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Updated: 28th January 2009 - GG.com

Fires In February

At this time of year the clock is ticking down on the Cheltenham Festival and February’s high-class racing action takes place with more than a passing nod to what might happen during those four unforgettable days in the middle of March.

Denman
© racing-images.co.uk

In 2009 the first serious slice of jumps racing gets underway at Newbury on February 7 when all eyes will be upon Denman in the Aon Chase as he bids to banish any lingering blues that have stuck around following his operation for a heart problem last autumn. No one knows how the 2008 Gold Cup hero will perform on his belated return to action, but every jumping fan hopes he will back to his best.

If he is anywhere near the level of form that saw him sweep all before him 12 months ago then he will be very hard to beat. It is worth recalling that Newbury is easily the gelding’s favourite track and a further success in a small field grade race beckons for the current Gold Cup market leader.

As long as the rain doesn’t turn the ground heavy and undermine Newbury’s prestige fixture, Master Minded, a long odds-on shot for the Champion Chase, should follow up last season’s scintillating win in the Game Spirit Chase. He is in a league of his own where the 2m chasers are concerned but has long since stopped becoming a betting proposition for most punters.

Newbury’s terrific card climaxes with the wonderful Totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle, one of the season’s best handicaps over the smaller obstacles. Class is always a pivotal factor in predicting the winner and despite the fact that trainers Henderson and pipe have won 50% of the last 12 renewals, I can see Numide, Mermedit and Belcantista going very close this time around. Preference is for the former.

Neptune Collonges (Mick Fitzgerald) leading Denman (Sam Thomas) and Kauto Star (Ruby Walsh) with Halcon Generlardais (Robert Thornton red cap) close up, on the first circuit in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (14-03-08)
© racing-images.co.uk

In the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on the following day Neptune Collonges should be able to make amends for his fall close home when seemingly going like a winner in the Lexus Chase over Christmas. He should be too strong for Exotic Dancer and The Listener while in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase I expect to see Cooldine enhance his RSA claims by landing this valuable race over a more suitable trip of 2m 5f.

At Haydock on February 14 Cloudy Lane will bid to land the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup over a grueling 3m 4f en route to a tilt at the Grand National in April but Henry Daly’s Sherwood’s Folly has long been aimed at this decent prize and may well be the one.

Over at Ascot on February 14 Monet’s Garden should be a warm order in the Commercial First Ascot Chase. Later on the same card I expect to see Carruthers and Gone To Lunch battle out the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase, with both horses bidding to boost their Festival claims courtesy of good runs. Over at Wincanton on the same day the Kingwell Hurdle is one of the last of the recognized Champion Hurdle trials but it is hard to see the result having any real bearing on the big one in March.

February’s action comes to a peak with the Racing Post Chase on the 21st of the month and Laskari, Possol and Silverburn are three names that have been mooted for a tilt at the former prize. The latter has plenty to prove after his flop at Exeter last time but connections haven’t lost faith in his ability.

On the same card the hugely exciting Starluck should enhance his Triumph Hurdle claims by landing the Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle while over at Newcastle, Rambling Minster, Gypsy George and Malko de Beaumont should all figure prominently in the marathon Eider Handicap Chase at the north-eastern venue.

Cloudy Lane (Mr. R Burton right) winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase for Amateur Riders (Cheltenham 14-03-07)
© racing-images.co.uk

Finally Doncaster brings down the curtain on the month’s action with the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase that may be a stepping stone to a Grand National tilt for Cloudy Lane while over at Kelso Alfie Flits will bid to keep up trainer Ala Swinbank’s excellent record in the Premier Novices’ Hurdle; on the same day Newbury stages the valuable Connaught Gold Cup Chase and punters should look out for whatever Paul Nicholls aims at this big prize.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips

Archive January 2009