Equinties - the weekender

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A big day of racing today, so let’s just dive tf in. 

Weekend preview

Five Graded races. Nine races at Cheltenham. THIS IS SATURDAY. 

Change to previous weeks, this will be a whistle-stop tour of the information that you need to know. Enjoy :) 

11:40 Cheltenham – Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial 

Good race this. Dead eight runners so good for each-way punters. 

At the weights, based on ratings (or potential ratings in JUPITER DU GITE’s case) the Gary Moore runner comes out best following his victory at Newbury lto to beat the highly touted JET POWERED. 

His RPR of 128 lto is the second best in the race behind COMFORT ZONE’s 130 when behind LOSSIEMOUTH two starts ago and the Gary Moore runner doesn’t have to carry a penalty like COMFORT ZONE, SCRIPTWRTER, and MOMBASA have to do. 

SCRIPTWRITER brings the course form to the table, sometimes very valuable in these juvenile races, but he looked a handful in his victory in November and he could be prone to blowing up in this stronger contest.

Our view: COMFORT ZONE really dig deep in the slop lto and can be the best of a bad bunch again.

12:10 Cheltenham – 2m4f Novices’ Handicap Chase 

This is a really interesting contest that pitches established novices, eg STAGE STAR and UNEXPECTED PARTY, against ‘could be anything’ horses, eg FIRE DANCER. 

Let’s start with FIRE DANCER for Venetia Williams – he was only given 6lbs for an easy, albeit dramatic at the end, win at Ludlow on Good to Soft ground. His French form stacks up with some fair Listed horses as well and he could be very well treated off 120. 

STAGE STAR, on the flip side of the weights, could also be on ‘HMS well-handicapped’ as he runs off just 142 – he was a Challow Hurdle winner last season, jumped very well at Warwick on debut, and will be better for the softer conditions. 

The rest in here are a case of catching them on their day – ANY NEWS is 0/3 in handicaps but is 12lbs below his highest mark, so he should be primed to win any day now. 

 Our view: Venetia’s is the intriguing unknown and the trainer/owner combo have to be feared. He runs off a low weight and could be anything (his half bro AL DANCER) is rated 160. STAGE STAR is the safest option though. Between those two only who’ll be a class apart from the field. 

12:40 Cheltenham – Cross Country Chase 

Safe to safe the ground at Cheltenham for all of today will be tacky, sticky ground, so some horses simply won’t perform on it. 

DELTA WORK off 12-0 on only his second banks start at Cheltenham is short, a bit too short, especially when SINGING BANJO, the horse who second to him by a short-head lto, is 18lbs better off today. That said, he’s by far the best in the race and probably will win the Festival race. 

Incidentally, SINGING BANJO runs off the same mark as his second in this race last year and the winner of last year’s renewal, BACK ON THE LASH, is 1lb lower. 

As for the others, EASYSLAND is very well handicapped and the money has come for him and CREALION is back in the country for Tom George following his two wins in France – he’s very interesting. 

Our view: DELTA WORK should be winning this despite his top weight to carry around however the play could be XC specialist DIESEL D’ALLIER who you’ll need to trust it fit without a run. 

13:20 Cheltenham – Clarence House Chase 

We can be short on this one.  

It’s a two-horse race. ENERGUMENE has been beating the best of the Irish. EDWARDSTONE has been beating the best of the British. 

Our view: Which set side of the Irish Sea has the better two-mile chasers? It’s Ireland. 

13:50 Cheltenham – 2m4f Handicap Chase 

The second 2m4f handicap chase of the day is topped in the market by FUGITIF after his runaway Chepstow win – he is well-thought-of by connections and looked like 10lbs wouldn’t have stopped him lto. There might be one eye on the Plate at the Festival, however. 

IL RIDITOTO is on the flip side of that off a mark of 138.  

Currently, he would be fine off 138 to get into the Cheltenham Festival handicaps but he wouldn’t want to drop too much more through the weights in order to make sure he can run in them. Add that to his good course form this year and he could be bang there. 

SILVER HALLMARK is back on the track for Fergal O’Brien, a horse who was behind FUGITIF lto and he relishes these softer conditions. O’Brien has said this trip and ground should suit him better and he could be one to go close at 16/1. 

Our view: this is tough and we have a really indifferent view of the race. IL RIDOTO hasn’t won for a while but always runs well, has good course form and might…might just be able to bag his next W here. Wouldn’t really be getting involved. 

