The horse racing broadcaster offers up five selections from Newbury, Uttoxeter and Newcastle this weekend, plus his recap of the Dublin Racing Festival and a look at two Cheltenham betting markets.
After the multitude of riches at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, what used to be deemed Super Saturday seems a little low key, but still has plenty of interest – not least in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, another renaming of the race my generation will always think of as the Schweppes.
It may not feature potential Champion Hurdle horses giving lumps of weight away these days, but it is still a competitive line up. Previous winner Aucunrisque shouldn’t be discounted but the tacky ground after a couple of nights of frost may not be in his favour, and makes BEAT THE BAT 8/1 (15:35 Newbury) appeal most at the prices. He ran well on his reappearance after an absence of nearly a year at Haydock before finding the tightish turns at Windsor placing too much demand on speed. That suited Secret Squirrel, who is among the leading fancies on Saturday, but the setup of the race could be very different with several horses who like to go from the front, so Beat The Bat just edges it.
Sir Gino’s absence from the Game Spirit has clearly taken away a huge amount of interest from the race, and also the main potential betting angle as he was priced up very short. In his absence, MATATA 9/5 (15:00 Newbury) can make the most of not having to carry any sort of penalty for his win at Windsor. As it was not a Pattern race, just a valuable one, he receives 6lb from Edwardstone and JPR One, whose victories in Grade 1 and 2s do incur one. Matata now also has the opportunity to get out loose on the lead without the high cruising speed of Sir Gino breathing down his neck.
Later in the card, the very likeable and progressive HERAKLES WESTWOOD 9/5 (16:10 Newbury) can continue his upward curve at the expense of Lord of Thunder. He has a straightforward way of going about things, which has masked his full ability, and even though he is off another career high here he can defy the handicapper again.
At Uttoxeter, expect a better effort from MON KAPLAIS 6/5 (16:33 Uttoxeter) now he moves into handicap company off a mark of just 100. He caught the eye on his second run at Newbury and, even though he was well beaten next time at Windsor, it is a race that has worked out well. Purchased as a store back in 2022 for €82k, his owner is reported to be selling up soon so this could well be an attempt to recoup some money. Watch how he moves in the market.
Finally, ASGARD’S CAPTAIN 13/8 (16:28 Newcastle) can continue his love affair with the track. His four visits have yielded three wins and a second, and he placed off this mark at Southwell last time. His trainer Dylan Cunha is back among the winners and he will be hard to beat.
CHELTENHAM CORNER
The biggest ante post clues this week come in the 2m chase division, with both the novices for the Arkle and the more established chasers in the Champion Chase.
Arkle
Majborough showed his credentials at the Dublin Racing Festival, and it is further to his advantage that Sir Gino’s enforced absence from the Game Spirit means connections are now faced with the real prospect of arriving at the Festival off just one run over fences.
L’Eau Du Sud has his Arkle build up in the Kingmaker at Warwick, where it will be a major shock if he is beaten. It will be interesting to see the market reaction to any facile victory and indeed how the whole ante post Cheltenham betting market reacts to Sir Gino’s absence on Saturday and future plans as the dust settles.
Champion Chase
It seems a little strange that on one of the major trial days for the Champion Chase it is the Arkle betting that takes centre stage. Matata is probably the most interesting of the field, having won well at Windsor last time, while Libberty Hunter is the new kid on the block at this level. Both are suited by the race conditions of the Game Spirit compared to Edwardstone and JPR One (see above) but they have a long way to go however to be seen as realistic rivals to Jonbon.
DUBLIN RACING FESTIVAL RECAP
Three Gold Cups?
A repeat performance from Christmas, with Galopin Des Champs allowed to dictate and again well in command at the line. He may scare off the majority of the opposition in the Gold Cup, with so many seemingly reluctant to take him on both in his races and now maybe at the Festival itself.
New kid on the block
Kopek Des Bordes now dominates the Supreme market after a performance of real class. He could be the next Mullins superstar.
Over the hill?
The feature of the Irish Champion was how fast Lossiemouth and State Man had gone prior to the mare’s departure four out. This suggests an attempt to get some speed into Lossiemouth for a Champion Hurdle bid. Left alone, State Man may have been idling but my gut reaction was he was still not the tour de force of old and looked a little weary up the straight. Constitution Hill devotees will feel the Champion Hurdle is there for the taking.
Don’t write off the Warrior
A lacklustre and unenterprising ride saw Gaelic Warrior trail home behind the admirable Solness in the Dublin Chase. Remember Gaelic Warrior capsizing in the match at the DRF 12 months ago, being written off and then bouncing back in the Arkle? So do I. Given his late start this season, I certainly wouldn’t be taking him on next month. His running plans have always been fluid and this week Willie Millins was talking Ryanair, but I can still see him being the main opponent to Jonbon in the Champion Chase when the tapes rise. Writing him off in last year’s Arkle is a mistake I won’t be making twice.
National clue
Inothewayurthinking ran really well to finish fourth behind Galopin Des Champs, and even though his trainer initially suggested he wouldn’t get a Grand National entry he did feature among the potential Aintree line up. A tilt at the race this year could prove very hard to resist.
One for the longer term
Galileo Dame ran well in the juvenile hurdle behind Hello Neighbour. With the likes of Lulamba and East India Dock in the Triumph field it is a tough nut to crack this year, but it is quite likely Galileo Dame will be campaigned exclusively at the top level for the rest of the season. Win one and it is a bonus, but if not she will be a second season novice and one for the Dawn Run (Mares Novice) in 2025.