So Cheltenham is over for another year and the blues kick in. Only four weeks to Aintree though so something to look forward to. Going to keep it simple today and concentrate mainly on the Kempton card today, with a quick look at the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.
The opening novice Hurdle looks a good little contest, Grapevine has a shot on form with his stable in fine form. Sao finished second last time out, the winner ran okay in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham this week. The Favourite is Lord Duveen, his form is rock solid even though he has run just once. He finished Firth on debut behind two well thought of rivals, the third Kilbricken Storm won the grade one Albert Bartlett at the Festival yesterday. He is drifting this morning which is slightly concerning with his main two rivals shortening, maybe the market opened too short. He is still my tip to win.
The second race is a Chase for novices where only five take part. Kayf Blanco has good placed form this year in decent races, he seems to find one or two too good though so I’ll be taking him on with Paul Nicholls’ Copain De Classe. He basically had a school round in his last race as his only rival fell at the second. His previous effort was third to highly regarded Benatar. He is most likely the winner for me, a mention has to go to Vocaliser who has been in good form recently and gets a stone and more from the top two in the betting. He could be each way value for second possibly.
Next is a competitive handicap hurdle. Azzerti heads the betting and rightly so, he has been running well in this grade and won last time out. That form was given a huge boost when the second went and won the Imperial Cup st Sandown last weekend. Just A Sting has a good mark for his handicap debut for Noel Fehily and Harry Fry. Graasten did well to win first time out after a year off and rates a danger for Gary Moore. Zubayr ran well in a jumpers bumper last time out finishing second giving four pounds to Chesterfield. That rival ran very well finishing fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. At 8/1 he could be value each way especially as Paul Nicholls had a double on the last day of the festival yesterday. One I’ve always liked is Arthur’s Gift and I expect he will run his race as usual but probably has to much weight now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran into a place though.
There is a good handicap chase at 3:15 and again this looks highly competitive. Tom George is double handed at the head of the betting in a race he won last year, so both Bun Doran and Brandon Hill must be in with serious chances. Bun Doran has top weight and Adrian Heskin has opted to ride Brandon Hill, so that would lead you to think he has the better chance. I will take him on with Kilcrea Vale to win. The selection has solid form in this grade, and last year ran in the JLT at the festival finishing behind the likes of Yorkhill, Top Notch and Politologue. I think FovoritoBuck’s could run a place with course and distance form at a nice price.
The 3:50 is a race I’ll leave alone from a betting view. The favourite is the most likely winner but there is no betting proposition in this. The next is a pretty poor race and none could be backed with any confidence. I will take a punt on the Venetia Williams runner Russborough. A tentative choice but her horses do well when it’s soft, hopefully the aid of first time cheekpieces can have an impact, at 10/1 it’s a small stakes bet. The concluding bumper is a watching race rather than a betting angle.
A quick look through the card for the slog that will be the Midlands National. Get On The Yager could improve for the step up in distance if he stays this far in really testing ground. A few of these have form with each other from the Eider Chase at Newcastle, West Of Th Edge came out best finishing second. Those rivals should be in the shake up again, Back To The Hatch is the interest one from that race as he was going well when he came to grief. Silsol is a bit classy but has top weight because of it. With Bryony Frost on board they can’t be discounted. One I like at each way prices is The Artful Cobbler, he has to carry only 10-3 and in this ground that will be a plus. He is in good form and progressive and might in improve some more for the step up in trip. Each way value at 10/1.
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