A field of twenty will face the Kempton starter for the Racing Post Chase which is due off at 3.10. Bookmakers bet 10/1 the field bar Big Fella Thanks who is priced up 7/2 favourite. Hold Em gets into this with a featherweight and his third behind Breedsbreeze in the Feltham catches the eye. He's been tipped up during the week and will appreciate the drying ground but he didn't jump well last time out at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson's Fleet Street is another well fancied runner but I'm going to have a small each-way interest in Twiston-Davies' Battlecry who had some decent form to his name as a novice and would have a chance in this if back to his best. The yard has been through a lean spell but have had a couple of winners recently - I'm hoping Battlecry can be competitive.
Top flat recruit Ainama has been put in a short-priced favourite for the potentially trappy Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at 2.05. Last time out Alfie Flits beat Dee Ee Williams in the Rossington Main at Haydock - the second and third that day, Son Of Flicka and Mcmurrough, didn't do the form any favours when finishing down the field in the Sidney Banks Memorial at Huntingdon yesterday. On official ratings Alan King's Trenchant is bang there with a chance although it is noted the horse needs another run to qualify for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham. Nick Gifford has been quoted as saying he'd easily forgive his charge's below par run at Haydock as the horse got wound up in the preliminaries. That being the case, I'm prepared to give Dee Ee Williams another chance - he should represent a value play against the favourite and is likely to appreciate the better ground. My Triumph Hurdle fancy, Starluck, bypasses this which I consider no bad thing.
Helium has the best form on offer in the Adonis and so gets the vote while I'd consider an each-way wager on King Jack in the opener if he were priced up at 10/1 or bigger. He took a tumble at Doncaster last time out but is more likely to show his form on good ground. I'll consider King's Legacy in the bumper and prefer Ouzbeck to the occasionally quirky Herecomesthetruth in the Pendil at 2.35.
The Eider at Newcastle will be a four mile slog on heavy ground. Jass has been allocated top weight but conditions look right up his street; jockey James Reveley helps the cause by taking off a handy-looking three pounds.
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Something of a bad day at the office today... Battlecry (16/1) was prominent enough but as they turned for home he was left for dead, eventually being pulled up. I suspect many, including me, had reservations about Nacarat (10/1) staying the trip but this performance blew all that away in no uncertain terms. Connections pointed out afterwards that a flat track is important for the winner who prefers going right-handed (although he has won at Doncaster). Possol came in nine lengths second with Big Fella Thanks (7/2f) third and a decent run from Hold Em (8/1) to claim fourth.
A disappointing effort from Dee Ee Williams (7/2) who never really travelled and was beaten some way out, eventually finishing fifth behind surprise 14/1 winner Trenchant who battled on well to beat odds-on favourite Ainama. This victory pays Torpichen a complement as Trenchant was just under four lengths behind that animal at Sandown last week. After the race Alan King helpfully told us that at home stable companion Walkon is better than this winner.
The market made Hebridean 6/4 favourite and the market called it right on this occasion, although there were plenty prepared to take on the jolly. Helium (11/4) set a good gallop and jumped quickly but was coming to the end of his tether as they turned for home. To be fair to the selection, he stayed on to finish third but had no chance with either Hebridean or Alan King's Saticon who appeared to show improved form on better ground.
King Jack (10/1) fell away badly from three out to finish twelfth while Ouzbeck (15/8) got no further than the third before unseating Choc Thornton. He's had a break but looked to jump the first two 'big' before getting rid of his partner; 8/13f Herecomesthetruth took the spoils.
Some slight relief in the bumper with King's Legacy (6/5f) having to work hard but managing to fend off Nick Gifford's Ballybach (8/1). Market rival Bellvano (6/4), with J P Magnier in the plate, refused to race.
In an eventful Eider only five of the thirteen completed; Jass (4/1f) cried enough three from home. The finish concerned Morgan Be (14/1) and Merigo (5/1). The former took it up easily three out and was still two lengths in front after jumping the last. Timmy Murphy switched Merigo who stayed on as Morgan Be ran out of petrol on the run-in; Murphy nicked the spoils in the shadow of the post.
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