Thursday 5 February 2015 12:30, UK
Alex Hammond previews the weekend's racing action and sides with Fascino Rustico in the Betfair Hurdle.
At the time of writing we are in the middle of the big freeze with a dearth of jumping action.
Hopefully that will change by the weekend as we have some exciting racing to look forward to if it all goes ahead. None more so than the card at Newbury which sees the return to the track of reigning Champion Chaser Sire De Grugy.
The big question is, will he be ready on his first start since April and after coming back from injury?
He is odds on favourite for the Grade 2 Betfair Price Rush Chase (Game Spirit Chase), so represents no value given there are question marks over his fitness for this reappearance.
His regular rider Jamie Moore has been positive this week and thinks he’ll be ready to do himself justice. A lay-off hasn’t stopped him in the past and even if he is a touch rusty his class could carry him through.
They certainly won’t have put him under pressure at home with Cheltenham in mind, but he probably won’t have to be 100% to win this. So, he’s a short price to win on Saturday, but what could be better value is Sky Bet’s special offer of 6/1 about him winning this race and going on to retain his crown in the Champion Chase at the Festival next month?
If he wins on Saturday he’s bound to shorten for March showpiece as ante-post favourite Sprinter Sacre still has something to prove after he was beaten on his comeback at Ascot last month.
Mr Mole and Uxizandre make a race of it at Newbury. Mr Mole appears to be a reformed character for Paul Nicholls but it’s no insult to the horse to think it would be a surprise to see him beat the favourite. He seems to enjoy making the running and the small field will play to his strengths, but it’s a big step up from handicap company to take on a horse like Sire De Grugy, even given the circumstances. He is improving though.
Uxizandre is in the same ownership as Mr Mole, although he is trained by Alan King. I like this horse and his form in the Shloer Chase looks good (Dodging Bullets in behind). He’s versatile regarding the trip, but he has to go left-handed, so this track will suit.
The issue would be that he also likes to race prominently, although as he’s in the same ownership he shouldn’t get into a battle with Mr Mole. He kept jumping left in Ireland last time out though, but shouldn’t be put under quite so much pressure on Saturday. If anything is to give Sire De Grugy a race I think it will be Uxizandre, but I have to side with the favourite.
Away from the Game Spirit Chase there is an excellent support card at the Berkshire track with the Betfair Hurdle the big betting heat.
This extended two mile Grade Three handicap looks a quality contest which could be another big Saturday prize heading back to the Ditcheat stable of Paul Nicholls. He reported in the week that he couldn’t have Calipto in any better shape for this for his first start since October.
He has high class form as a juvenile running well in the Triumph and four-year-old hurdle at Aintree. His run at Cheltenham had particular merit as his jockey rode the finish minus his irons after one of them broke.
His only run since Aintree was that start back in October which saw him finish second to the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll. He was beaten favourite that day and since that run has had a breathing operation. He is lightly raced and runs off a mark of 143, which may underestimate him. Everything points towards a big run on Saturday.
Activial goes there with a great chance for Nicholls’ former assistant Harry Fry. He is similarly unexposed with two wins from just five starts. He ran a race full of promise at Ascot in the Ladbroke on his reappearance (and handicap debut) and would surely have finished closer than his third place had he not stumbled two from home. He’s 6lb higher for that effort. Fry also has Jolly’s Cracked It entered.
Another graduate from the Nicholls school of assistant trainers is Dan Skelton and he saddles a former Nicholls inmate in Fascino Rustico.
He is a lovely scopey horse that comes here with wins in two lower grade novice hurdles. Unlike the favourite, he has had a couple of runs in handicap hurdles including when falling at Ayr in April last year when with his former trainer. The way this race is run should suit him and he looks well handicapped.
Sign Of A Victory is at the opposite end of the handicap and carries top weight for Nicky Henderson who has a superb record in this race. He was pitched into Grade One company last time out when 31 lengths 4th behind Faugheen in the Christmas Hurdle. His penultimate run was impressive though when he cruised to victory in a handicap hurdle at Ascot off a 10lb lower mark beating stable-mate, Dawalan.
Balgarry has form in big handicaps, but has had his problems. David Pipe’s charge ran well at Sandown a month ago on his second run after 33 months off. It was good to see he retains the sort of ability that saw him finish seventh in the Coral Cup.
Evan Williams has On Tour in the race too and he’ll be bidding for a four timer. He’s been raised seven pounds for his latest win at Haydock which came on testing ground which his handler didn’t think would suit him. He will have similar conditions to contend with in this.
It’s as competitive as ever, but Fascino Rustico is a horse I really love. He needs to improve again but he hasn’t done much wrong for his new handler and I hope he continues to progress to win in a top class field at the weekend.
