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Simonsig impresses in Morebattle Hurdle.
Having already given Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle ante post favourite Finjal Bay a fright on his last outing at Sandown in December, with a fine win in today’s Grade Two Bet Victor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, Simonsig boosted his own chances of winning next month’s Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nicky Henderson had sent his charge north due to the recent cold snap having reduced the number of good novice hurdling opportunities in the south, but Simonsig made full use of his long trip from Lambourn to the Scottish Borders.
Having raced keenly for the first mile, Barry Geraghty managed to get Simonsig into a rhythm as he sat behind pace-setter Knockara Beau, and while the 2-7 favourite showed his novice status with a poor jump at the penultimate flight, he soon came back on to the bridle, and with Geraghty not even having to move a muscle, Simonsig went on to score an easy two and a quarter length victory over Knockara Beau, with Local Hero in third.
Now ante post favourite with most firms for next month’s 2 mile Supreme Novices Hurdle, Nicky Henderson’s grey has shown he has plenty of stamina, adding today’s two mile 2 furlong contest to a 3 mile point-to-point victory secured earlier in his racing career, and as most winners of the Supreme show stamina in the latter stages of the Cheltenham race, Simonsig looks an ideal candidate for next month’s Grade One contest at Prestbury Park.
Henderson and Geraghty enjoyed their raid on Kelso, with Simonsig adding to two previous victories on today’s card by Lyvius and Bellvano.
Galileo looking good ahead of Cheltenham.
Duly landing the odds as expected, Dermot Weld’s dual purpose performer Galileo’s Choice was a clear cut winner of the Easter Festival 8th-10th April Novices Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.
Already prominent in the ante post market for next month’s Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Dermot Weld’s charge did what was expected of him, and with a mostly convincing jumping display supported by obvious speed on the flat, he ran out a straightforward winner of today’s 2 mile contest.
Grand National entrant Becauseicouldn’tsee set a fair pace to play to his obvious stamina, and he led right up to just after the penultimate flight, but Robbie Mcnamara then brought Galileo’s Choice alongside the leader, and after a clean jump at the last, the 2-9 race favourite cleared away for a four and a half length victory without even coming out of second gear.
Becauseicouldn’tsee stayed on well to take a deserved second place, while Terminal was third, his recent four consecutive win streak coming to an end in disappointing fashion.
Speaking after the race, Dermot Weld said:
“It was a pleasing performance, particularly as Robbie said he didn’t like the testing ground today. Apart from a mistake three out, he did well.
“It didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know about him, but it provided him with some more experience, and providing everything now goes right over the next few weeks, he’ll head to the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.”
No Cue At Newbury.
Connections have confirmed Cue Card will miss his intended engagement in Friday’s re-scheduled Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury.
The six-year-old was due to have his final preparation race ahead of a run in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham next month, but he will not now appear in Friday’s Grade Two contest, (formerly known as the Game Spirit Chase), with trainer Colin Tizzard explaining:
“He’s just got a knock on his fetlock joint, and we thought we better let people know, what with the ante post market and everything.
“If the race were next week, it would be fine, and we wouldn’t even need to mention it, but it’s just going to stop him running this week.
“He’ll be fine in a few days, but we’ll now have to go straight to Cheltenham, as it was this race or nothing.”
Nolan hoping wind will be behind Prince.
Following today’s latest forfeit stage for the Ryanair Chase, (run at the Cheltenham Festival on 15 March), trainer Paul Nolan is hoping that better ground and a recent operation can help Noble Prince go one better than his last three starts in which he has finished runner-up on each occasion.
The Montjeu gelding, who triumphed in last year's Jewson Novices' Chase at the festival, was last seen in action when finding Blazing Tempo three quarters of a length too powerful on soft ground over 2m 1f in the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse last month.
However, looking ahead to Cheltenham, the Co Wexford wizard said:
“He's an intended runner in the Ryanair and I'm very pleased with him since that last outing. Everything so far is on schedule and hopefully there will be no hiccups and we can get him there as well as last year and if so, I'll be very happy.
“He is always vulnerable on ground like it was at Fairyhouse and that's why we have stuck to the minimum trip on that ground, but he has had a slight wind operation since then, which should also help him at Cheltenham.”
When it was pointed out to Nolan that 'the Prince's' form figures read much like last year before Cheltenham when he was second twice over two miles before stepping up in trip to win, the handler replied:
“That's true but the form of last year's novices is not working out that well and they are not stepping up against the seasoned campaigners.
“But hopefully the ground will bring out improvement in him.
“You can never be confident going to Cheltenham and I'm just hoping to get there in one piece first and I'm happy with him at the moment and then hopefully he'll run a respectable race and give the owner a good day out.”
