After a controversial week in the world of horse racing, our attention turns to the action on the track.
We preview a select number of races from Cheltenham as well as previewing the action from Sha Tin, where there are plenty of British and Irish hopefuls looking for glory.
(All prices featured are correct at the time of writing)
We start at Cheltenham, in the 12:40 Novices’ Chase, in what could have been a match-up between two exciting talents in My Drogo and Bob Olinger, the latter is set to bypass the clash leaving only four declared for the Class 2 race.
Dan Skelton’s My Drogo (The Conditional’s selection – 3/10) will go off as favourite and will be expected to win this.
He was last seen here last month, when falling at the second last in a bizarre two-runner race won by Gin On Lime.
Prior to that he had won all of his five runs over hurdles and his chase debut had looked very promising before the slip.
It is difficult to see any rival getting close to My Drogo, but Jay Bee Why could perhaps be the best of the rest.
He finished second on his chase debut, giving plenty of weight to the winner, but kept on well and could improve.
Torn And Frayed has made two starts over fences, both in small fields, but will need to improve his jumping and run better than his best to trouble the favourite.
Captain Cuckoo is a big-priced outsider who is unlikely to mount a challenge.
In the 1:15 Handicap Chase, Gary Moore’s Editeur Du Gite takes on Dan Skelton’s Amoola Gold and Venetia Williams’ Frero Banbou, amongst others.
Editeur Du Gite will have 5lb claimer Niall Houlihan on his back, and will look to carry on his good form following a recent win at Cheltenham.
He was bidding for a hat-trick of wins when unseating his rider at Ascot prior to his win last time out, in a race won by Amoola Gold.
Amoola Gold has been impressive this season, winning his first start at Ascot, as mentioned, before finishing a close second to Before Midnight.
He is proven over the distance and could feature at the finish under Harry Skelton.
Frero Banbou finished third at Newbury on last appearance, and finished fourth, a fair distance behind Amoola Gold, at Ascot in October.
The six-year-old was receiving plenty of weight from the Skelton runner on that occasion, and receives even more here, but it’s difficult to see him reversing form with a horse who has beaten him so convincingly before, as has Editeur Du Gite when running at Aintree in April.
Cheddleton has much to do to compete here on this year’s form, but is capable of showing improvement for trainer Jennie Candlish and is proven over the distance.
Notre Pari comes back down in trip here for Olly Murphy and has plenty to prove in this company, whilst Torpillo makes his first start after a lengthy lay-off and could be one to watch with interest.
Moonlighter (The Conditional’s selection – 9/1) runs for the second time following wind surgery, but was pulled-up at Exeter on last run in a competitive Grade 2 affair.
He was pulled-up at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but prior to that he won a handicap at Sandown and showed plenty of promise and impressive performances, non least in the Haldon Gold Cup in which he finished a close second to recent Tingle Creek winner Greenateen.
Bun Doran completes the line-up, and is another running for the second time following wind surgery.
The Racing Post Gold Cup comes at 1:50 and the market is headed by Paul Nicholls’ Lalor, who will be looking for his first win since November 2018 in the hands of Harry Cobden.
He was last seen finishing third at Cheltenham in November, on his first run since having wind surgery.
Finishing only a length-and-a-half behind last week’s Many Clouds winner, Protektorat, Lalor showed plenty of ability and finished ahead of Dostal Phil who he rivals again here.
Dostal Phil (The Conditional’s selection – 7/1) ran well enough at Cheltenham to finish fourth, and could come on from the run enough to reverse form with the favourite here.
He finished his race strongly from far back in the field, and was an eye-catcher in the final furlong.
Silver Hallmark could be Lalor’s closest challenger, if following the market, but the seven-year-old is largely inexperienced in comparison with his older rival.
He finished a distant fourth at Carlisle on his last run, in a race won by Fiddlerontheroof, but will need to show some improvement in what looks to be an open race.
Fusil Raffles is one who is being well-backed in the double green, for the Nicky Henderson yard.
He won over a longer trip at Wetherby when last seen, and has decent form behind some impressive horses this year.
Last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Midnight Shadow beat both Lalor and Dostal Phil to claim the prize, but the trailing horses were closing quickly and in a differently run race could have finished ahead of the winner.
On his prior run, the eight-year-old finished third behind Allmankind and Itchy Feet at Aintree, and if able to run his race he could be involved in the finish.
Zanza finished joint-sixth in that Cheltenham Grade 3 handicap, but has plenty to find here.
