DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY MARCH 1
2.10 NAVAN
COLLABORATIVE (best price 15-2) arrives here with the wind very much in his sails and with the step back up in trip seen as a big positive towards his chances, the hat trick looks more than a distinct possibility for Oliver McKiernan’s inmate.
The feature of his victory here a month ago was the way he travelled before putting the race to bed and despite being dropped to the minimum trip at Fairyhouse last time out, he proved equally effective.
Doing well to hold off the late challenge of Puturhandstogether at the Meath venue, his performance was backed up by a useful time figure and, with a strong possibility there could be more to come from the five-year-old, he makes quite a bit of appeal at the morning odds.
COLLABORATIVE – 1-point each-way@15-2
2.20 KELSO
Dan Skelton has sent a strong team up to the Borders venue and ACE OF SPADES (best price 9-4), having already had a successful spin around the track earlier in the campaign, looks to have been teed up especially for a tilt at this prize on his return visit.
A winner of a messy race at Cheltenham back in the early part of the campaign, it was his stamina which helped him pull victory out of the fire that day and it came as no surprise to see the son of Dink improve for stepping up in trip here on his latest encounter.
Seemingly more at home taking a lead 62 days ago, the six-year-old moved smoothly into the lead after jumping two out and from that juncture he drew steadily clear to record a facile success.
Timewise, his performance went up a notch or two on his previous effort and having been handed what appears a reasonable mark to kick off his life in handicaps, this unexposed type can continue his progress through the ranks.
ACE OF SPADES – 1-point win@9-4
2.55 KELSO
Ben Pauling has been churning out the winners like there’s no tomorrow and VANDERPOEL (best price 10-3) can provide the Naunton handler with yet another notable Saturday winner, following on from last weekend’s bonanza.
The Sholokhov gelding made quite an impression on rules debut at Huntingdon and the subsequent victories of the likes of George’s Lad, Rubber Ball and Serious Challenge (twice) have given the form the boost the speed figure suggested it might.
Although we didn’t lean anything more about him when long odds on to defeat inferior opposition at Ludlow last time out, the run at least served the purpose of teeing him up nicely for a tilt at this prize and providing he comes through today’s contest with his reputation intact, Aintree is likely to beckon for this highly promising long-term chasing project.
VANDERPOEL – 1-point win@10-3
3.15 DONCASTER
THE KNIPHAND (best price 8-1) shapes like he is still very much a work in progress over fences and with his third to the smart Monbeg Genius at Uttoxeter suggesting he hasn’t got too much to find with most of today’s rivals, the unexposed novice can be seen to good effect back at a track that played into his strengths two starts ago.
His victory over just three rivals here back in December, albeit a wide margin one, probably didn’t amount to much, but his effort at the Midland venue a month later carried plenty more clout – certainly based on form and time figures.
The winner, Aintree Grand National-bound, posted a very fast time figure for a race of its kind and he also ran the final circuit quicker than the two-mile handicap won by Lucky Lugger, adding even more depth to the contest. Since then, there has been just one horse to run out of the race, seventh-placed Jetoile, and when he went on to almost win at Newcastle last weekend, he gave the first indications the form looks as good as the data suggested.
The Kniphand, although soundly put in his place 21 days ago, was noted coming back for more on the run-in after initially looking to be treading water in between the last two fences, and given it was only his fifth run over fences, it was a performance that contained plenty of merit.
A bit hesitant over his fences in his first few starts, the addition of cheekpieces appear to have sharpened his work in that department and if allowed to get into a decent rhythm towards the head of the field in the early stages, hopefully he can stick around long enough to have a say in matters at the business end.
THE KNIPHAND – 1-point each-way@8-1