1:55 Peter Marsh Chase (Limited Handicap) Grade 2 (Cl1) - VE
A strong looking renewal of the Peter March Chase kicks off this weeks Scoop 6. The field is full of decent sorts and looks like a number have chances. Top weight is Cloudy Lane who went off joint favourite for last years Grand National. He has had a couple of runs this term, the best of which was in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby when coming 3rd to Nozic, again under top weight. Ground conditions being on the soft side won’t hinder too much and is a previous course and distance winner (4 wins at Haydock) and he could get back to winning ways in this grade. Miko De Beauchene won last years Welsh National and was unlucky when unseating in this time. A winner at Haydock in the past, the track or ground hold no worries. My concern is he needs further than 3 miles these days. Still not without a chance in testing conditions. Dear Villez is the forecast favourite and Tony McCoy takes the ride for Paul Nicholls. He won over this trip in Ireland in soft going and put up a creditable performance in the Hennessy. He had a couple of jumping errors last season in his Novice year that saw him unseating twice. That is the main question mark, has he put the errors behind him? His 2 runs this term suggest yes. I’m unsure. Opera Mundi is the second Nicholl’s runner. Sam Thomas is on board. Seems to have lost his way since winning around Haydock in November 2007. Pulled up in the Sky Bet Chase and Scottish National, his last run was at Cheltenham in November when trailing home 6th having gone off favourite. There will be others ahead of him here too. Montgermont returned in November after 2 years off the track. Has won over this trip in his Novice days and seemed to want further than the 20f on his 2 come back runs. He could be one staying on at the end. Kandjar D’Allier was in the winners enclosure here in November although in a lower grade. He would need to improve to take this. The same goes for Glasker Mill. No wins in a year and pulled last time in the Welsh National. He’s of little appeal here. The old timers Fundamentalist and D’Argent will give each way backers a run for their money. – VE
Selection: Cloudy Lane
Danger 1: Dear Villez
Danger 2: Montgermont
2:05 Connaught Partnerships Handicap Hurdle (Cl3) - AR
Pretty awful race and any of them could win. On form the consistent Tender Falcon has plenty going for him and Show Winner is another in with a good shout but will have to overcome a disastrous Boxing Day performance. I'd put that down as Christmas Blues and there were a lot of unusual performances over that period. The third horse to make the shortlist is Maraafeq, the stable is in form and their seems to be some money behind it, with a claimer on board he could have a shout. Consistency is the best bet so Tender Falcon is the selection, the other two to follow him home.
Selection: Tender Falcon
Danger 1: Show Winner
Danger 2: Maraafeq
2:40 Connaught Compliance Handicap Chase (Cl3) - AR
Another tricky race and I'm going to sound like I'm part of the Williams/Biddick fan club but the stable is in form and this one has a better chance than Maraafeq. My only concern is the claimer on the chasing novice, if there are no mistakes then Pipo De Re is in with a great shot. Gentleman Jimmy will probably need the run, Triggernometry is from my local stable and the word from the Bird is that he is in good form and at healthy odds worth respect. Tarotino may struggle with top weight so my final selection is Kew Jumper, consistently average and should make the places but will rely on others failing to win.
Selection: Triggernometry
Danger 1: Pipo De Re
Danger 2: Kew Jumper
3:10 Connaught Environmental Handicap Hurdle (Cl3) - JB
A 21 runner handicap hurdle over the 2 miles and 6 furlong trip around Wincanton is the next race in the Scoop 6. To say this race is competitive is an understatement, but I am concentrating on those who have winning handicap form. Victorias Groom is top weight here but has been running very well this season, however I do not think the horse can win off this higher mark. At the top of the weights with him is At The Money, and this horse is very interesting for me, as he is only 4lbs higher than his best winning mark and has been running creditably in better races since, including off marks in the 120s. Dangers are likely to come from all around but the two I nominate are Billie Magern and Fantastic Arts, who both look to be on decent marks and can thrive in this big field.
