Katie Midwinter (10/04/24)
1:45pm – Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Grey Dawning was far superior of the others in the Turners’ Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and was perhaps unlucky to be beaten by Ginny’s Destiny when the pair met previously, having made a shuddering error at the second last which had a clear effect on his momentum. He sets the standard on form, and on ratings, and will be tough to beat if able to perform to a similar level again.
Whilst Ginny’s Destiny must be respected as a formidable contender, he has to reverse form with Grey Dawning which seems unlikely if the latter is on song. A three-time winner this season, the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is a likely pace angle and sound jumper, capable of getting into a good rhythm out in front. With proven form over the trip, he could be the best of the rest considering the likely testing ground conditions and certainly shouldn’t be discounted.
Il Etait Temps was comfortably beaten by Gaelic Warrior over 2m3½f on heavy ground at Limerick in December. He’s a small build for a chaser, which can make it tough over fences on testing ground, and he has stamina to prove over this trip, but he is a dual Grade One winner and has plenty of talent.
Blow Your Wad has plenty to find with the leading trio on ratings and may prefer running on a right-handed track, Kempton in particular. His win in the Pendil Novices’ Chase was impressive and he copes with softer conditions, but more improvement is needed.
Colonel Harry has snippets of good form but will need to show a significant level of improvement to match the level shown by some of his rivals. The ground shouldn’t be an issue but he has been below par in his last two runs and must bounce back.
Selection: GREY DAWNING 1/1
2:20pm – Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
Sir Gino, a potential superstar, sets the standard on form shown and was set to go off a short priced favourite for the Triumph Hurdle last month. He ran the fastest final furlong at Cheltenham this term when beating Grade Two winner Burdett Road by ten-lengths in January and, given that all is now well at Seven Barrows, he should prove tough to beat.
Triumph Hurdle runner-up Kargese had previously landed a Leopardstown Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival. A formidable filly, receiving a 7lb allowance, she shouldn’t be discounted.
Paul Nicholls saddles another unbeaten contender in the line up in Kalif Du Berlais, who was workmanlike in his victory over Givemefive in the Adonis at Kempton. Suited by conditions, if the race turns into a test of stamina it could play in his favour given he has already shown he is able to grind out a victory, but on official ratings he must improve 10lbs to match the level shown by Sir Gino.
Nurburgring had plenty to do when turning for home at Cheltenham, but stayed on all the way towards the line to finish a distant fourth. He was only a nose behind Kargese when the pair met at Leopardstown in December, and would likely have fared better if ridden closer to the pace when last seen. It’s worth forgiving his most recent run as he has shown plenty of potential prior to that performance and could still be improving.
His stablemate Intellotto is a flashy gelding who has recorded two easy victories this season on heavy ground, his only defeat coming when a disappointing seventh behind Kargese at Leopardstown, in which he made little impression. He was impressive to land his maiden over the festive period, beating a field that included the subsequent Boodles Juvenile Hurdle winner and third, Lark In The Mornin and Ndaawi, plus recent Cork winner Tranquil Sea. Whilst it may be worth giving him another chance at Grade One level, he may lack the quality to match up to the main protagonists in this field but the best may be yet to come and he’s an enticing price at 14/1.
Outsider of the field Dirty Den has been beaten a combined sixty-two-lengths in two start for new connections, but he was the third best of the British contenders when last seen in the Champion Bumper, beaten only a length-and-three-quarters by Grade Two placed You Oughta Know, finishing ahead of the promising Teeshan. He faces a huge task on hurdling debut but may be able to win a maiden over obstacles in calmer waters soon.
Selection: SIR GINO 5/6 / INTELLOTTO 20/1 (E/W – 8/1 w/o fav)
2:55pm – Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
Favourite Gerri Colombe finished a gallant second in the Gold Cup when last seen, and soft ground has appeared to suit in the past. He won the Mildmay Novices’ Chase in quite testing conditions at the track last term and should go well again at this meeting. The quick turnaround following Cheltenham may not be a problem but the level of opposition is strong and a price of 6/4 doesn’t reflect much value.
Shishkin poses a dangerous threat to the favourite and comes into the race fresh having been forced to miss his engagement in Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope. Unfortunate to unseat when travelling best of all, and looking like the Shishkin of old, in the King George VI Chase, his performance at Kempton was a huge improvement on most of his previous runs during that calendar year.
If he is able to replicate a similar level of performance by getting into a good rhythm early on and jumping fluently, he will be tough to beat and is the class of the field, 3lbs clear of the rest on official ratings.
Gentlemansgame beat Bravemansgame to win the Charlie Hall Chase on only his third outing over fences, but the form looks less impressive now than it did in November as Bravemansgame has disappointed on a couple of occasions since. Both horses will need to improve to make the frame, but are capable at their best, with the latter sporting first-time cheekpieces.
Course-and-distance winner Ahoy Senor often enjoys success at this time of year, particularly at this track, and he put in a gallant effort in defeat behind Shishkin in the race last year. He hasn’t been in the same form this season however, and, although he was running well and jumping with more fluency when Stephen Mulqueen’s stirrup snapped during the Cotswold Chase, his run in the Ryanair Chase was disappointing last month. He needs to bounce back but the step up in trip and return to Merseyside should help.
