Check out our columnist's thoughts on the weekend's action where she has tips for both Cheltenham and Lingfield.
This weekend the focus is heavily on the National Hunt scene as we waved goodbye to the Flat turf season at Doncaster last Saturday.
However, the All-Weather Championships are well underway now and it’s really satisfying to see the quality of the action over the winter having improved so much over the years. So Flat fans, don’t despair as there is plenty to keep us entertained over the coming months and I’ll tell you more about this weekend’s action shortly.
But first to Cheltenham and there are a few horses I’m looking forward to seeing in action, starting off with ADAGIO for David Pipe in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle that opens Saturday’s card.
I was working in the Sky Sports Racing studio when this horse won a mile-and-a-half claimer on the level at Clairefontaine and not long after the race, the news filtered through that Pipe had managed to put in a successful claim for the horse.
His new owners must have been thrilled to see Adagio win easily at Warwick on his UK and hurdles debut and it looks like a shrewd move to have bought him that day back in August. The trainer couldn’t have his team in much better form and I hope this horse continues his progression over obstacles.
The feature race at Prestbury Park on Saturday is the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the fact that Gavin Sheehan has made it back in time to ride SIMPLY THE BETTS tells you plenty.
This is by no means a penalty kick, but having seen a photograph of Sheehan’s injured hand in the week, before he had a protruding wire removed from it, I hope his resilience pays off. He broke it at Perth seven weeks ago and had to have wires and screws inserted to stabilise it. They were removed on Monday in time for his return to the saddle at Bangor on Wednesday.
He was understandably keen to get back as soon as possible, but to get back for this horse was his main goal apparently. Harry Whittington’s team are also in tip-top form and Sheehan feels the Brown Advisory Plate winner has strengthened up during the summer. Simply The Betts is 9/2 second favourite with Sky Bet to win the prestigious prize.
Sheehan and Whittington also team up with Rouge Vif in the Shloer Chase on Sunday but that looks a toughie with Defi De Seuil, Put The Kettle On and Riders Onthe Storm also among the entries.
The Greatwood Hurdle is another race I’m looking forward to at Cheltenham on Sunday with MAIN FACT bidding to continue his unbelievable stretch of wins for the Pipe team. He’s won eight in row for the stable and he is thriving on the routine at Pond House. He’s a 6/1 shot with Sky Bet to make it nine in succession.
If you were watching the action mid-week on Sky Sports Racing you may have caught an interview with Daryl Jacob who, after riding a winner at Bangor, volunteered the information that he was particularly looking forward to riding MONTE CRISTO at Fontwell on Sunday.
I pricked my ears up as I’ll be in the studio covering the meeting, where the highlight at the charming Sussex track is the Southern National at 3.15. Maybe we’ll be quids in by the time that marathon handicap chase is run though if Jacob can steer the Nicky Henderson trained four-year-old home in front an hour and 45 minutes earlier.
Monte Cristo was a handicap hurdle winner at Auteuil when trained in France but like so many other top horses for the owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, has made the transfer across the Channel and is now housed in the famous Seven Barrows yard of the current champion trainer.
This horse is obviously held in some regard as his new connections started him off in the Grade Two Finesse Hurdle at Cheltenham and he was sent off odds-on favourite to make a winning UK start. That didn’t work out as he could only finish fourth, but he landed the odds the time after that at Newbury.
He returned to action after a summer break at Aintree last month where he finished mid-field and I suspect he will strip fitter for that reappearance run. He is held in some regard and will make a chaser in time, but for now he ought to be capable of making his mark in a race like this at Fontwell (1.30pm) on Sunday now he has had time to acclimatise to his new surroundings.
Now to the aforementioned All-Weather Championships which continue at Lingfield on Saturday.
There are two Fast Track Qualifiers, the Churchill Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter and the Golden Rose Stakes over six furlongs. Dubai Warrior is likely to be the short priced favourite for John Gosden in the Churchill Stakes and he has an obvious chance, but I’d be wary of SAN DONATO for Roger Varian.
He is seriously talented and is one from one on the all-weather to date. He’s run in some smart turf races this season and acquitted himself well on a couple of occasions. It should be a cracking race.
The sprint also falls into that category with evergreen Judicial one of the protagonists. He will have to give weight away to all his rivals thanks to his win earlier in the year in the Group Three Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle.
Mind you, he managed to give weight away in this race 12 months ago and he’s the one to beat again this time round. One of his main rivals is up-and-coming sprinter GOOD EFFORT who won a handicap conceding weight to all of his rivals on his reappearance and he should take high order in this division this winter.
He’s only rated a pound lower than Judicial, but will carry 5lbs less. All in all a superb weekend of action and I wish you the best of luck in finding a winner or two.