Selection: At The Money
Danger 1: Billie Magern
Danger 2: Fantastic Arts
3:25 1942 Was A Vintage Year Handicap Chase (Cl2) - JB
A mere 18 runners go to post for this handicap chase over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, with Boomshakalaka and Saunders Road likely to head the market. I side with Saunders Road here, who gets into the handicap as bottom weight and is open to a good deal of improvement. Oracle Des Mottes is likely to be well supported and the Nicholls horse looks set to run another big race, however the handicapper looks to be catching up with him. Alright Now M’Lad is a danger with the yard in great form, and Something Wells is lightly enough raced over fences to be open to more improvement. Boomshakalaka is a Henderson horse, so must be feared whilst Howard Johnson has El Vaquero and Bafana Boy, near the bottom of the handicap. However I am taking Mr Flint to make the most of his 7lb claim on Saunders Road and they will take a good deal of beating. One thing to watch out for is overweight though (He has got as low as 9-7 in the last 12 months) but I think he and Mr Hobbs will ensure everything is right for today.
Selection: Saunders Road
Danger 1: Alright Now M'Lad
Danger 2: Something Wells
3:45 Connaught Cup Handicap Chase (Cl3) - VE
The last leg this week is this 10 runner Handicap Chase. Top weight is the Carl Llewellyn trained Hennessy. Made an encouraging return to Chasing earlier this month at Folkestone when winning over 25f. Stolen Moments is another who won last time out. That was over 3 miles on soft ground at Exeter before Christmas. Since going Chasing he has only been out of the front 3 once and that was when taking a fall at Sandown. He does make mistakes in his races so maybe one to avoid. Tora Bora hasn’t tasted success over jumps since 2006 and it’s a big ask to do it on his first jumps start since Feb. Rodrigo Gonzales has yet to win over the jumps. He doesn’t look like he will see out the trip. Double Dizzy has decent efforts around this trip in these conditions. Could be one for the E/W backers. Nicto De Beauchene won last time out over C&D on this ground. Makes mistakes and has been on the deck twice out of 5 runs over jumps. Caution if backing him. Zacharova, if retaining the form of his last run, has a great chance off a low weight. Put 2 poor runs behind him with his win last time. If he last home in these conditions then it could be his. – VE
Selection: Zacharova
Danger 1: Hennessy
Danger 2: Double Dizzy
A strong looking renewal of the Peter March Chase kicks off this weeks Scoop 6. The field is full of decent sorts and looks like a number have chances. Top weight is Cloudy Lane who went off joint favourite for last years Grand National. He has had a couple of runs this term, the best of which was in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby when coming 3rd to Nozic, again under top weight. Ground conditions being on the soft side won’t hinder too much and is a previous course and distance winner (4 wins at Haydock) and he could get back to winning ways in this grade. Miko De Beauchene won last years Welsh National and was unlucky when unseating in this time. A winner at Haydock in the past, the track or ground hold no worries. My concern is he needs further than 3 miles these days. Still not without a chance in testing conditions. Dear Villez is the forecast favourite and Tony McCoy takes the ride for Paul Nicholls. He won over this trip in Ireland in soft going and put up a creditable performance in the Hennessy. He had a couple of jumping errors last season in his Novice year that saw him unseating twice. That is the main question mark, has he put the errors behind him? His 2 runs this term suggest yes. I’m unsure. Opera Mundi is the second Nicholl’s runner. Sam Thomas is on board. Seems to have lost his way since winning around Haydock in November 2007. Pulled up in the Sky Bet Chase and Scottish National, his last run was at Cheltenham in November when trailing home 6th having gone off favourite. There will be others ahead of him here too. Montgermont returned in November after 2 years off the track. Has won over this trip in his Novice days and seemed to want further than the 20f on his 2 come back runs. He could be one staying on at the end. Kandjar D’Allier was in the winners enclosure here in November although in a lower grade. He would need to improve to take this. The same goes for Glasker Mill. No wins in a year and pulled last time in the Welsh National. He’s of little appeal here. The old timers Fundamentalist and D’Argent will give each way backers a run for their money. – VE
Selection: Cloudy Lane
Danger 1: Dear Villez
Danger 2: Montgermont
2:05 Connaught Partnerships Handicap Hurdle (Cl3) - AR
Pretty awful race and any of them could win. On form the consistent Tender Falcon has plenty going for him and Show Winner is another in with a good shout but will have to overcome a disastrous Boxing Day performance. I'd put that down as Christmas Blues and there were a lot of unusual performances over that period. The third horse to make the shortlist is Maraafeq, the stable is in form and their seems to be some money behind it, with a claimer on board he could have a shout. Consistency is the best bet so Tender Falcon is the selection, the other two to follow him home.
