Katie Midwinter (30/11/23)
NEWCASTLE
11:35pm – Juvenile Hurdle (Class 2)
Six declared for this three-year-old contest, with three horses including RAGOSINA holding entries elsewhere. If racing does go ahead and Ragosina does line up, the daughter of Teofilo is the standout choice.
Bought for 22,000gns last month, she represents a Ben Brookhouse yard that has been performing at a 28% strike rate in jumps races this season, and she made a promising start to life as a hurdler with a second-placed finish to Union Flag at Musselburgh. Whilst the form of her debut run for the yard has been slightly let down following the winner’s disappointment at Catterick when next seen, she is entitled to improve for the run and can put her previous experience to good use.
12:10pm – Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
Harry Fry-trained Coastal Rock made a promising start to his career with a fourth-placed finish behind Meatloaf in a Wincanton bumper last season. Despite being well backed prior to the off, he lacked the pace to challenge but could fare better on hurdling debut. The form of the race has been franked by winner Meatloaf comfortably landing his maiden hurdle when last seen, and runner-up Classic King subsequently finishing two-and-a-quarter-lengths behind Queens Gamble at Kempton.
Dream Boy finished four-lengths behind Grade Two placed Idy Wood at Cheltenham last month, the form of which has been franked following Lookaway’s impressive run in the Greatwood Hurdle plus Kamsinas’ Grade Two victory at Haydock. Whilst Dream Boy is yet to show the same progression, he did win a point to point before finishing fourth twice under rules. most recently to the promising Little Miss Dante when less than a length behind third-placed who has form behind Absolute Notions, You Oughta Know and Croke Park.
Florida Dreams won a Grade Two Aintree bumper before finishing third on hurdling debut at Ayr. The winner at Ayr, Primoz, was disappointing at Haydock on reappearance but runner-up I Love My Baie put in another solid effort to place, suggesting the form of the race is better than it first appeared.
Esprit Du Potier finished four-and-a-quarter-lengths behind Florida Dreams at Aintree, finishing ahead of the likes of Go To War, Samui and Beat The Bat. The grey gelding was a beaten favourite on his first start over obstacles, the form of which has been let down since, but he did finish ahead of Gavin Cromwell’s Dutch Schultz, who had previously shown promise in Ireland.
Bowler Jack is a brother to dour stayer Notachance, from a family of 3m+ staying chasers, and following two disappointing runs in 2m bumpers, he may be one for further down the line, bred to be a chaser over further than this two mile trip.
Selection(s):
Dream Boy (EW) & Coastal Rock (EW)
1:20pm – Class 3 Handicap Chase
It may be worth taking a chance on veteran GLITTERING LOVE, representing an in-form Nicky Richards yards, with Danny McMenamin in the saddle. The strong stayer has been beaten in his last two runs but had previously won over four miles at Hexham when running off 114.
On the same mark here, he is in with an excellent chance and could capitalise on the yard’s rich vein of form by landing another victory in a staying chase contest. He had previously been beaten by bottom weight Rath An Iuir over a shorter trip, but is likely to find this 3m6f race more to his liking.
No Cruise Yet is a formidable opponent on his day and is guaranteed to stay the distance therefore should be in contention in the closing stages.
1:55pm – Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1)
Reigning champion and Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill attempts to retain his crown in the race he won twelve months ago in his first run in open company. Unbeaten under rules, the special six-year-old remains hurdling this term following discussion of a potential attempt at the larger obstacles and novice chasing. However, with doubts over whether or not the special talent would stay the Gold Cup trip effectively enough to be competitive, the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is again the aim. This is a perfect opener to his third season, and once again he faces four rivals.
Talented mares Love Envoi and You Wear It Well both receive the mares’ allowance of 7lbs, and both are in with a chance of chasing home the favourite who is expected to put in another emphatic performance. The former, Love Envoi, trained by Harry Fry, was a gallant second to the formidable Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival in March, before disappointing when last of six at Punchestown. If she is able to replicate her Cheltenham performance, she should be good enough to finish second, clear of the rest of her rivals, bar Constitution Hill, on ratings.
You Wear It Well made a successful start in open company with victory over Luccia, a subsequent third in the Greatwood Hurdle, and Kateira, second in Listed company on her next run, lacking the stamina to see out the extended three-miles at Kempton. It is a good level of form in the mares division, but Love Envoi sets the standard among the British-trained contender and the Jamie Snowden-trained Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner will need to show further improvement at this level.
