We kick off this week with a 9 runner handicap chase in what could be testing conditions. There are 8 of the 9 who have won over this trip and of those, 5 have victories around Wetherby to their name. Top weight is The Whisperer who is making his first run of the year. His 2 wins have come on Good ground and over longer than this trip. Ellerslie George has won his last 2 starts at Wetherby. Sandwiched in between was a run in the Becher Chase where the trip appeared too far. Back again to 20f, he goes on any ground and would be a big chance. The slight dip in the form of Howard Johnson’s string would be my only concern. First Look raced last week and was pulled up. This is his first run at the track having been campaigned mainly at Ayr. His run two starts ago when finishing 11 lengths 6th to Akilak looks decent form given that ones recent Cheltenham performance. The worry remains the PU last time. One place in front of First Look in the Akilak race was Edmo Yewkay. He receives more weight from First Look than that day and loves the ground heavy. Conditions could be in his favour here. Saunders Road won at Cheltenham 2 starts ago under big weight. Last time out in this company he was 4th, but well beaten over a similar trip at Ascot. His jockey takes of a useful 7lbs which will help his cause. Corlande is a decent performer in lesser class. Has been found wanting each time he’s stepped up to this class and the same will happen again. Daldini has ran 4th in this class over shorter distances. There are others with more appeal who have already been mentioned. – VE
Selection: Ellerslie George
Danger 1: Saunders Road
Danger 2: Edmo Yewkay
Doncaster 2:30 WILLIAMHILL.COM - LIVE CASINO GAMES HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 2) (4yo+)
King Jack may go off as favourite but I don't know why, he is not as good as others lining up here and now I've said that he'll probably win. Of course he is receiving weight but I don't think he's good enough. Lothian Falcon is getting on a bit now but is the classiest horse in the field. Always runs well in his first race of the seaon and 7/1 is great odds. Gods Token is another of advancing years but has shown good form in the past over hurdles and the stable is in form. Charlie Crab is a threat provided he gets round but the distance is still a question mark as could be a bit too much of a risk. Mirage Dore and Tartan Snow have previous form together but the latters form has really tailed off whereas the former has improved. Mirage Dore has been off the track for a while but is the model of consistency. Really tricky one, I'll side with Mirage Dore with Lothian Falcon a real danger but the final danger is Charlie Crab. - AR
Selection: Mirage Dore
Danger 1: Lothian Falcon
Danger 2: Charlie Crab
Doncaster 3:00 WILLIAMHILL.COM HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 2) (5yo+)
Nicholls sends 3 out here Andreas and Medicinal are e/w chances that need others to fail in order to succeed. I'msingingtheblues is highly regarded by his trainer but it looks like he doesnt go best with ease in the ground. I have similar concerns about I'm So Lucky whos only wins on easy ground have been in awful contests. Doctor David will be fine on any ground but takes a step up in class to compete here and finds himself high in the weights. Might be a step too far here. My final contender is Kilmackilloge, who comes from outside the handicap which will help if conditions deteriorate but this is a strong renewal and surely one will be found too good. - AR
Selection: I'm So Lucky
Danger 1: I'msingingtheblues
Danger 2: Doctor David
Sandown 3:10 4 MILLION TOTESCOOP6 HEROES HANDICAP HURDLE GRADE 3 (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 2m6f
Amazingly I get to look at a grade race in the Scoop6, and this looks pretty competitive on paper. It is a handicap which makes it difficult but there are a few in here that look on good marks. The one who looks on a very nice mark is Ballydub who was going just about as well as anything else when falling 2 out in a race won by Big Bucks, and he franked the form last weekend. I however will be taking him on here with Otto Des Pictons who is open to plenty of improvement and is coming into this off a decent weight, he has form on soft ground and he looks set to run a big race. The dangers should be Cruchain and Group Captain but both look a shade too high in the handicap. - JB
Selection – Otto Des Pictons
Danger 1 – Cruchain
Danger 2 – Group Captain
Doncaster 3:30 WILLIAMHILL.COM - PLAY BINGO HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 2) (5yo+,0-140) 4m
A proper 4 mile slog around Doncaster, which will suit horses who can gallop and jump from fence to fence. Gidam Gidam is a course winner, and has to be feared in this, he is stepping up in trip but he looks suited by it, as he was staying nicely over 3m4 last time. Hello Bud and Naunton Brook both have winning form over the trip, and staying is really important, and neither can be ruled out of this. However I am concentrating on those who look open to plenty of improvement and Jass looks a certain horse to relish this trip. He is relatively lightly raced and he has good recent form. However the one I am siding with is Malko De Beaumont who is still really attractively weighted and should relish this trip. - JB
Selection – Malko De Beaumont
Danger 1 – Jass
Danger 2 – Gidam Gidam
Sandown 3:45 TOTESPORT.COM MASTERS HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 2) (5yo+) 3m110y
The final leg of the Scoop 6 this week is this intriguing 3m handicap chase featuring some well known faces. Top weight is Gungadu. He hasn’t shown anywhere near the form of early 2008 when he won back to back handicap races over 3 miles. Harry Skelton takes the ride with his 5 lbs claim helping ease the burden. He disappointed last time at Ascot when only 8th. Way ahead of Gungadu that day was Monkerhostin. The game old boy received 5 lbs from Gungadu that day, but only 1 lbs here. Skelton’s claim effectively puts Monkerhostin top weight by 4 lbs. Very rarely does he turn in a bad race and I would expect him to be there in the mix at the finish. Another who was ahead of Gungadu that day was Eric’s Charm. The mount of A.P McCoy, he ran last week in the Thystes Chase in Ireland where the conditions were awful. A hard race there may have left it’s mark on this one. New Little Bric is the 2nd Nicholls runner. He’s partnered by Ruby Walsh. He has only tried this sort of trip once before and that resulted in him being pulled up. Something Wells is another stepping into the unknown regarding the distance. Will he get the extra half mile? There others that will in preference to him. The novice, Sound Accord has been 3 miles over hurdles but as yet, not over fences. It’s a big ask to throw him in at this level after just 3 runs over the larger obstacles, where he has won just once. The one I like is Can’t Buy Time. He has been a selection on here before when just being out done by Malko De Beaumont in the Tommy Whittle Chase. It was a great effort that day in similar conditions. He is bottom weight for this race and it’s interesting that McIernon takes the ride when McCoy was available. The 7 lbs claim must be the main influence behind the thinking. – VE
Selection: Can’t Buy Time
Danger 1: Monkerhostin
Danger 2: Something Wells
- Ellerslie George
- Mirage Dore
- I'm So Lucky
- Otto Des Pictons
- Malko De Beaumont
- Can’t Buy Time
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