After today's latest stage, Irish bookmakers Paddy Power make Noble Prince their 11-2 favourite for the race, with another Irish hopeful Rubi Light 6-1 second favourite together with Somersby, and the bookie also goes 7-4 that there is an Irish-trained winner of the race.
Defending Champions on track for Cheltenham return.
The Cheltenham Festival 2012 is now under a month away and the countdown intensifies today with the publication of the acceptors for the five non-novice championship contests following the February 14 scratchings deadline.
In the £500,000 Grade One Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, the 2011 scorer Long Run and Kauto Star, the winner in 2007 and 2009, feature among 26 horses going forward. Interestingly, on weight-adjusted Timeform ratings Long Run (193) is rated one pound superior to Kauto Star (192), despite Paul Nicholls’ veteran getting the better of his younger rival on two occasions already this season in the Betfair Chase and the William Hill King George VI Chase. The pair appear to have the race between them, with the next best horse according to Timeform being Betfair Chase third Weird Al on 182. The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 16 at Cheltenham.
The defending champion in the £320,000 Grade One sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, which has 14 remaining entries, is Sizing Europe. According to Timeform, the Irish raider is also in pole position to successfully defend his crown with a rating of 183, four pounds clear of Somersby (179), successful in the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot last month. The 2010 sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Big Zeb is on 176, while last year’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase runner-up Finian’s Rainbow is rated 177. The sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase is the highlight of Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 14.
Albertas Run boasts a fabulous record at The Festival, having taken the RSA Chase in 2008 as well as the last two renewals of the Grade One Ryanair Chase and he is one of 29 acceptors for the two mile, five furlong contest. The 11-year-old’s weight-adjusted Timeform rating of 175, would suggest he has work to do to overcome Riverside Theatre (182), Somersby (179), last year’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase victor Captain Chris (177) and Medermit (176), who all have the Ryanair Chase as an option. The £260,000 Grade One Ryanair Chase takes place on St Patrick’s Thursday, March 15.
The 20 remaining contenders for the £370,000 Grade One Stan James Champion Hurdle are headed by the 2011 victor Hurricane Fly, who is rated 185 by Timeform. His closest current pursuer on weight-adjusted Timeform ratings is last year’s runner-up Peddlers Cross (183), although his trainer Donald McCain has made clear that the seven-year-old has the Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase as his preferred target at The Festival. The 2010 Stan James Champion Hurdle victor Binocular is currently rated third best with Timeform on 178.
Big Buck’s created history in 2011 when becoming the first horse to win three consecutive renewals of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the amazing nine-year-old is one of 23 acceptors for the £260,000 Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle, which takes place on St Patrick’s Thursday, March 15. With a current weight-adjusted Timeform rating of 187+, he is rated five pounds clear of Oscar Whisky (182), who finished third in last year’s Stan James Champion Hurdle but has only been left in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle this time around.
Quito out of Gold Cup reckoning.
Quito de la Roque is currently on a course of antibiotics due to problems with his sinuses, and having missed out on a run in last Sunday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, and with the problem on-going, trainer Colm Murphy has conceded that he will not be able to get his charge to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup. Hence the eight-year-old was withdrawn from the Cheltenham blue-ribbon race at today’s scratchings stage.
Colm Murphy is now hoping he can get his jnwine.com Champion Chase winner fit in time to compete at the Punchestown Festival at the end of April.
Ground the key to Blue participation at Cheltenham.
Trainer Conor O’Dwyer is to wait and see what ground conditions are like at Cheltenham before committing his promising hurdler Fulsome Blue to a run in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at next months Festival.
The five-year-old, owned by Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud, has won his last three races, taking in contests at Limerick, Thurles, and Clonmel – the latter a Listed contest – but all three wins have come on soft or heavy ground, and while Fulsome Blue is entered in the extended 3 mile novice event at Cheltenham, O’Dwyer has reservations, with the handler explaining:
“We’ve made no firm decision yet, but he’s come out of his last race in great form. We’re still thinking about it, but a lot will depend on the ground.
“He handles the heavy ground in Ireland very well, but Cheltenham is still on the agenda, and we’re holding a waiting brief at the moment.”
Dabirsim to run in French Guineas.
Dabirsim, one of the ante post favourites for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, is to skip a run at Newmarket in favour of a run in the French Guineas instead.
