DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22
1.25 CHEPSTOW
KAPAL LAYAR (best price 11-4) has hinted on more than several occasions he might be seen to better effect beyond two miles and with connections seemingly jumping to the same conclusion, Olly Murphy’s inmate is fancied to provide his stable with yet another novice hurdle winner this season.
Although beaten on merit by My Friend Sean at Uttoxeter last time out, he impressed with the way he stuck to the task and with time figure suggesting it probably wasn’t a bad race of its kind, it’s fair to say he brings the best current form to the party.
Other than Star Of Diamonds and Pragnell, it’s hard to make solid cases out for too many more and with his trainer still knocking out winners at a fair old rate, the son of Milan makes quite a bit of appeal at the morning odds.
KAPAL LAYAR – 1-point win@11-4
2.10 NEWCASTLE
HISTORY OF FASHION (best price 12-1), a creditable sixth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last time out, arguably arrives here with one of the best singular pieces of staying chase form next to his name and having already proven himself over an extreme trip (3m6f), Pat Fahy’s raider can readily outrun his morning odds.
How many of today’s field would have finished a respectable distance behind the likes of subsequent big-race winners Perceval Legallois and Nick Rockett is open to debate and with Three Card Brag, Favori De Champdou and Will Do also adding their names to the list of form frankers since, he must enter the conversation of most likely winners.
Seen to even better effect over further at Fairyhouse previously, the 11-year-old is clearly in a rich vein of form and can be played accordingly to keep things that way.
HISTORY OF FASHION – ½ point each-way@12-1
3.00 KEMPTON
A very useful-looking renewal of this pre-Cheltenham Grade 2 novice hurdle and CELTIC DINO (best price 9-2), with conditions more suitable than when last seen out at Aintree, can get a good deal closer to his old rival Miami Magic at the very least.
It might just turn out to be Miami Magic is plain and simply the better horse of the pair but under today’s quicker terrain, Sam Thomas’ inmate will never get a better opportunity to stamp his qualities on a big stage and we’ve already seen him to good effect on sharp, right-handed tracks.
Indeed, his Wincanton victory earlier in the campaign was extremely good on the data and he also had Newbury’s recent big handicap winner, Joyeuse, well beaten off at Ascot next time.
Although he has made the running in the past, he doesn’t necessarily have to lead and with at least four others in today’s field all vying for that role, he can sit in behind the likely strong pace and be produced when it counts.
CELTIC DINO – 1-point win@9-2
3.07 CHEPSTOW
PRINCE QUALI (best price 7-2), despite not winning, has done very little wrong so far this season and now returning a track that seems to spark his enthusiasm to even greater heights, Robert Walford’s gelding can be rewarded for his consistency.
Like last season before striking, it took him three runs to get into top gear and on the evidence of his latest spin at Haydock, he looks to be coming to the boil at the right time.
A good winner of this race last year, Robert Walford’s gelding followed up over the same C&D on his return visit and with conditions to suit, this game and likeable sort should once again give another solid account.
PRINCE QUALI – 1-point win@7-2
4.00 FAIRYHOUSE
Will Do sets the standard among today’s field with a rating of 126 but there’s no getting away from the fact he had a hard race just two days ago and even if he does run, he faces a rival in the shape of NEY (NAP) (best price 5-2), who could easily have his measure anyway.
Despite being sent off an unconsidered 33-1 shot on his debut for new connections at Punchestown last time out, the data he produced suggested there was no fluke about his smooth success and if in the same mood 41 days on, there’s every reason to feel confident he can repeat the dose.
Not only did Edward Buckley’s gelding post the fastest furlong-per-furlong time of the four chase races on the card, but his final circuit time was also comparable to Grade 3 novice chase winner Lecky Watson and consider he carried 10lb more than Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham-bound winner in achieving this feat, it puts into perspective the sort of performance he conjured up on the day.
Handed with a rating of 117 by the assessor following that run, there’s every chance he will prove that mark to be some way south of his true worth as time progresses and this excellent jumper of a fence can back up that view by taking this contest before going on to better things.
NEY – 2-point win@5-2