Katie Midwinter (20/01/24)
12:05pm – Winter Million Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 2)
Kingston Pride, a €200,000 purchase, beat subsequent Listed winner The Enabler to land a point-to-point victory in April. He looks an exciting prospect for connections on rules debut.
Margaret Mullins saddles her first ever Lingfield runner with gelding Eagle’s Quest. The four-year-old is yet to be seen on a racecourse but with the yard only having two bumper winners in the past three seasons, this son of Wings Of Eagles may be one for further down the line.
Point-to-point winner Castle Ivers won well at Southwell on rules debut last month, easily claiming a debut success for Olly Murphy. The £95,000 purchase has done little wrong so far and could keep on improving but does have to carry a 4lb penalty.
Getaway gelding Tripoli Flyer is a brother to Anyharminasking, famous for being the only horse to beat Constitution Hill when the pair met in a point-to-point. He finished fifth on debut at Chepstow, staying on well from the rear of the field but with too much ground to make up and having to race wide in the closing stages. The five-year-old could improve plenty for his recent run and is worth considering.
Ask Her Out was a shock 150/1 winner over course-and-distance in November, beating well-related The Glen Rovers plus a subsequent Listed third in Solid Silver. She would spring another surprise if she was to back up her debut success, however she is clearly proven at the course in conditions and may be overlooked.
Australia son Opera King has had two starts in bumpers, finishing fourth on both occasions. He may be able to compete for the places once again but appears to be the yard’s second string with Sam Twiston-Davies aboard four-year-old filly Habibi. Wings Of Eagles filly Habibi finished third at Newbury on debut but has also been declared for Fakenham.
Nigel Twiston-Davies also saddles Lightning Flash who was impressive on debut in a Ludlow bumper, the form of which has been significantly let down by all runners bar fifth-placed Carved In Stone who subsequently won at Doncaster before finishing fifth, in Listed company, at Cheltenham.
Infantryman cost €200,000 as a yearling, before selling for 8,000gns as a three-year-old. Seventh on debut in heavy ground at Wincanton, he may fare better on a sounder surface being out of all-weather winner Front Contender, and by Lope De Vega whose progeny tend to be most effective on better ground. Harry Cobden takes the ride for Pat Murphy.
Selection:
KINGSTON PRIDE has a nice profile and brings exciting point form into the race. Representing Nicky Henderson, with the returning Nico de Boinville in the saddle, he is owned by Olly Harris who had a 75 percent strike rate with his bumper runners last season and should go well. Tripoli Flyer can improve for his debut appearance and could benefit from being ridden closer to the pace. He is one to consider for Fergal O’Brien with Paddy Brennan onboard.
12:40pm – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2)
Irish-raider Only By Night represents a Gavin Cromwell yard performing at a 25 percent strike rate in Britain this season. The £110,000 purchase is a Listed winner bidding for a fourth successive victory following a maiden hurdle win when last seen at Naas and holds leading claims.
She faces stiff opposition in the form of Nicky Henderson-trained mare Pawapuri, a daughter of Golden Horn who recently won a Listed contest on heavy ground at Haydock. Now dropping back in trip, she is a progressive type and appears the first string for Seven Barrows who are also represented by unbeaten and unexposed mare Aston Martini.
Hat-trick seeking Wyenot has beaten her rivals by a combined distance of twenty-four-lengths in two hurdling appearances, and is unexposed stepping up in class.
Course-and-distance winner Jeune Belle finished second to Baby Kate in a Listed Cheltenham bumper in November, before making a winning start over hurdles. Trained by the in-form Lucy Wadham, she is an improving mare but will need to show further progression to match the leading pair in the market.
Manimole narrowly defeated outsider of the field Brave Jen to win a Listed Newbury contest last month. The consistent mare has been highly tried and may be vulnerable to a younger improver.
Selection:
ONLY BY NIGHT could prove tough to beat.
1:15pm – Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
An open contest that features five improving novices and lacks a clear favourite. Matata narrowly heads the market following a gallant effort in defeat on heavy ground at Cheltenham earlier this month. The six-year-old gelding looks a progressive type and is a sound jumper but the current yard form raises a slight cause for concern.
