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| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
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| Updated: 1st February 2010 - GG.com |
Fabulous February
February’s jumps action begins with a bang courtesy of two graded races at Sandown on the 6th of the month followed swiftly by a bonanza feast of four Grade 1 contests at Leopardstown on February 7. Needless to say the chance to sift for Cheltenham clues will be uppermost in most punters’ minds and the shape of many Cheltenham challenges should be clearer after the weekend’s racing.
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Traditionally Sandown’s card has been an informative one and this year’s fixture promises no to deviate from that rule. In the Contenders Hurdle Nicky Henderson will be squeezing himself to see that Binocular finds something approaching his best form again ahead of a tilt at the Champion Hurdle while in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase leading RSA Chase contender Punchestowns puts his Festival credentials on the line.
Over at Doncaster on the same day Kalahari King faces a stern test shouldering top weight in his comeback in the William Hill Handicap Chase and he may well require the run leaving the way open for Oh Crick, a genuine two-mile specialist, to build upon his bright third behind Twist Magic in graded company last time. Over at Wetherby Ian Williams will be looking for a bold show from Weird Al in the Towton Chase ahead of a possible tilt at the RSA Chase in March.
In Ireland on Sunday Dunguib should be home and hosed in the novice hurdle while Cooldine is reportedly showing his old spark again ahead of a crack at the Hennessy Gold Cup where he faces a stern challenge from Money Trix and Joncol, who both finished ahead of him in the Lexus Chase over Christmas. Providing the ground doesn’t get too messy at the south Dublin track, Roberta Goldback might well be the one to book his Cheltenham Festival berth with a big run in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase on February 7.
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The pre-Cheltenham caravan pitches its tents at Newbury on February 13 where all eyes will be upon Master Minded in the Game Spirit Chase as he bids to show he is back to his best after suffering a bruised rib when beaten by Well Chief at Cheltenham in November. The reigning two-mile champion chaser should be far too strong for Voy Por Ustedes who surely needs a longer trip these days.
The big betting heat on February 18 is the ever-thrilling Totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle and as long as there is some cut in the ground the David Pipe-trained Ronaldo Des Mottes might well be the one to plunder this great prize. An impressive winner from a good field at Kempton over Christmas, he is a progressive sort and David’s father, Martin, liked nothing more than a good crack at this most valuable prize.
Over at Warwick on February 13 Long Run should land the Kingmaker Chase for Nicky Henderson and earn himself a ticket to Cheltenham in March. On the following weekend of February 20 more Cheltenham hopefuls will be put through their paces including the Philip Hobbs-trained Planet Of Sound, a Ryanair Chase candidate who warms up for this task in the Betfair Ascot Chase.
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Over at Haydock, the tungsten tough Lie Forrit attempts to put his season back on track in the Rendlesham Hurdle. On the same card Silver By Nature and Palypso de Creek look the likeliest winners of Haydock’s marathon Blue Square Gold Cup and at Wincanton on the same day Punjabi can land the Kingwell Hurdle.
February rounds off with the Racing Post Chase at Kempton where Possol has been lined-up to land this prize since the season’s start and the Adonis Hurdle that should go the way of either Advisor or Mille Chief. In the Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle Its Teescomponents might be a lively outsider and on February 28 Rock Noir, an expensive French import, can take the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on his British debut for Jono O’Neill.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive January 2010