2:25 Cheltenham – Grade 2 Cotswold Chase 

Again, we can keep this relatively short because, in all honesty, it’s between PROTEKTORAT and NOBLE YEATS only. 

The formers  Betfair Chase victory was very, very good, from his jumping to his raw speed, and with Harry Skelton saying he is his best chance at the Cheltenham Festival – he also said he had never felt anything like what PROTEKTORAT gave him lto before – that’s a huge pointer. 

NOBLE YEATS, although impressive in the Grand National and at AIntree lto, was held off a mark of 147 in the Ultima Chase last year at the track, which is worrying. 

‘But, but, but… connections were waiting for the Grand National!’ 

If you trust your eyes, he looked a machine lto finishing strongly and put himself bang in contention for the Gold Cup. 

Also, if you happen to fancy SOUNDS RUSSIAN at 7/1, just remember that DUSART beat him when giving 2lbs to him at Ayr last season in what was a proper performance by the Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old. Connections have chosen here over the Sky Bet Chase, also. 

Our view: I loved PROTEKTORAT lto but can’t forget how powerful NOBLE YEATS looked lto. A proper race to enjoy!  

15:00 Cheltenham – Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle 

There’s a case to be made to suggest PAISLEY PARK could be vulnerable at 13/8 for this year’s Cleeve Hurdle. 

Emma Lavelle has said tacky ground would not be to his liking and that is potentially what today at Cheltenham could look like. 

He is officially the best horse in this lineup by 10 pounds and will be seeking for his FOURTH Cleeve Hurdle! 

The issue is, what do you take him on with? 

GELINO BELLO hasn’t been the same over fences, so a return to Hurdles could work, but this seems like a big ‘Plan B’ by Nicholls. 

MOLLYS OLLYS WISHES is a good horse for the mares’ division – the record against the boys isn’t great. 

BOTOX HAS was unfound lto in the Relkeel, however, his record at the track over three miles reads 2, 3, 2 and his last win came over the staying distance at Haydock two starts ago – if you are the one to forgive a run, he could be the one to side with. 

Our view: PAISLEY PARK is on best form the best horse but he can throw in some stinkers bless him and DASHEL DRASHER should pick up the pieces if so. PAISLEY PARK will bring the house down if he wins. The safe option might be DASHEL DRIVER without PP. 

15:35 Cheltenham – Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 

A race with 10 runners but only one horse to be on, PEMBROKE. 

PEMBROKE was penciled in for the Leamington Novices Hurdle at Warwick two weeks ago, but Dan Skelton was happy to save him and send GREY DAWNING there instead. 

He is the highest rated in the contest.  

HENRI THE SECOND is probably the most established horse in this race and he actually beat AUTHORISED SPEED in a Listed bumper at Ascot four starts ago – he maybe hasn’t quite lived up to his potential yet, however, there is plenty of time for that to change. 

Our view: PEMBROKE is the best horse in this race and is by super sire BLUE BRESIL. Skelton Saturdays should continue with this lad. 

16:10 Cheltenham – 2m Handicap Hurdle 

Nope. No angle for this. Carry on. 

15:15 Doncaster – Sky Bet Chase 

GA LAW is back. The Paddy Power Gold Cup winner has plenty of people excited off 150 for the Sky Bet Chase today and Racing Twitter can’t wait to see him back out! 

Ryanair Chase hopes are on the line today, a mark of 150 looks fair, however, this three-mile test will be tough. 

Of the rest, CLOTH CAP looks to be seriously well handicapped off 138 considering his last handicap win was off two pounds lower. 

The same goes for UNDERSUPERVISION, a horse who ran into LE MILOS five starts ago and won off a two-pound higher mark in March. 

 Our view: the horse to beat in this is GA LAW with most of the field on revival missions. 

2:42 Naas – Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle 

Finally, we just want to quickly mention this race. 

ECHOES IN RAIN vs BOB OLINGER 

BOB OLINGER is running over two miles for the first time since his hurdles debut in 2020 and ECHOES IN RAIN has consistent HONEYSUCKLE form from two runs last season, as well as having been a consistent horse on the flat this summer to finish second in an Irish Cesarewitch. 

It should be a great watch, nethertheless.  

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Today's best stats

MILANS EDGE 12.47 goes for McCain who is 2 from 2 in this race.

Nicholls lands > 1 in 2 in Graded races at Donny and his repped by STAY FAR AWAY today in the 14.40

PAISLEY PARK 15.00 is going for 4 in a row!

Risk on

12.40 DELTA WORK