Katie Midwinter (15/03/23)
1:30pm – Turners’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Mighty Potter is the warm favourite to win his fifth Grade One race, and it’s difficult to see past him in this contest. He has the best form coming into the race, is 10lbs clear on ratings and is bidding for a five-timer. Davy Russell is yet to ride a winner at this Festival, but looks set to add to his tally with victory in the first on Wednesday.
Appreciate It needs to improve on his recent Leopardstown run and will appreciate the trip whilst Banbridge’s chances lessen with every drop of rain that falls at Prestbury Park.
Notlongtillmay could outrun his odds of 66/1 for trainer Laura Morgan. The progressive seven-year-old is unbeaten for the yard, attempting four successive wins.
Win selection:
Mighty Potter – Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
2:10pm – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)
Thanksforthehelp is up 11lbs on his second run following wind surgery with J P McManus’ retained rider Mark Walsh onboard, riding for trainer David Pipe. There appears to be plenty in his favour but he is short enough in a field of twenty three runners, with only one win to his name.
Maxxum was extremely well handicapped when winning the qualifying race at Leopardstown beating Eric Bloodaxe, but was disappointing when up 18lbs, and is 7lbs higher here. Tony Martin’s Good Time Johnny has been dropped 1lbs for his latest run and is back off the same mark of 138 as when third to Maxxum over the festive period. He is much better off at the weights this time around and, although he struggled to lay a glove on his rival on that occasion, he is good enough to enter the frame here with 5lbs claimer Liam McKenna onboard.
Captain Morgs recorded an impressive victory at the track in December, beating a field including Annual Invictus and Dusart. The ground is perhaps a question mark as his only win on the surface came in a novice hurdle at Ascot. If he is able to cope with conditions and a 7lbs rise in the weights, he is in with a chance of making the frame.
Likable nine-year-old Itchy Feet has plenty of class on his day and is slightly overpriced at 40/1, but may struggle to beat the Irish-raiders. He won the Grade One Scilly Isles as a novice chaser, beating Midnight Shadow, but hasn’t yet reached those heights in open company.
Consistent mare Glimpse Of Gala won over 3m1f on heavy ground at Warwick when last seen and is now up 5lbs, without 7lbs claimer Bradley Roberts onboard. She does face a tough task at the weights but has been improving with each run and wears first-time cheekpieces. At a big price she could be one to consider.
Each-way selections:
Good Time Jonny 10/1 – A J Martin, Liam McKenna (5)
Glimpse Of Gala 33/1 – Charlie Longsdon, Gavin Sheehan
2:50pm – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
Twelve months ago on attritional ground in extreme weather Shishkin was pulled-up in the Champion Chase. This is redemption day. The star chaser has had his issues in the past year, but looked better than ever when stepping up in trip at Ascot. This appears to be the perfect race for him in this year’s Festival and, unless the ground isn’t to his liking come Thursday, he should be a class above in this field.
Janidil finished second in the race last year and has each-way claims once again, but is 11lbs inferior to favourite Shishkin on ratings. Closutton stablemate Blue Lord must bounce back from a disappointing run at the Dublin Racing Festival that looked too bad to be true. He has previously proved himself to be much better than his performance at Leopardstown and shouldn’t be discounted.
Fury Road threatened to spoil the Galopin Des Champs party in the Irish Gold Cup, before making a mistake at the last fence and fading. He has been running in competitive races and is a lively each-way contender.
Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen failed to perform in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but had previously returned to the force of old with an impressive win in the Down Royal Champion Chase. At his best he is a threat but he has been inconsistent since falling in the Marsh Novices’ Chase two years ago.
Six-time Grade One winner Chacun Pour Soi is a surprising outsider of the field. The classy gelding is past his best and hasn’t been very lucky at the track in the past but is each-way value at 40/1.
Win selection:
Shishkin – Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
3:30pm – Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Teahupoo, previously selected in the antepost preview, has got his desired ground. The softer the better for the six-year-old, the first horse to win a race featuring the wonderful Honeysuckle. He is unexposed over the trip at this level but has shaped like a stayer and will thrive in soft conditions. The progressive horse faces a tough task, but he is bidding for a hat-trick of wins and is the one to beat.
Klassical Dream finished a neck second to Teahupoo when last seen but is a much bigger price than the market leader. He represents each-way value but must be more professional than when lining up in the race twelve months ago.
Blazing Khal returned to action with an impressive Grade Two win in the Boyne Hurdle. He is proven in softer conditions and will be a big threat to the current favourite Teahupoo. Dual winner Flooring Porter is another lively contender in this quality field of horses, and must be respected as the reigning champion who is exceptional on his day.
Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee is another hat-trick seeking contender, and proved himself over the trip with success in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
French-raider Gold Tweet was a surprising winner of the Cleeve Hurdle and has subsequently been supplemented for this race. He brings good French form into the race and should have no trouble coping with conditions. The Cleeve Hurdle runner-up Dashel Drasher has plenty to find to reverse form with his French rival, but is a brave and reliable horse who never knows when he’s beaten.
Popular Paisley Park has finished third in the last two renewals. A former winner of the race, he remains a threat on a going day but can be unreliable.
This is an incredibly competitive race, with a case to be made for a number of horses but the favourite gets the nod with Davy Russell perhaps able to make the difference.
Win selection:
Teahupoo – Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
4:10pm – Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
Last year’s winner Coole Cody is 2lbs lower this time and is capable of bouncing back following a couple of below par performances. He is a Cheltenham specialist and is a lively each-way contender at a big price.
Emmet Mullins’ So Scottish heads the market and must be respected for shrewd connections, whilst Haut En Couleurs has in-form 3lbs claimer Michael O’Sullivan onboard and is in with a chance if able to perform to his best.
Midnight River was impressive over course-and-distance in January and could enter the frame, now up 7lbs. First-time cheekpieces could bring improvement from Datsalrightgino who holds each-way claims off a mark of 145 whilst Fugitif dealt well with a 10lbs rise in his last run behind Il Ridoto and could show progression again.
Each-way selections:
Midnight River 9/1 – Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton
Coole Cody 33/1 – Evan Williams, Adam Wedge
4:50pm – Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten mare Luccia should be too good for her rivals in this contest, having been foot-perfect in her career so far. She has proven form on soft ground in bumpers and has made light work of two Listed contests over hurdles this season.
Lot Of Joy is the mount of Paul Townend and the shortest price of the Willie Mullins contingent whilst You Wear It Well could feature for Jamie Snowden.
A winner from Henry de Bromhead’s five hopefuls would be fitting and the market suggests Magical Zoe is the yard’s strongest contender. Rachael Blackmore rides Foxy Girl who could improve on her maiden win at Limerick.
Win selection:
Luccia – Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
THE CONDITIONAL 