Katie Midwinter (13/04/23)
1:45pm – Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Gerri Colombe is the strong favourite to bounce back to winning ways following a second-placed finish to The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Prior to the Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott’s charge was unbeaten and was on the verge of recording three successive Grade One wins. He battled hard in the straight but was unable to overcome his determined rival. That Cheltenham form is likely to work out well and the classy seven-year-old gelding is certainly the one to beat.
Second favourite Bronn has plenty to do to reverse form with his Irish-based counterpart. He put in a brilliant performance outrunning his odds of 50/1 to finish third at Cheltenham, and has seen his mark risen by 10lbs, giving him an official rating of 155 as he heads to Aintree.
Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown appears the best of the British representatives and put in a great round of jumping at Kempton when last seen winning at a canter. He is yet to win over the trip and has stamina to prove, but is a progressive type capable of showing further improvement.
Galia Des Liteaux was disappointing when last seen and may have reached her level. She thrives in soft ground and does receive the allowance but will need to show significant improvement. Thomas Darby has plenty of experience in his favour but may be past his best whilst Sholokjack has a mountain to climb on ratings but did win a Point-To-Point over 3m, and may improve for a step up in trip.
2:20pm – Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
The progressive No Ordinary Joe was narrowly beaten by well handicapped Iroko in the final race of the Cheltenham Festival last month, and is now 4lbs higher. This distance is half-a-furlong less and, without the added excursions of the Cheltenham hill, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding may go one place better to find himself back in the winner’s enclosure. Proven on softer ground, there is plenty in his favour and he’s a lively contender in this open race.
Buddy One was hot on the heels of No Ordinary Joe at Cheltenham when receiving 8lbs and is better off at the weights this time around with jockey Jack G Gilligan able to claim 7lbs onboard. This could swing the pendulum in the Irish-raider’s favour, and he will be suited by the soft conditions.
Harry Derham’s progressive Dargiannini runs off a career-high mark of 138 and could still be ahead of the handicapper. He has been convincing in his last two runs, recording successive wins and is unexposed at this level.
Camprond did little wrong in the Coral Cup when headed on the line at Cheltenham last month. He appeared particularly well handicapped off a mark of 138 on that occasion, but is less attractive running off 143 here. Likely to have been primed for his Festival appearance, he may be less prepared for this challenge and there may be others representing more value in the field.
Sandy Thomson’s Benson was in excellent form and bidding for a hat-trick of wins when pulled-up in the Coral Cup. He was slightly hampered early on and a better showing could be on the cards off the same mark of 139.
Good Risk At All beat recent Fairyhouse winner Ailie Rose at Carlisle at the start of the season, but despite running respectably has been a distance behind the winners in two races since. He now drops to a handicap mark of 141, which is perhaps higher than ideal, 4lbs above his last winning mark, and there are others better off at the weights.
An interesting contender in the field is Lucy Wadham’s Martello Sky, with an eyecatching jockey booking. Rachael Blackmore takes the ride aboard the seven-year-old mare who will enjoy testing conditions and is better than her recent form suggests. She has often run in tight, tactical affairs and is unexposed in big field handicaps. With a 46% strike rate over hurdles, she represents value and could be fairly well handicapped off a mark of 137.
Likewise Dan Skelton’s Molly Ollys Wishes, another mare who has had the beating of Martello Sky in the past, runs off 137 and could go well. She has won on heavy ground and racing fans have seen the strength jockey Bridget Andrews has in a finish, and the ability to get a 33/1 mare first past the post, as shown with Faivoir at Cheltenham. Stablemate West To The Bridge is perhaps better than but has seven-lengths to find with Dargiannini, although there is a 12lbs swing in the Skelton’s horse’s favour this time around.
2:55pm – Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Top mare Luccia was unbeaten prior to her Cheltenham appearance last month. She didn’t get the perfect preparation in the build-up to the race, and was extremely keen and het up in the pre-parade ring beforehand. It didn’t appear as though she was about to run a solid race, and she almost certainly underperformed, finishing fourth when thought of as one of the bankers of the meeting. It’s worth putting a line through that run, and given she is fit and raring to go, she will be very tough to beat, receiving a 7lbs allowance from her male counterparts.
Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty currently heads the market following two impressive runs over hurdles. He won his maiden over 2m on soft at Fairyhouse, before being narrowly beaten by Corbetts Cross at Naas, form that is working out well. The six-year-old gelding has been deemed a non-runner on account of soft ground in the past, but did win his first hurdling appearance on a similar surface and may well be suited to conditions, capable of showing further improvement on only his third start over obstacles under rules.
Inthepocket was rerouted to the Supreme at Cheltenham, preferred to a longer trip in the Ballymore. He sticks to two miles here, attempting to build on a positive run when last seen. The talented individual looks a big danger in this field.