Course-and-distance winner Not So Sleepy shared the spoils with Constitution Hill’s stablemate Epatante in the contest two years ago, as the pair proved impossible to split on the line, finishing in a dead-heat. The quirky chestnut enjoyed success on the flat at Newbury in September, but is winless over obstacles since his previous success in this race and he was thirty-two-lengths behind Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle. The Hughie Morrison-trained gelding is another chasing place prize money, and if he is able to settle and see out the race well, he could challenge for the runner-up spot at a course he knows well.
Eight-year-old Benson faces a tough task on ratings, with 38lbs to find with the favourite and 16lbs to find with the second highest-rated Love Envoi, who is in receipt of 7lbs. There is little to suggest on form that he will be able to compete for the minor honours, but he has the benefit of a recent run and cheekpieces remain on.
Selection:
Constitution Hill / Love Envoi (Forecast)
2:30pm – Class 4 Handicap Chase
ALNADAM, formerly trained by Dan Skelton, is 15lbs below his last winning chase mark, with 7lb claimer Roisin Leech aboard for trainer Sophie Leech. The ten-year-old gelding has spent much of the year hurdling in France, his best performance being a fourth-placed finish ahead of Might I in a Listed Auteuil contest. Whilst it has been almost a year since his last appearance over fences, when last of eleven at Exeter, he is capable of returning to form at this level. Course-and-distance winner
The Paddy Pie is another who could be fairly well treated at the weights off a mark of 103. The Sue Smith-trained gelding is 11lbs lower than when winning at Wetherby on Boxing Day last year, beating the likes of Karl Phillippe and Amoola Gold in a higher class affair.
3:05pm – Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Shishkin’s preparation for the King George VI Chase didn’t go to plan last Saturday when he refused to jump off with the rest of the field sporting first-time cheekpieces in the 1965 Chase at Ascot. The headgear comes off this time around as time is running out to make an appearance before his Grade One target at Kempton at the end of the month. Off a mark of 173, Shishkin must carry a top weight of 12st on his first visit to Newcastle, 21lbs clear of his closest rival on ratings, Ga Law.
Five horses are out of the handicap as a result of Shishkin’s inclusion, including the fancied Empire Steel and Elvis Mail. The former, trained by the in-form Sandy Thomson, is a strong stayer, capable of posing a threat. Nick Alexander’s Elvis Mail has 3lb claimer Bruce Lynn onboard as he bids for a hat-trick of wins. The nine-year-old has recorded a pair of 3m2f wins at Kelso, most recently on reappearance in October when beating Empire Steel by two-and-a-quarter-lengths.
The aforementioned Ga Law, in first-time cheekpieces, also holds an entry at Newbury but it’s believed the preference is Newcastle. The Jamie Snowden-trained gelding is 10lbs higher than when beating a number of good rivals to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last year, but fell on his subsequent run before being beaten nine-and-a-half-lengths in the Ryanair Chase. Off level weights it’s clear Shishkin is by far superior, however if the Ascot Chase winner underperforms, Ga Law could be the one to take advantage.
Fellow Snowden-trained Datsalrightgino could be heading to Newbury, but holds each-way claims if lining up here, on the basis of his Grade Two Ayr success in April. Bill Baxter, running for the first time following wind surgery, also holds an entry at Newbury and may well prefer to take that route should both meetings go ahead on Saturday. The Topham Chase winner may have needed the run on reappearance at Carlisle, and should fare better this time around, but is out of the weights and is unproven over the trip.
A new recruit for Ben Haslam, reliable stayer A Wave Of The Sea holds no stamina concerns but may lack the quality to win at this level over the trip. Fourth in a Grade Three Handicap at Limerick when last seen for Joseph O’Brien, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old could be one to consider for the valuable handicaps further down the line over the marathon trips.
Ciel De Niege, formerly with Willie Mullins, finished a respectable sixth in a competitive Galway handicap in August, but was disappointing in the Kerry National when last seen. Despite not being the most fluent over fences, the eight-year-old has ability and has shown glimpses of potential.
Selection:
Shishkin / Ga Law / Ciel De Neige (Tricast)
Shiskin (win) – Ciel De Neige (EW)
NEWBURY
12:30pm – Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (Class 2)
A number of horses in with a chance in the second race on the card. Last year’s third, Java Point, fourth, Killer Kane, and fifth, Cap Du Nord, are all capable of filling the places once again. Jonjo O’Neill’s course-and-distance winner Inch House looks the one to beat, whilst Syd Hosie saddles the consistent yet inexperienced Way Out.
At a bigger price Paul Nicholls’ QUEL DESTIN could be worth taking a chance on, now 2lbs lower than when a neck second in a Grade Three Handicap at Sandown in March. He wears first-time blinkers on his second run since having wind surgery and could outrun his double figure odds.
