Saturday, October 08, 2011
I SUPPOSE the race everyone will be looking out for today is the novice chase at Chepstow when Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti take each other on. I wouldn’t rule Michael Flips out of the equation completely, but realistically, it should be between these two.<
The fact that it’s a four-horse race won’t inconvenience Silviniaco Conti. He started like a house on fire last year over hurdles before his form tapered off a bit. That was probably because we were looking at him as a Champion Hurdle horse and he wasn’t quite at that level.
It looks to me that chasing will be his game. He has schooled very well and we are looking forward to him.
Cue Card was obviously a high class bumper horse but he was found wanting a little bit at the highest level over hurdles and I’m not sure that he looks like a chaser. I would give Silviniaco a big chance and he will give him plenty to think about.
There’s a lot to like about Domtaline in the big handicap hurdle. It’s not the best renewal ever and he could be well enough in. He won over course and distance this time last year before disappointing in Wetherby and then falling in Newbury. He hasn’t run since that race last December but I saw him yesterday morning and he’s in good form. He has to have a great chance.
Slightly Tanned is having his first run after winning his point-to-point in Ireland. He has schooled well and will learn a lot from the experience but to be honest, this early in the year, I’m as much in the dark about his prospects as anyone.
Whether or not Edgardo Sol runs in the handicap hurdle will probably depend on how he got on in yesterday’s Newton Abbott chase. If he were to win handy, Paul would probably leave him in because I know they feel that he might be well in.
Five Dream would be up against it in the handicap chase, while it’s always hard to win a second bumper in England with a penalty so Wiffy Chatsby has his work cut out. Unlike in Ireland, it’s not easy to read bumper form in England. This is a race though that a lot of the big yards often target for a good one, and Philip Hobbs is just one that has a first-timer. If you see some money going down, he might be the one to follow.
I have three rides in Limerick and Royal Reveille is always one to look forward to because he tries his best. He will probably start favourite and he has a favourite’s chance. His best form is on good ground but while we wouldn’t be sure how he’ll take to soft ground, you know he’ll make a race of it. He stays really well and always sticks his neck out. One thing is for sure, if he’s beaten, the winner will know he’s been in a race.
Uncle Junior should run a good race in the Munster National and I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished ahead of Bideford Legend even though he was behind him at Listowel. The Kerry National can take a lot out of horses and that was only Uncle Junior’s second run since the Punchestown festival. So while Bideford Legend might be favourite on the back of being second in that race, I would oppose him.
I’d be looking for horses that are fresh and haven’t run in the Kerry National and the two I like are For Bill, who ran a cracker on her seasonal reappearance and will appreciate the longer distance, and Golden Kite, who looks to me like he has been laid out for this by Adrian Maguire.
It’s hard to see Just Friends winning the Grade 3 chase. Evan Williams has West With The Wind coming over off a bloodless win in Ffos Las in August but for me, Loosen My Load is the banker for your jackpot. He was really impressive in Navan last time out and Henry’s horses are in great form at the moment. He’s a really good horse and I can’t see him being beaten.
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