Racing Chat - Saturday 17th February

[The Brigadier]

Ascot 1.50

Just five line up for the 2M 7F Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase. It’s hard to fancy the outsider The King Of Ryhope but a case can be made for the others with the pick being Lucinda Russell’s Apple Away who as the only mare in the race receives a healthy 7lb sex allowance here. A smart hurdler who beat the boys in the Grade 1 3M novice hurdle at Liverpool she’s taken well to fences and bumped into one last time out at Warwick in the shape of Grey Dawning. She looks the one to beat here and may have most to fear from Paul Nicholls’s Brave Kingdom who’s won two novice handicap chases this season.

 

APPLE AWAY 1 point win @ 6/4 BetVictor

 

Wincanton 2.05

A small turnout of just five go to post for the Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle, a Grade 2 race run over 1M 7F and 50 yards although with only 6lb officially between the quintet the race is a bit of a puzzle. The enigmatic Goshen won this race in 2021 and 2022 (the only two times he’s raced here) and in first time blinkers has claims but is not one to trust implicitly whilst Nemean Lion arrives in good form and can run well but its the locally trained by Paul Nicholls’ Rubaud that takes the eye here. An easy winner over course and distance of the Elite Hurdle in November he was last seen when a tad disappointing fourth of five in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. With Harry Cobden riding at Ascot Lorcan Williams comes in for his first ride on the Chris Giles owned six year old.

 

RUBAUD 1 point win @ 5/2 William Hill

 

Ascot 2.25

A good turnout of sixteen hurdlers line up for this class 2 2M 3F and 8 yard handicap hurdle. Last year’s winner Irish Hill is an interesting runner as he is now 3lb lower and with his useful jockey Freddie Gingell taking off another 5lb it would be no shock were he to run a big race. He looks a good value each way bet. The danger may well be Charlie Longsdon’s Rare Edition. He was a useful novice last season who flopped at the two big British festivals but bounced back to form last time when running out an easy winner at Kempton in January under today’s jockey Harry Cobden. He’s worth a small saver with the main bet being on Irish Hill.

 

IRISH HILL 1 point each way @ 9/1 Coral 1/5th 12345

RARE EDITION 1/2 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 12345

 

Haydock 2.40

Just the six for the 3M 58 yard Virgin Bet Rendlesham Hurdle. Bar the two rags Wakool (although he did win this last year) and Martha Brae any of the remaining quartet could take this with slight preference for Botox Has. Gary Moore has his string in fine form and his eight year old has to shoulder a 6lb penalty for his Grade 2 victory at Wetherby last November. He’s kept good company since and may not have been suited by a first time visor last time out at Cheltenham. Caoilin Quinn is riding very well at present although is unable to claim here as its a Grade 2 contest. He can run well with Red Risk looking a danger on their Wetherby form last year.

 

BOTOX HAS 1 point win @ 9/4 bet365

 

Ascot 3.00

Ten staying chasers go to post for this 2M 7F 180 yard Premier Handicap Chase. Back at his favourite course Venetia Williams’ Victtorino who won two valuable handicap chases over course and distance last backend can strike again now upped in trip. He’s only 4lb higher than his last winning mark and would have found the trip of 2M 4F on the short side at Cheltenham last time out. Charlie Deutsch knows him well and he holds a big chance with last year’s third Revels Hill a likely danger despite his 294 day lay off.

 

VICTTORINO 1 point win @ 7/2 bet365

 

Haydock 3.15

The Virgin Bet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase is run over a stamina sapping 3M 4F 97 yards and this year we have eleven horses facing the judge. Many are in with chances including Dan Skelton’s bottom weight Snipe but it’s the Nicky Richards trained Famous Bridge that has conditions to suit and looks sure to put up a big showing here. He’s already won two valuable handicap chases at the Lancashire track this season over 3M 1 1/2F on testing ground and the additional half a mile today looks likely to suit this eight year old who’s latest pulled up run at Doncaster can be forgiven as the ground was too lively for him that day. Sean Quinlan rode him to those two victories earlier this term and is in the saddle once more.

 

FAMOUS BRIDGE 1 point each way @ 6/1 Paddy Power 1/5th 1234

 

Ascot 3.36

The feature race at the Berkshire track today is the four runner 2M 5F 8 yard Betfair Ascot Chase worth £175,000 guaranteed. The best in at the weights is Venetia Williams’ L’Homme Presse and he will no doubt be hard to beat although he would prefer the ground to be softer and looks scant value at around 8/11. Sail Away can’t win and Ahoy Senor doesn’t look the same horse he was last season so maybe the one to be with is the Paul Nicholls trained Pic D’Orhy who has always run well at this venue. Runner up to Shishkin in this race last year he was an impressive winner over course and distance in the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase back in November (the race where Shishkin refused to start). Not disgraced since when runner up to Banbridge at Kempton this consistent nine year old is maybe the value bet especially if the ground continues to dry.

 

PIC D’ORHY 1 point win @ 9/4 bet365

 

[black rabbit]

J J Reilly                                                                2 25 Asc/                  1/40th of a pt ew    18/1

Soaring Glory                                                     2 25 Asc/                   1/40th of a pt ew    28/1