1:05pm – Novices’ Hurdle (Class 3)
Alan King’s Masaccio sets the standard in this field following a number of impressive performances. Following a second-placed finish in a competitive Listed bumper at the track, the form of which has been franked multiple times by the likes of Bowenspark and Meatloaf who both finished behind, the Mastercraftsman gelding finishing seventh in a Grade Two Aintree bumper. Recently seen landing his maiden hurdle at Chepstow, narrowly prevailing over subsequent winner Beat The Bat, the six-year-old bred by Bjorn Nielsen looks set to continue his progression in this contest.
Emailandy, another Paul Nicholls charge making his second appearance following wind surgery, made light work of his maiden hurdle at Plumpton earlier in November under Bryony Frost. Runner-up Goodwin had previously beaten useful gelding Spitalfield in a bumper at Fontwell, and looked set to make a successful start to his hurdling career before bumping in to the progressive son of Mount Nelson.
Nicky Henderson’s Jingko Blue won a point-to-point before being sent off as an odds-on favourite for a novice hurdle at Warwick recently. Beaten three-and-a-half-lengths by an exciting type in Personal Ambition, the Great Pretender gelding is entitled to improve for the run and should be capable of more given that he was a £225,000 purchase at Cheltenham in February.
Theformismighty finished fourth in a point-to-point won by Albert Bartlett winner Stay Away Fay, with Grade Three winner Monty’s Star in second and 129-rated Way Out in third. He subsequently won a point-to-point of his own before finishing fifth in an Aintree maiden hurdle won by Inthewaterside. With many of his stablemates needing the run this term, the son of Black Sam Bellamy could fare better this time around on his second start under rules for Dan Skelton.
Selection(s):
Masaccio & Theformismighty (EW)
1:40pm – Class 2 Handicap Hurdle
The promising Jet Powered has been absent since a disappointing run at the track on rain-softened ground last December. Previously touted as a possible Supreme contender, a mark of 131 could be very lenient but he must overcome a layoff plus a lack of experience if he is to reign victorious.
Uncle Bert was unfortunate to fall when strongly fancied at Cheltenham recently, and holds leading claims once again on a mark of 125, whilst Get A Tonic is seen for the second time following wind surgery and is now 3lbs lower than when second in a Grade Three Handicap last year.
Grade Two winner North Lodge hasn’t been seen since finishing third to the magnificent Three Stripe Life in the Grade One Mersey Novices’ Hurdle last year. He will have to defy a lengthy absence if he is to win, but is on a lenient mark if he is up to the task on his novice form.
Selection:
Jet Powered
2:50pm – Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown made a successful start to his season at Newton Abbot when beating Might I in October, following a second-placed finish to Gerri Colombe in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. He is now 10lbs higher than when comfortably beating Silver Hallmark to land his last handicap prize, and could be well treated off a mark of 152.
Mahler Mission has 3lb claimer Ben Harvey onboard, running off a mark of 151. He was an unlucky faller when travelling well in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, following a Grade Two second at Navan.
Monbeg Genius was sent off as a 6/1 joint-favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival, finding only Grand National hero Corach Rambler and subsequent dual Grade One winner Fastorslow too good. Now 7lbs higher running off 147, he is in with an excellent chance of making the frame given how well the form of the race has worked out since.
Irish-raider Stumptown finished eighth in the Kerry National when last seen but now runs off a 3lbs higher mark in Britain. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding was narrowly beaten by Angels Dawn in the Kim Muir Chase in March when rated 135, and is now 8lbs higher with in-form Danny Mullins onboard once again.
Progressive chestnut Midnight River is 19lbs higher rated than when making his seasonal reappearance last year, most recently seen finishing third in the Charlie Hall Chase when upped in grade. He put in a good round of jumping but was unable to compete with the classy pair of Gentlemansgame and Bravemansgame at Wetherby. A mark of 156 could prove stiff enough however the inclusion of 169-rated Ahoy Senor reduces the rest of the field’s weight burden, which could put Midnight River in with a chance of making the frame unless a few of his rivals show significant improvement.
Bill Baxter, a runner-up to Dreams Of Home in a point-to-point with Banbridge in third, was a surprise winner of the Topham at Aintree when sent off at odds of 20/1. He reappeared at Carlisle recently, finishing a well beaten third behind Thunder Rock, ten-lengths behind runner-up Mahler Mission. Now he is 12lbs better off with the John McConnell-trained gelding, and has had wind surgery that could allow him to see out his race to better effect.
Selection(s):
Stumptown (EW) & Midnight River (EW)
Special mention:
Bill Baxter
Photo by Mike Kotsch on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 