Selection: Tender Falcon
Danger 1: Show Winner
Danger 2: Maraafeq
2:40 Connaught Compliance Handicap Chase (Cl3) - AR
Another tricky race and I'm going to sound like I'm part of the Williams/Biddick fan club but the stable is in form and this one has a better chance than Maraafeq. My only concern is the claimer on the chasing novice, if there are no mistakes then Pipo De Re is in with a great shot. Gentleman Jimmy will probably need the run, Triggernometry is from my local stable and the word from the Bird is that he is in good form and at healthy odds worth respect. Tarotino may struggle with top weight so my final selection is Kew Jumper, consistently average and should make the places but will rely on others failing to win.
Selection: Triggernometry
Danger 1: Pipo De Re
Danger 2: Kew Jumper
3:10 Connaught Environmental Handicap Hurdle (Cl3) - JB
A 21 runner handicap hurdle over the 2 miles and 6 furlong trip around Wincanton is the next race in the Scoop 6. To say this race is competitive is an understatement, but I am concentrating on those who have winning handicap form. Victorias Groom is top weight here but has been running very well this season, however I do not think the horse can win off this higher mark. At the top of the weights with him is At The Money, and this horse is very interesting for me, as he is only 4lbs higher than his best winning mark and has been running creditably in better races since, including off marks in the 120s. Dangers are likely to come from all around but the two I nominate are Billie Magern and Fantastic Arts, who both look to be on decent marks and can thrive in this big field.
Selection: At The Money
Danger 1: Billie Magern
Danger 2: Fantastic Arts
3:25 1942 Was A Vintage Year Handicap Chase (Cl2) - JB
A mere 18 runners go to post for this handicap chase over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, with Boomshakalaka and Saunders Road likely to head the market. I side with Saunders Road here, who gets into the handicap as bottom weight and is open to a good deal of improvement. Oracle Des Mottes is likely to be well supported and the Nicholls horse looks set to run another big race, however the handicapper looks to be catching up with him. Alright Now M’Lad is a danger with the yard in great form, and Something Wells is lightly enough raced over fences to be open to more improvement. Boomshakalaka is a Henderson horse, so must be feared whilst Howard Johnson has El Vaquero and Bafana Boy, near the bottom of the handicap. However I am taking Mr Flint to make the most of his 7lb claim on Saunders Road and they will take a good deal of beating. One thing to watch out for is overweight though (He has got as low as 9-7 in the last 12 months) but I think he and Mr Hobbs will ensure everything is right for today.
Selection: Saunders Road
Danger 1: Alright Now M'Lad
Danger 2: Something Wells
3:45 Connaught Cup Handicap Chase (Cl3) - VE
The last leg this week is this 10 runner Handicap Chase. Top weight is the Carl Llewellyn trained Hennessy. Made an encouraging return to Chasing earlier this month at Folkestone when winning over 25f. Stolen Moments is another who won last time out. That was over 3 miles on soft ground at Exeter before Christmas. Since going Chasing he has only been out of the front 3 once and that was when taking a fall at Sandown. He does make mistakes in his races so maybe one to avoid. Tora Bora hasn’t tasted success over jumps since 2006 and it’s a big ask to do it on his first jumps start since Feb. Rodrigo Gonzales has yet to win over the jumps. He doesn’t look like he will see out the trip. Double Dizzy has decent efforts around this trip in these conditions. Could be one for the E/W backers. Nicto De Beauchene won last time out over C&D on this ground. Makes mistakes and has been on the deck twice out of 5 runs over jumps. Caution if backing him. Zacharova, if retaining the form of his last run, has a great chance off a low weight. Put 2 poor runs behind him with his win last time. If he last home in these conditions then it could be his. – VE
Selection: Zacharova
Danger 1: Hennessy
Danger 2: Double Dizzy
- Cloudy Lane
- Tender Falcon
- Triggernometry
- At The Money
- Saunders Road
- Zacharova
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