Venetia Williams’ trained Farinet will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore at a low weight, and the six-year-old will be making his first appearance since winning a Listed race at Sandown in March.
Beakstown has only raced once since his fifth-placed finish at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020, and is an interesting contender at a low weight.
Top-weight Cepage is stepping back down in trip, to a distance in which he has beaten Lalor at the track before.
He returns to the track for the first time since his fourth-placed finish here in March.
Siruh Du Lac has much to prove, whilst Deyrann De Carjac is one to rule out if going on his performance last time out.
Coole Cody set the pace in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, before falling at the penultimate fence, but the Evan Williams’ runner is more than capable on his day and would certainly be one to consider each-way.
Topofthecotswolds and Francky Du Berlais complete the line-up as the outsiders of the field.
The 3:00 International Hurdle is our race of the day, as it features plenty of talent, as well as plenty of former winners who perhaps have a bit to prove.
Sceau Royal, the market leader, gave a good account of himself in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last month, finishing third behind dead-heat winners Epatante and Not So Sleepy.
He is fit and in-form, and is likely to be the one to beat here.
Song For Someone (The Conditional’s selection – 5/2) enjoyed a successful 2020, before finishing a distant second to Goshen in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton in February and subsequently pulling up at Aintree having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival.
Since then, he has received wind surgery and looked back to his best at Ascot last month, finding only Buzz too good on that occasion.
Guard Your Dreams finished behind Song For Someone there, but ran a decent race and could prefer this shorter trip.
He is a reliable type and is likely to feature at the finish.
Henry De Bromhead’s Ballyadam finished a considerable distance behind the front three including Guard Your Dreams at Aintree in April.
On his day, he is capable of putting up a challenge, as seen at Leopardstown in February when he finished ahead of Willie Mullins pair Blue Lord and Galopin Des Champs, amongst others, and found only Cheltenham Festival winner Appreciate It too good.
Heaven Help Us has been disappointing since his Cheltenham exploits in March, but is another Irish-raider who is more than capable of mounting a challenge if at his best.
Danny Mullins takes the ride.
Wilde About Oscar hasn’t fired on his last two runs and will struggle if unable to show improvement.
Hunters Call won last time out, but this is a much tougher task for the outsider of the field.
There is plenty of action from Sha Tin to enjoy on Sunday morning (GMT time), featuring plenty of British and Irish hopefuls.
The Hong Kong Vase comes at 6:00, and fan-favourite Pyledriver is the British-raider having his first run outside of the UK.
He’ll be ridden by regular partner Martin Dwyer, and the four-year-old has been in good form this season.
At Newmarket in May he finished second to Sir Ron Priestley in a Group 2, before winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Churchill Stakes at Lingfield.
This trip promises to suit well.
Ballydoyle’s Mogul won this renewal last year and is looking to retain his crown.
The son of Galileo, and full brother to Japan, has been slightly disappointing since that success, and has much to prove on first appearance since August.
Ebaiyra is a French-trained four-year-old filly who will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon for The Aga Khan.
She finished second to Broome at Saint-Cloud in July, ahead of 2020 Arc runner-up In Swoop, and will be one to watch with interest receiving weight from her male rivals.
Ryan Moore will ride Group 1 winner Hot King Prawn in the Hong Kong Sprint at 7:15, whilst the Hong Kong Mile at 7:50 could be Golden Sixty’s to lose.
The six-year-old gelding of Francis Lui’s is unbeaten in two years, and looks very impressive, but 1000 Guineas and Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth will attempt to overcome the favourite.
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old filly has endured a long season since her classic win at Newmarket, but has held her own amongst some tough opposition, including against the colts and geldings, as we saw at Ascot on Champions Day.
Her last run at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup was below par, but she is capable of bouncing back and featuring here.
The Hong Kong Cup comes at 8:30, where three European-raiders will attempt to take on recent Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Loves Only You.
William Haggas’ Dubai Honour has enjoyed two Group 2 successes at France this year, and was last seen finishing second in the Champion Stakes, ahead of third-placed Mac Swiney.
He has looked to be a progressive type who could go well once again here.
Jim Bolger’s Mac Swiney won the Irish 2000 Guineas in May, but hasn’t fired since, and may prefer a softer surface and a shorter trip.
O’Brien’s Bolshoi Ballet was once the Derby favourite, and has been seen in the USA following his Epsom disappointment.
He impressed in the Grade 1 Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park in July, but hasn’t reached his potential yet.
Good luck to all.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 