Fellow Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Master Chewy finally landed a second success over fences after a couple of near misses, but isn’t the most reliable and could find one better in the finish.
Djelo is bidding for a four-timer but has to defy a 5lb penalty. Trained by Venetia Williams, whose yard hasn’t been in as scintillating form as earlier on in the season, the Grade Two winner is unbeaten over fences and could be tough to beat.
Joe Tizzard-trained JPR One was disappointing in a heavy ground Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown when last seen but had previously shown great ability and was set to land a Cheltenham Grade Two before unfortunately unseating at the last in his prior run. He holds leading claims if able to replicate the level form shown at Prestbury Park.
Hat-trick seeking Pembroke faces his toughest challenge yet. His first win over fences was a walk over at Warwick before he was the sole finisher in an extremely testing Aintree contest when last seen. He is unexposed at this level and is 16lbs better off with Master Chewy this time around, needing to reverse form.
Selection:
DJELO is slightly preferred to JPR One. The stable have been quiet of late but Djelo can provide a welcome winner in this competitive heat.
2:25pm – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Nurse Susan steps up in trip following success at Cheltenham last month. She had previously finished fourth in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival before a 613-day layoff. Her pedigree suggests she would likely be most effective over 2m-2m4f, however she stayed on well enough over an extended two-and-a-half-miles up the hill at Cheltenham to give an indication that this extra distance will be within her capabilities.
Second when last seen, capable stayer Bold Endeavour has been given a harsh 2lb rise for his recent Cheltenham outing under 5lb claimer Freddie Gordon. Cheekpieces remain on but a mark of 144 appears stiff enough and he could be vulnerable to a better handicapped rival off top-weight.
Gowel Road is down in class following a seventh-placed finish in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. He was unable to get involved at that level but had shown promise when two-lengths behind subsequent Grade One winner Crambo when fourth in a competitive Haydock handicap. He is 3lbs higher rated here, 9lbs higher than his last winning hurdling mark but 2lbs lower than when winning a handicap chase at Ascot last season.
Ramo runs on a mark of 122 with 5lb claimer Ned Fox taking some valuable weight off aboard the Venetia Williams-trained gelding. The seven-year-old could be well handicapped and may be able to pose a threat.
An overlooked contender could be hat-trick seeking Classic Concorde. The eleven-year-old veteran is 16lbs higher rated than when beginning his winning sequence, but is in exceptional form and is proven over the trip. Under 7lb claimer Tom Broughton, he carries a feather weight and holds strong each-way claims.
Angels Breath is yet to prove himself for Sam Thomas on the back of a lengthy absence but he did shape with promise at Cheltenham in October and may now have slipped to a handy mark, with 7lb Dylan Johnston further easing his burden.
Selection:
CLASSIC CONCORDE appears to be the value bet in the field.
3:00pm – Fleur De Lys Chase (Class 2)
L’Homme Presse makes his anticipated return to track following a thirteen-month absence, last seen unseating in last season’s King George VI Chase. Whilst he has gone well fresh in the past, it’s likely he’ll improve for the run, but on ratings he is 9lbs better off with closest market rival Protektorat, and should be tough to beat if ready for this challenge.
Protektorat performed gallantly to finish third to Broadway Boy in a competitive Cheltenham handicap last month. He carried a top weight of 12st in soft conditions, carrying 15lbs more than the rest of the field. This trip may be on the sharper side as he hasn’t been seen over shorter than three miles since second to Midnight Shadow in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2021. However, he has plenty of ability and has a fitness edge over the odds-on favourite.
Does He Know has plenty to find on ratings but shouldn’t be ruled out, whilst Iwilldoit is known for his exploits over marathon trips and may find things happening too quickly here.
Selection:
It’s great to L’Homme Presse back on a racecourse but PROTEKTORAT has fitness on his side and possesses enough class on a going day to topple the fancied favourite.
3:35pm – Surrey National Handicap Chase (Class 3)
O’Connell finished a staying on fourth at Market Rasen when last seen, and is 1lb higher here. He had previously won off 104 over three miles but proved himself up in class and can continue his progression. Animal finished a neck ahead of O’Connell when last seen, both horses finishing strongly with little between them. They both deserve to be considered and could be tough to split once again.
