no match for the winner, which was the Nicholls trained Quel Destin, who won well off of top weight, it was a very good performance considering he had an 8lb penalty to carry for being a grade 1 winner. Will be interesting to see what Paul does with him next, could he become Ditcheat’s Champion Hurdle horse if so needs to be seen against the older horses first or will we see him back on the flat.
3:10 Cheltenham: Randox Health Handicap Chase, this race was also like the one before won by the top weight this time being Saint Calvados, there was clearly a change of tactics with him as they normally like to go from the front with him making it a test for everything else, but they seemed happy enough to sit in mid division with him here. Wasn’t until 2 out where he took the lead over from Knocknanuss and kept on well after that. I wanna say he could be a bit of a dark horse for the Champion Chase this year but I’m not entirely sure if he is dependent on a bit of cut in the ground which there has been in his victories, I would like to see him out again on less testing ground before being sure.
Sunday saw the return of Aintree which was completely different weather wise to Cheltenham, they had a nice 7 race card, but there’s one race in particular I want to focus on.
3:00 Aintree: Old Roan Handicap Chase, this was probably the race I was looking forward to the most this weekend the thought of Kalashnikov and Frodon going head to head was something to get anyone excited. But unfortunately the race was ruined due to low sun which meant they had to avoid all 3 fences in the home straight leaving them with a half a mile run in. Meaning the race came down to a sprint to the line which for me isn’t what jumps racing is about. The race was won by Forest Bihan who ultimately had the better turn of foot over Kalashnikov, the pair of them readily going clear of Frodon who was jumping well in front as you’d expect under top weight. It will be hard to use this race as any sort of form guide given the loss of 6 fences being jumped, but I feel Kalashnikov ran well in his first race in one company, and Frodon will come on loads for the run as the majority of the Nicholls horses are with hi next race set to be the Betfair chase at Haydock.
Elsewhere other than the weekend there were two horses that caught my eye both of which were at Carlisle on Thursday and both trained but Olly Murphy. First was Overthetop who won the Novice hurdle by 12 lengths, travelling well throughout the race before being shaken up and quickening clear on the run in. Second was Brewin’upastorm who won his debut over fences, he was held up in last all the way round by Richard Johnson before making an effort at around 3 out and keeping on really well for pressure, beating another nice looking chaser in Good Boy Booby.
Finally I’d like to give a special mention for Bridget Andrews who managed to get her first treble under rules at Wincanton on Sunday with 3 brilliant rides on the Skelton trained horses.
A few horses/races to possibly keep an eye out for this week if they run:
2:40 Fakenham Wednesday, Novice Chase, Nube Negra.
2:20 Stratford Thursday, Beginners Chase, Black Op, Lisnagar Oscar & Sunshade.
2:40 Uttoxeter Friday, Beginners Chase, Summerville Boy & Thomas Darby.
1:55 Wetherby Friday, Novice Chase, Ardlethen, Sam Spinner, Lisnagar Oscar & Vision Des Flos.
12:40 Down Royal Friday, Maiden Hurdle, Envoi Allen.
1:45 Down Royal Friday, WKD Hurdle, Coeur Sublime & Honeysuckle.
2:55 Down Royal Friday, Beginners Chase, Samcro.
2:40 Fakenham Wednesday, Novice Chase, Nube Negra.
2:20 Stratford Thursday, Beginners Chase, Black Op, Lisnagar Oscar & Sunshade.
2:40 Uttoxeter Friday, Beginners Chase, Summerville Boy & Thomas Darby.
1:55 Wetherby Friday, Novice Chase, Ardlethen, Sam Spinner, Lisnagar Oscar & Vision Des Flos.
12:40 Down Royal Friday, Maiden Hurdle, Envoi Allen.
1:45 Down Royal Friday, WKD Hurdle, Coeur Sublime & Honeysuckle.
2:55 Down Royal Friday, Beginners Chase, Samcro.
Thanks for reading.
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