The Betfair Denman Chase is also an interesting contest and anything that wins well will most likely be heading to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Venetia Williams trains leading contender Houblon Des Obeaux who will be vying for favouritism. He hasn’t won since December 2013 and unlike some of his rivals has had plenty of runs over fences (four wins from 18 starts).
The run that puts him bang in with a chance here is his 50/1 second place to Many Clouds in the Hennessy at this track on his penultimate outing. I think he is a bit short in the market as a result of that though. The track and ground will suit but he’s not for me.
Trainer Jonjo O’Neill is finally back amongst the winners and he has two possibilities for this race. Holywell (12/1 for the Gold Cup with Sky Bet) is one of them, but you have to be concerned about conditions for last season’s leading novice chaser. He missed Cheltenham Trials Day due to concerns about testing ground and the going at Newbury may not be ideal.
If he can get his act together he’d be a threat, but he hasn’t reproduced last season’s form in two starts this term. His yard has been out of form though and now they are on the way back he’s dangerous to dismiss. In fact, now could be the time to side with the O’Neill runners. His finest moment to date came in the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April.
Taquin Du Seuil is the other Jackdaws Castle entry. He won the JLT Novices’ Chase at last season’s Festival and is unexposed at this three mile trip. He ran well in the Charlie Hall Chase on his penultimate outing, but pulled up in the Betfair Chase last time which was disappointing. He can’t be written off though.
It will be fascinating to see how Coneygree fares against these established chasers. Mark Bradstock’s novice has looked impressive so far this season in two starts and connections haven’t written off a tilt at the Cheltenham blue riband. He’s a 25/1 shot for the Gold Cup and 8/1 third favourite for the RSA.
He was certainly impressive when winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas and is exciting.
Unioniste (33/1 for the Gold Cup) is a possible runner for Paul Nicholls. He won a handicap chase over this trip at Sandown last time out and the Grand National looks tailor made for him, whether this year or next.
Kim Bailey has Harry Topper amongst the entries. Like Unioniste he has a 10lb penalty to carry thanks to his win in this race 12 months ago. He has only had the two runs since in the Midlands National last campaign and the Betfair Chase in November.
The softer the ground rides the better for him. I’m going to take a chance with improving novice Coneygree and whilst I don’t think the Gold Cup is right for him this year, there’s no reason he can’t hold his own at the highest level with more experience.
Officials at Warwick are hopeful their card will go ahead with the frost covers expected to do their job. The feature is the Titanbet.co.uk Kingmaker Novices’ Chase which could give us some Arkle clues and the two mile race has attracted a smart entry.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Vibrato Valtat heads there rather than running at Newbury in the Game Spirit. This race should be his for the taking after three wins and a second from his four starts over fences since going chasing this winter.
He’s already a Grade One winner which means he carries a penalty in this, but I don’t think that will stop him. He’s a 12/1 shot with Sky Bet for the Arkle.
Top Gamble is also a progressive novice for trainer Richard Lee and comes here with wins in his last three races. He has been rejuvenated for his new trainer (formerly with David Pipe), and this will tell connections whether he’s up to Arkle standard.
Adriana Des Mottes is a smart mare for Willie Mullins and if she comes over she deserves respect. Kings Lad has won his last two for Colin Tizzard having made an inauspicious start over fences when unseating his rider in the race won by Ptit Zig at Exeter. Over the minimum trip, against this opposition his jumping might be put under too much pressure.
There is another top-class card in Ireland on Sunday with the Irish Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown.
Ruby Walsh looks like he will have a strong book of rides as usual and they are headed by Boston Bob in the feature.
I’ve fancied this horse a few times now this winter and he’s yet to win on three occasions, so I hope we see a different horse in this. I’m not about to desert him now that’s for sure and reports are that the Lexus fourth will strip fitter than he did at Punchestown over Christmas. He gets the vote of confidence from Willie Mullins’ stable jockey as he has the option of riding his other runner On His Own.
He faces some classy opposition with Carlingford Lough another leading contender for John Kiely and owner JP McManus. His run in the RSA Chase last season gave you the impression that he wants a real test of stamina and this may not be enough of one. This race will tell us much more about him as he ran really well on his first run of the season in the Lexus to finish fifth, and he is sure to come on for the run. There’s no doubt, he’s a real threat to Boston Bob.
Foxrock won a competitive handicap chase last time out and on that evidence he’s an improving horse. Lord Windermere has yet to recapture the form that saw him win the Gold Cup last year. His run in the Lexus last time out was a regression from his seasonal debut in the John Durkan. He has been given a Grand National entry. It’s Boston Bob for me, he’s currently 16/1 for the Gold Cup with Sky Bet.
Sire De Grugy in the Game Spirit Chase @ 8/11 with Sky Bet
Fascino Rustico in the Betfair Hurdle @ 10/1 with Sky Bet
Coneygree in the Denman Chase @ 4/1 with Sky Bet