Trainer Ben Clarke won this race in 2022 with The Galloping Bear and saddles lively contender Dr Kananga in this year’s renewal. Ben Jones rides the ten-year-old gelding as he makes his second appearance following wind surgery. He is a strong stayer and is back on his last winning mark of 125, giving him a good chance of returning to some form in this field.
Not Sure is running off a mark 11lbs lower than when he finished fourth in the Welsh National last month. Conditions were extremely testing at Chepstow, with only five finishing the race, and this test on a sounder surface will be preferred.
Laskalin could be on a dangerous mark on 125 with 3lb claimer Shane Quinlan aboard, whilst stablemate Hold That Taught is bidding for a third successive win, 8lbs higher than when beginning his winning sequence.
Movethechains must show significant improvement to compete in this field, however he has shown ability in the past and has a good record at the track with four wins in five appearances, giving him a chance on a mark of 115 with recent Welsh National winning jockey Caoilin Quinn claiming 3lb.
A contender that could sneak into the frame on a going day is strong stayer Notachance. The Alan King-trained gelding is 17lbs below his last winning mark three years ago. Despite not entering the winner’s enclosure very often in his career, he has been placing in competitive marathon races, plugging on well in the closing stages but perhaps lacking the speed to win. On a mark of 122, he is a lively each-way contender at his best.
Selection:
It’s difficult to split O’Connell and Animal at the head of the market, but the former may just be able to show enough improvement to reverse the form. Dr Kananga is one for the shortlist for a proven trainer/jockey combination, but it may be worth considering a couple of outsiders in MOVETHECHAINS and NOTACHANCE, both of which hold each-way claims at their best.
THURLES
1:05pm – Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2)
SILENT APPROACH could be able to cause an upset based on her performance behind Spillane’s Tower and Blood Destiny when last seen. The form of the race should work out well, with both horses surely with bright futures ahead of them. Hauturiere needs to reverse form if she is to justify favouritism in this field, having been well beaten by Silent Approach at Cork.
1:35pm – Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2)
Allaho is the warm favourite in this Grade Two contest, following a good run when third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last month. The drop back to an intermediate trip will suit the course-and-distance winner, who has been unbeatable over the trip in recent seasons. If he has retained all ability and is at his best, he will be very tough to beat however stablemate Appreciate It could be a worthy rival and may have found his calling in this division.
Appreciate It was narrowly defeated by Fastorslow on seasonal reappearance in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown having been backed in to 6/1 from as big as 20/1. His stamina was tested on softer ground in the Savills Chase, but the drop back to 2m4f should see him back to his best,
Henry de Bromhead-trained Ryanair Chase hero Envoi Allen is unsuited by softer conditions but rallied well when just beaten by Gerri Colombe in the Champion Chase at Down Royal in November. He is a formidable rival on his day but may need to show further improvement if he is to match the level shown by fellow Cheveley Park owned Allaho.
2:10pm – Handicap Chase
It may be worth keeping an eye on two in-form horses in this field, experienced veteran R’EVELYN PLEASURE and improving gelding Toofareastiswest. The former, trained by Sean O’Brien, is bidding for a hat-trick of wins following two heavy ground victories at Limerick and Cork respectively. Up a total of 13lbs for both wins, this may be one step too far but he has Mark McDonagh aboard claiming 3lbs and is worthy of consideration.
TOOFAREASTISWEST is up 7lbs for an impressive victory at the track last month under 5lb claimer Danny Gilligan, who retains the ride. He drops back in trip but holds strong each-way claims for Arthur O’Grady.
3:20pm – Handicap Hurdle
MARVEL FAN is on a handy mark of 109, off which she has been competitive in the past. Whilst she may find this too hot a contest to land the spoils, she is an enticing price at 22/1 with firms paying four places, and may perhaps be overlooked if she is on a going day.
One for the all-weather:
RIOT heads to Chelmsford City (6:45) in a race that should suit his racing style. He is untried over a mile for David O’Meara, and needs a strong pace to aim at, but looks the pick of the race unless the unexposed course-and-distance winner Endless Power can continue his progression and show further improvement. However, at 8/1 Riot is a generous each-way price, and should be able to make the frame off a mark of 84.
*all prices/runners are correct at the time of writing
THE CONDITIONAL 