Altobelli is unexposed at this level, unbeaten so far in three career appearances, including in two runs over hurdles. He brings good form at a lower level into the race and is an interesting contender by Maxios. Hat-trick seeking Hullnback beat subsequent Grade Two-winner Nemean Lion at Haydock earlier this season, and is worthy of consideration for the Fergal O’Brien yard.
Paul Nicholls’ Tahmuras is a big price at 14/1, given he is a Grade One winner who perhaps wasn’t suited to the tricky test of the Cheltenham track last time out. He represents value and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to some type of form.
Of the others, the quirky Colonel Harry could outrun his huge odds of 40/1 to enter the frame. He will thrive in softer conditions and has built up plenty of experience in his novice season. Although he has plenty to find with a couple of his rivals, that does reflect in his price and he is a likeable type who will surely give his all.
3:30pm – Marsh Chase (The Melling Chase) (Grade 1)
First-time cheekpieces will be worn by Joseph O’Brien’s Fakir D’oudairies, searching for a third successive win in the race. He finished twenty-three-lengths behind Shishkin in the Ascot Chase, but clearly enjoys the Merseyside track and doesn’t face a horse the same calibre as Nicky Henderson’s star.
Paul Nicholls holds a strong hand with duo Pic D’Orhy and Hitman. Harry Cobden rides the former, an improving eight-year-old who has only 1lbs to find with the Irish-raider. Three from four this season, he was the best of the rest in the Ascot Chase and Fakir D’oudairies will have to reverse form with his rival.
Ditcheat stablemate Hitman has lengths to find with the favourite but is open to further progression. He ran well in the Ryanair Chase, finishing third behind Envoi Allen when wearing first-time cheekpieces, and the headgear stays on here.
French Dynamite was hampered by late faller Haut En Couleurs when beaten six-lengths by Fakir D’oudairies at Thurles, but didn’t appear to be accelerating at the time and may not have finished ahead of the eventual winner.
Course-and-distance winner Millers Bank runs for the second time following wind surgery which could bring improvement, whilst Fugitif and Minella Drama are both up in class following impressive handicap runs.
4:05pm – Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
An intriguing race is on the cards in the Topham this year, with a clear case to be made for a number of horses prominent towards the head of the market. Becher Chase winner Ashtown Lad, Gesskille, Al Dancer all have obvious chances as well as the likes of Final Orders and Il Ridoto. Upping The Ante is largely unexposed and was only beaten by recent Grade One winner Flame Bearer when last seen. Burrows Saint has finished fourth in the Grand National in the past and could go well with the benefit of experience, whilst talented stablemate Haut En Couleurs, who can be unreliable but is a force to be reckoned with when on form, will have to carry 12st if to reign victorious.
There is plenty of value in the field among the outsiders, with a number of interesting contenders none less than Bill Baxter. Warren Greatrex’s runner is three from four since having a wind operation, failing to win only when falling at Hereford. This is a big step up in class and will be the toughest task he’s faced, but he is unexposed and in good form. He formerly beat Banbrige by ten-lengths when runner-up in a Point-To-Point, the form of which has clearly worked out very well.
The extremely likeable Top Ville Ben sports his usual hood, now 1lbs lower than when pulled-up in the Ultima. He ran well for a long way at Cheltenham before fading but may be worth sticking with off a mark of 139. Philip Kirby’s charge often runs a good race and has won when rated higher in the past. His current price of 50/1 represents plenty of value and he is one to consider for the extra places.
4:40pm – Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
The penultimate race on the card is an extremely open hurdling contest for novices, with odds currently set at 4/1 the field. Absolute Notions for Gordon Elliott edges favouritism following a Grade One success at Leopardstown in February. Davy Russell is aboard the five-year-old gelding, stepping up in trip over an extended 3m for the first time.
Albert Bartlett winner Stay Away Fay showed class and determination to land the Cheltenham Festival prize last month, but has previously been beaten by Donald McCain’s Maximilian who comes into the race fresh making his second run after wind surgery.
The Grade Two River Don winner bypassed Cheltenham in preference of this assignment, and will have been trained with this race in mind. Trainer McCain is winless in the past two weeks, but Maximilian could provide a much needed victory for the yard, and conditions should be perfect for the chestnut gelding.
Iroko and Grey Dawning are both bidding for a four-timer and must enter calculations on ratings. Henry Daly’s Blenkinsop bids for a five-timer whilst Jonjo O’Neill’s Saint Davy is unbeaten so far in his career.
There are plenty to make a case for in this hotly contested race, and many big-priced entrants are capable of outrunning their odds. Weveallbeencaught has struggled to build on his maiden win, but could bounce back whilst Listed winner Marble Sands is unexposed over the trip and could be open to further progression.
Day 2 selections:
1:45pm – Gerri Colombe 8/11
2:20pm – Martello Sky 25/1 EW, West To The Bridge 33/1 EW
2:55pm – Luccia 9/2
4:05pm – Bill Baxter 30/1 EW, Top Ville Ben 50/1 EW
4:40pm – Maximilian 5/1
THE CONDITIONAL 