RACING CHAT Saturday 24th FEBRUARY 2024

[black rabbit]

Forest Of Dean                                                      3 20 Stwl/                     1/40th of a pt ew    33/1

Alaphilippe                                                             3 08Chp/                      1/40th of a pt ew    20/1

Howth                                                                     4 30 Sth/                       1/40th of a pt ew    16/1

First Emperor                                                        5 05 Sth/                       1/40th of a pt ew     28/1                   - 3rd    

 

Edited February 24 by black rabbit
N/R

[The Brigadier]

Kempton 1.15

ITV’s eight race coverage starts with a competitive fifteen runner 2M 5F class 3 handicap hurdle. It has an open look about it and it may pay to be with last year’s winner Mark Of Gold. Gary Moore’s seven year old ran out a comfortable 14L winner from a mark 7lb lower than he races off of today. That victory was gained on good ground but he does also have winning form on soft so the underfoot conditions shouldn’t hinder him. He fell in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle prior to last year’s win and the same fate befell him last month in prep for this contest. At a decent price he’s worth an each way play with additional places in a a wide open handicap under Caoilin Quinn who continues to impress and can still claim 3lb.Bottom weight Sea Invasion is the one I fear most against the selection.

 

MARK OF GOLD 1 point each way @ 16/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Kempton 1.50

The first Grade race of the day is the Grade 2 Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle run over 2M with six juvenile hurdlers facing the judge. The race is likely to be run at a blistering pace wit impressive front running last time out winners Captain Marvellous and Givemefive sure to set searching fractions. Both may be playing for place money mind as the Paul Nicholls trained Kalif Du Berlais is a confident selection. He has to shoulder a 5lb penalty here for his victory at Compiegne in France last October, which seems harsh considering that was a newcomers race. He made a scintillating British debut when running away with a class 2 juvenile hurdle over course and distance last month. The 3rd and 5th have won since to give the form a solid look and although chasing will no doubt be his game as his part owner John Hales is in print stating that he was bought to win a Gold Cup he can retain his unbeaten record today.

 

KALIF DU BERLAIS 2 points win @ 10/11 bet365

 

Newcastle 2.08

A stamina sapping contest is in store here with the 4M 1F 56 yard Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase run on heavy ground which has attracted a field of thirteen. We’re going to need a thorough stayer here and with the likes of improvers Anglers Crag and Fenland Tiger yet to race beyond 3M 2F it may be worth taking a chance on Sandy Thomson’s grey mare Flower Of Scotland. Shes proved her ability to stay and handle very testing ground when winning the Borders National at Kelso back in December 2022 in easy style off of a handicap mark 6lb lower than today’s. Lightly raced since and with the trainer in excellent form, winning with four of his last 13 runners, at time of writing, she could represent each way value with Sean Quinlan taking over for the first time.

 

FLOWER OF SCOTLAND 1 point each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 12345

 

Kempton 2.27

A small but select field of six novice chasers line up for this Grade 2 Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase run over 2M 4F 110 yards.Bar outsider Soul Icon there’s only 4lb between the remaining quintet and it may pay to be with the five year old mare Arclight who receives a earthy 11lb allowance for age and sex. She’s unbeaten in three starts over fences here, Exeter and Wincanton. It’s the victory at the latter that gives her a big chance here. She beat Thursday’s Irish listed winner Marsh Wren by a coupe of lengths that day and with plenty in her favour can beat the likes of Tahmuras, who looks the biggest danger as his trainer Paul Nicholls has an excellent record in the race.

 

ARCLIGHT 1 point win @ 5/1 bet365

 

 

Southwell 2.45

A field of eleven turn up for this 5F listed BetUK Hever Sprint Stakes. There is a stand out bet in the race in the shape of the Robert Cowell trained Clarendon House who is officially 7lb and upwards the best here. He seems to have stepped his game up since being gelded last August, winning at Wolverhampton and over course and distance when he broke the 5F track record. Not disgraced in fourth in a Group 2 in Dubai last month he stands out here with his main danger Diligent Harry possibly better at 6F.

 

CLARENDON COURT 2 points win @ 11/10 bet365

 

Kempton 3.00

We have eight novice hurdles lining up here for the Grade 2 Coral Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, run over 2M. Sam Thomas’s Lump Sun came from some way back to push the favourite Jeriko Du Reponet in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster last month with one of today’s rivals Fiercely Proud just 3/4L behind at the line when finishing runner up and giving a real scare to favourite backers. Dai Walters’s six year old had previously won in maiden/novice company at Ffos Las and Wincanton and looks the one they all have to beat today under Sam Twiston-Davies.

 

LUMP SUN 1 point win @ 15/8 William Hill

 

Southwell 3.20

The track host their first running of the BetUK Winter Derby having been transferred from Lingfield. The race features six runners for this £56,710 first prize and is run over 1M 3F which is a a furlong further than last year. That extra furlong may well be against last years one - two Lord North and Tyrrhenian Sea and with the former being aimed at a remarkable fourth win of the Dubai Turf next month may have to play second fiddle to Charlie Appleby’s Military Order who was only just denied in the Winter Derby trial here 30 days ago over course and distance. Appleby is running at 50% wins to runs at present and he can out stay his rivals here under Danny Tudhope who was on board last time when going down by a neck to Enemy.

 

MILITARY ORDER 1 point win @ 9/4 Betfred

 

Kempton 3.37

The feature handicap on the Kempton card is the 3M Coral Trophy Handicap Chase which has a field of twelve. The race has an open look about it with last year’s runner up Flegmatik likely to be high on anyones list. Dan Skelton’s chestnut only went down by neck to Our Power last year and although he is 5lb higher today comes into the race on the back of a cosy 2L win over course and distance last month from Cheltenham hopeful Chianti Classico bringing his course record to three wins from 6 runs. Another horse who appears to like this track is the Nicky Henderson trained Tweed Skirt who is two from three here and can also run well although very soft ground may be a bit of an issue.

 

FLEGMATIK 1 point each way @ 5/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234