Trainer Christophe Ferland has decided the English Guineas comes too soon in the season for Dabirsim, and he is also not keen on sending his stable star on a trip so early in the year. Consequently, the exciting unbeaten colt is set to stay in France for the 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp, but may then come over to Britain for the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Discussing his thoughts and plans for Dabirsim, Ferland said:
“We’ve decided to stay in France. The 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket comes too early in the season, and the way he runs, I think Longchamp will suit him more than Newmarket, particularly as Newmarket is a long way to travel so early in the season. But I do think we will come over for the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
“He’s done very well over the winter, and he looks fantastic. I think we’ll give him a run before the French Guineas, with the Prix Fountainebleau at Longchamp his most likely first target.
“Hopefully, he’ll run well in both French races, and then go to Ascot, as it’s important to his future career as a stallion that he can win international races.”
Penitent aiming for Lincoln repeat.
Weights for the £100,000 William Hill Lincoln, the first major race of the Flat turf season which will be run over the straight mile at Doncaster on Saturday, March 31, have been revealed today.
Trainer David O’Meara, who has made a very impressive start to his training career, could saddle Penitent (9st 8lb) and Smarty Socks (9st 2lb), the latter the winner of two valuable handicaps at Doncaster and Ascot last season. The pair are both currently rated 16-1 chances with race sponsor William Hill.
Penitent, successful in the William Hill Lincoln in 2010 when trained by William Haggas, was subsequently victorious in Listed company at Sandown and O’Meara is hopeful the six-year-old can bounce back to his best, with the Great Habton-based handler, commenting:
“Penitent was bought at the Newmarket sales at the end of October (for 40,000 guineas). He came to me and has had a break, but has been back in work for about six weeks now.
“I don’t know if he could win off his current mark (108), but he was rated 114 at one point, so we’ll soon find out plenty about him in the William Hill Lincoln which will probably be his first run for us.
“Soft ground appears to be crucial to him, but I’m not sure if he will have a prep run as he didn’t have one the year he won it, so he has shown he can go there and do it first time out.”
Of Smarty Socks, the trainer commented: “Smarty Socks has run over a mile plenty of times and he won over that distance at Southwell, but seven furlongs might just be his optimum trip.
“He seems to get better as the year goes on and he does like firm ground, but he ran well in the William Hill Spring Mile last year when he finished sixth.
“He’s on a mark now where he can start competing in Listed and conditions races as well as handicaps. He does tend to need a good strong gallop and he comes good off a fast pace, so we’ll keep him busy this year as he does enjoy his racing.”
Eton Forever, who is 10-1 favourite with race sponsor William Hill, has been allotted 9st 3lb, which guarantees him a place in the maximum field of 22. The Roger Varian-trained five-year-old took last season’s William Hill Spring Mile by storm, and a repeat of that form could see him hard to beat in the Lincoln.
However, the 2011 2000 Guineas fifth Fury could shoulder 8st 12lb as William Haggas chases his fourth training success in the Lincoln, and as the trainer is very good at bringing his former three-year-olds on in their four-year-old season, Fury could have a big chance. While Cocozza, who could make his debut for Marco Botti since joining the Newmarket trainer from John Oxx, has been allotted 8st 13lb, and would also seem to have big claims.
Primaeval (8st 6lb) could bid to give James Fanshawe his first Lincoln, while Edinburgh Knight (9st 4lb) will be having only his third start over a mile after winning a Listed race at Kempton on his final start last season.
Last season’s William Hill Lincoln winner Sweet Lightning would carry top weight of 9st 10lb should he take his chance on March 31, but a repeat run at Doncaster may depend on his upcoming engagements in Dubai.
Junior set to run at Newbury.
Despite a range of entries in races over the coming weekend, David Pipe’s Aintree Grand National ante post favourite Junior looks set to have his seasonal debut at the re-organised meeting at Newbury this coming Friday.
A winner at Royal Ascot on the flat, and also a Cheltenham Festival winner, Junior has been allocated 11 stone 02 pounds for the Aintree April highlight,and this has consolidated his position as ante post favourite for the four and a half mile marathon with most bookmaking firms.
David Pipe has admitted he has deliberately chosen not to run Junior this season, so as to protect his charge’s handicap mark ahead of yesterday’s Grand National weight allocation ceremony in London. With Junior’s weight now set for Aintree, Pipe is keen to give his charge a quick run over hurdles, and Friday’s Meeting at Newbury now looks the favoured venue, with Pipe commenting:
“We knew Junior was going to get around 11 stone for the Grand National. It’s a nice weight, and we now just have to get him there in one piece.
“He won the Kim Muir easily last season. In fact, he probably won it too easily, as he went up 19 lb in the handicap. After that, the plan was to come for the National, and he’s now had a good long break. Everything has been geared towards the National, with probably a run over hurdles and then a run over fences to be his likely preparation.
“As it stands, we’re aiming to run him at Newbury on Friday. Everything has gone smoothly so far, and he’s had a good preparation, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly until April.”
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