Corbetts Cross was an emphatic winner of the National Hunt Chase when last seen, beating favourite Embassy Gardens by seventeen-lengths. Up 7lbs for that victory, he is a classy horse whose jumping has been improving throughout the season. Whilst he’s difficult to rule out, others make more appeal at the prices.
Selection: SHISHKIN 3/1
3:30pm – Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
Bob Olinger will be suited by the trip and conditions and has the beating of Impaire Et Passe on Irish Champion Hurdle form.The latter attempted to make the running on that day at Leopardstown however, and could finish closer to his rival with a change of tactics.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding has more experience than his younger rival and has been performing consistently well this term, including when winning the Relkeel Hurdle, beating two subsequent Grade Two winners in Marie’s Rock and Brewin’upastorm, respectively, plus subsequent Cleeve Hurdle third Strong Leader. Bob Olinger sets the standard and is the one to beat.
Impaire Et Passe will be suited by the step back up in trip plus the softer going too, considering the conditions of his Ballymore victory over Gaelic Warrior at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. He shouldn’t be discounted, but Bob Olinger has been more consistent and reliable this term.
Six-year-old mare Luccia put in a career best performance to finish third in the Champion Hurdle last month, in testing ground conditions. Whilst in the past she has been most effective on a sounder surface, the manner of her place in the prestigious Grade One contest instil confidence that she can run to the best of her ability on softer going, which brings her firmly into the frame here.
Nemean Lion was disappointing in the Champion Hurdle but could be worth sticking with for Kerry Lee. He is a tough gelding with solid form, and is at his best on testing ground.
Selection: BOB OLINGER 7/4 / LUCCIA 10/1 (EW)
4:05pm – Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2)
Its On The Line is a consistent and reliable performer. The only time he has finished outside of the top three in the past two seasons was when a faller in this race last year. Second at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen, attaining the same finishing position as at the meeting the year prior, he sets the standard on form and could be tough to beat for Emmet Mullins under Derek O’Connor.
His biggest danger could be stablemate Romeo Magico, an unexposed six-year-old making only his ninth career start. He comfortably beat Boss Robin to win his maiden earlier in the season, a horse that has since inflicted defeat upon the talented Ferns Lock, and, although he has only managed one win in his last three outings, including one appearance in a point-to-point, he has been competitive in each run and could still be improving.
Another to consider is likeable veteran Annamix. He convincingly beat Billaway and Ferns Lock at this stage in the season at Fairyhouse last year, and previously finished third in the Topham at odds of 50/1 at the course. A ten-length winner when last seen at Gowran Park, he holds strong each-way claims under champion amateur jockey, Patrick Mullins.
Selection(s): ROMEO MAGICO 10/1 (EW) & ANNAMIX 6/1 (EW)
4:40pm – Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Up 8lbs for an impressive display in the Grand Annual when last seen, Unexpected Party is likely to be competitive once again for title-seeking trainer Dan Skelton. However, the sixth-placed finisher, Saint Roi, could be able to reverse the form on a 2lb lower mark.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was sent off at odds of 13/2 at Cheltenham but was unable to mount a threatening challenge coming from the rear of the field. He is better than he showed on that occasion and could be worth sticking with.
Path D’oroux has been running consistently well for Gavin Cromwell of late, and is one for the shortlist, whilst Whiskeywealth, under 7lb claimer John Shinnick, is an intriguing contender for Terence O’Brien on the basis of his Listed win at Gowran Park, now bidding for a third successive victory.
Dancing On My Own, the defending champion, is on a 12lbs higher mark this time around and the ground conditions appear unlikely to suit.
Cian Collins-trained Irish Blaze has 7lb claimer Carl Millar aboard and could have a part to play carrying a low weight. He beat recent Listed winner Captains Nephew to land a Down Royal Chase earlier in the season and looks well treated at the weights on that form.
Selection(s): SAINT ROI 5/1 & IRISH BLAZE 16/1 (EW)
5:15pm – Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)
Baby Kate is two from two for trainer Willie Mullins who has a 45% strike rate with his bumper runners in Ireland this term. The five-year-old daughter of Augusta Kate, by Champs Elysees, was victorious in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham during the November Meeting, and can show further improvement on only her third career start.
Dan Skelton-trained Honky Tonk Highway won well on rules debut at Sandown when last seen and enters calculations, whilst stablemate Listentoyourheart, a close second to Diva Luna when last seen, could be open to further progression.
Ben Pauling’s Diva Luna, runner-up to Honky Tonk Highway in a point-to-point, beat a number of reopposing rivals in a Listed Market Rasen contest in February and represents a yard performing at a 24% win rate with bumper runners this term.
Jubilee Alpha is unexposed after only one appearance when a comfortable winner at Wincanton and looks a promising prospect for the Ditcheat team.
Selection: BABY KATE 11/4
* all prices / runners are correct at the time of publication.
THE CONDITIONAL 