DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15
1.10 CHELTENHAM
This is likely to be a proper test in the conditions and two that should have no fears on that front are KELCE (best price 7-1) and HERAKLES WESTWOOD (best price 5-1).
The former shaped really well on his first start of the season over today’s C&D until visibly getting tired after jumping the last and with expected improvement to come fitness-wise, there is every reason to believe he will see out the trip to better effect.
Figures-wise, his best effort last season came when winning with any amount on soft ground and as we witnessed here yesterday, being out in front and keeping out of trouble is never a bad thing in these big fields at Cheltenham.
The latter ran better than the bare facts suggested in two big-field handicaps towards the backend of last season and with a top amateur booked, he should relish this test more than most.
Given a nonsensical ride by Harry Cobden in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival, Warren Greatrex’ inmate then was forced around the inside on the slowest part of the track in the big 3m5f handicap at the Punchestown Festival, so to end up finishing fifth was a creditable effort in the circumstances.
A dour stayer with the potential to land a provincial National of some description this season, today’s race looks like a decent starting point on ground that will suit.
KELCE -1/2 point win@7-1
HERAKLES WESTWOOD – ½ point win@5-1
1.35 NAVAN
It is very much open for debate whether I’ll Sort That would have won at Galway last time out, Welonlyhaveone was seemingly going better when falling at the last, so it may pay to be slightly cautious about taking very short price about Declan Queally’s inmate.
Ace Brannigan remains progressive from an in-form team, but his winning form at Tipperary doesn’t amount to much and Ma Jacks Hill might not even turn out to be the best of the Gordon Elliott trained pair.
Therefore, the best policy could well be to look in the direction of both WHIMSY (best price 9-1) and THEFLYINGKING (best price 7-2), who have form and profiles to suggest they have been underestimated in the market.
The former had the misfortune to bump into the hugely progressive Love Me Tender at Tipperary last time out but she did, in turn, finish miles clear of the rest and the speed figure was extremely good.
Prior to that excellent effort Anthony McCann’s inmate had run well under top weight in a competitive handicap hurdle over today’s C&D and with soft ground very much in her favour, this consistent mare is expected to more than a dangerous floater.
The latter was in the process of dotting up first time out over hurdles at Down Royal when falling at the last and providing he has suffered no lasting damage; Gordon Elliott’s grey has more than enough natural ability to make an impact.
Interestingly, at the point of the departure, he was noticeably only just behind the Graded mares race won by Full Of Like when placing the two races side by side on a TV screen and even though he drops down significantly in trip, the data points towards him having sufficient speed.
THEFLYINGKING – 1-point win@7-2
WHIMSY – ½ point win@9-1
3.30 CHELTENHAM
FRENCH SHIP (best price 5-1) ran out an impressive winner over today’s course at the Showcase meeting and under conditions that will suit him more than most, Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s inmate can continue his rise through the ranks.
Strongly fancied for the Silver Trophy on his seasonal bow at Chepstow, the five-year-old was going as well as anything when hitting the deck three out but he dusted himself off and proved how unlucky he was that day when making amends a few weeks later.
Travelling well throughout a strongly run affair, the son of French Navy picked up the running approaching the last and with slick jump, he powered his way on the long climb up the hill to record a facile success.
On the evidence of that run and his performance up to the point when he departed previously, he still appears well treated off his revised mark of 136 and having run well on soft ground many times in the past, another positive display should be forthcoming from this progressive hurdler.
FRENCH SHIP – 1-point each-way@5-1 (four places)
3.45 WETHERBY
Be Aware is big fancy to back up his Stratford debut success over fences against the very smart July Flower at Cheltenham today and he is very likely to make his main market rival work hard for the prize based on the data he showed that day.
CERENDIPITY (best price 5-2) was the only one to offer any resistance to Dan Skelton’s useful chasing prospect at the Midland venue and he rates a strong choice to take advantage of running against lesser valued opponents on his return to a track where he has gone well on more than one occasion in the past.
Although no match for the winner’s superior turn of foot from off the home turn 16 days ago, he did manage to keep on bravely for second and with the speed figure pointing today’s the race being a strong piece of form, Sue Smith & Joe Parkinson’s inmate should find this slightly frenetic environment more suitable.
CERENDIPITY – 1-point win@5-2