Catching Pigeons gossip column for the weekend
Our gossip column is back with the best bets for Doncaster and Cheltenham on Saturday.
3.15 Doncaster Ravenhill Road
Ravenhill Road can repel the strong challenge from south and win the Sky Bet Handicap Chase for Sue Smith at Doncaster on Saturday. Although a winner of a point-to-point over three miles in 2016, this will be only his second appearance over the distance since that success and he looks more than ready for another try after his win over two miles and five furlongs at Haydock last time.
Run in pretty soft ground, he made most of the running, and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to readily see off Gold Opera. That looked an improved effort after six consecutive outings around the minimum trip and it could well be he can step up again with an even more demanding test of stamina.
2.40 Doncaster Floressa
Floressa can see off the popular Lady Buttons in the Grade Two Yorkshire Rose Mares Novices' Hurdle. Very well regarded by the Nicky Henderson team, she was unlucky to get beaten on her hurdling bow at Newbury in November but then made no mistake on her return to her local course later the same month.
Although this will prove a much tougher task against more experienced opposition, she has been working very well in her build up to the valuable prize and is expected to take plenty of beating.
12.55 Doncaster Mister Fisher
Mister Fisher, a stablemate of Floressa and also the mount of James Bowen, missed the terrible ground at Haydock last weekend for his proposed Cheltenham Festival warm up. He should be rewarded here with a more amenable surface in the Grade Two Napoleons Casino Lightning Novices Chase. A very good jumper, this galloping course will suit him.
2.05 Doncaster Thomas McDonagh
Thomas McDonagh deserves a crack at Grade Two level after wins at Hexham, Wetherby and Ffos Las and he merits serious consideration in the River Don Novices Hurdle. Those victories have confirmed the Jamie Snowden team's high opinion of him at the start of the season and he looks ready for the the step up in class with the three miles almost certainly in his favour.
1.15 Cheltenham Simply The Betts
Simply The Betts looks solid each-way value in a competitive Timeform Novices Handicap Chase. Harry Whittington's gelding made a flying start to his career over fences with victories at Chepstow and Newcastle, taking the notable scalp of Espoir de Guye at the Welsh course in the process.
He was consequently well fancied to deliver the hat-trick in a valuable event at the Kempton Christmas meeting but found the right-handed course all against him. By the time he got into his stride, the talented Commanche Red had put the race beyond reach. This return to an anti clockwise course should suit him much better and the fact he won at Chepstow suggests he will cope with the undulations well.
1.50 Cheltenham Count Merribel
Count Meribel may reward an each-way interest in the Paddy Power Cheltenham Trophy. Nigel Twiston-Davies loves to target these middle distance handicap chases at his home course and this horse might well have finished closer than sixth in the BetVictor Gold Cup in November had he not lost a shoe.
This ranks a rung lower in class to that event and if he can reproduce the best of his novice form last season, which includes a win over Festival scorer Le Breuil here in November, he should give the BetVictor third Warthog plenty to think about.
2.25 Cheltenham De Rasher Counter
De Rasher Counter can continue his climb up the rankings with a big run in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase. A progressive novice last season, he was touted to run a big race in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November and duly delivered with an emphatic win.
Although that form leaves him plenty to find here in against the likes of Santini and Bristol De Mai, the three-and-a-quarter mile feature is usually a good guide to the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup and he is reported in very good form after his mid-winter break.
Santini is the hot favourite for this race despite failing to impress when winning on his return to action and he, too, has not raced since. He has undergone a wind op, has worked and schooled well over the past few days, but is a very short price here.
3.00 Cheltenham King Roland
King Roland should go well at a decent price in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. Harry Fry has always held a very high opinion of his charge, who won both his bumpers last season and made the fitter Son Of Camas work hard for a victory on his hurdling debut at Newbury at the end of November.
Although the opposition was nothing strong, he could not have been more impressive when landing his first win over obstacles at Exeter last month and the experience gleaned from those two performances should ensure he will run a big race in what promises to be another illuminating Festival trial.
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