DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8
12.55 AINTREE
As is often the case in the qualifiers for the final of this series, there are more questions than answers for punters, but there is a decent chance IDEM (best price 5-1) will be allowed to run on his merits, and he rates a confident choice to book his ticket to the big handicap at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Unlike several of main market rivals, Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s gelding has already had the benefit of a previous outing and that effort came courtesy of a fine display in chasing home the in-form, race fit, Roger Pol at Hexham last month.
Although no match for the winner in the closing stages, he did manage to pull well clear of the rest (16 lengths) and with the data from the race in question reading well in the aftermath, his performance warranted upgrading.
Not only was the speed figure the best on the card, but the final circuit was also 3.1 seconds quicker than the two-mile maiden hurdle winner and for a three-mile event, that is usually a good guide to the strength of the form.
Sure to be a good deal tighter in most departments for that initial outing, he goes back to a track that witnessed him run a blinder in a bumper on his debut back in 2021 and with several of his rivals arguably using this contest as a stepping stone towards fine tuning their chasing prospects for the rest of the season, the seven-year-old can take advantage.
IDEM – 1-point each-way@5-1 (three places)
1.10 WINCANTON
A wide-open race on paper but when you investigate the credentials of TAPLEY (best price 11-4) compared to most of his rivals, it seems like he has the biggest claims to capture the prize, and he deserves to be played accordingly.
A useful hurdler, good enough to finish a creditable sixth of 19 in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock last season, Suzy Smith’s grey began this term with a more than adequate effort at Fontwell and considering that was his first run for 163, he was entitled to need the outing.
Lightly raced over fences, the eight-year-old has just had the three starts so far to date, the pick of which came when finishing a close-up fifth in a hot novices’ handicap won by Leader In The Park at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Keeping on well from three out having raced in the rear early, he now finds himself, rather strangely, on a mark 11lb lower than that sterling effort and when you then consider, his rider’s claim, he runs here off a rating of just 102 – the lowest in his career.
Having competed well up against the likes of subsequent winners, Asta La Pasta, El Rio and Es Perfecto at the Sunbury venue, it would be somewhat of a surprise if he couldn’t match today’s weaker opposition back over fences.
TAPLEY – 1-point win@11-4
3.15 AINTREE
It has been noticeable how well Alan King has begun the new jumps campaign and DON’T MIND IF I DO (best price 11-4) looks set to provide the Wiltshire handler with another winner (6 from his last 14 have won).
The five-year-old ran a race full of promise on his debut over hurdles at Warwick this time last year and he duly got the job done next time out at Wincanton, winning as his odds suggested.
Sent off another short price to maintain his progression back over the same C&D a month later, the wheels rather came off the son of Diamond Boy when only third of seven runners, but as the ground was bottomless at the west country track that day, valid excuses can be made.
Returning to action in his first handicap off what should turn out to be a handy mark, trip, track and ground looks ideal for this potentially useful five-year-old to build a platform for the rest of the season.
DON’T MIND IF I DO – 1-point win@11-4
3.30 WINCANTON
A desperately poor turnout both numerically and quality wise for one of the west country’s better handicap chases but it means SOUL ICON (best price 4-1) has bright prospects of bossing the race from the front.
Implementing those tactics in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Chase at this meeting last year, Keiran Burke’s inmate did pretty much everything right until Boombaum came along and picked his pocket close home but with 34 lengths back to the rest, his effort in defeat deserved high praise.
Good enough to lower the colours of the high class Edwardstone in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton two starts later, it is clear he goes well on, flat, right-handed tracks and although there has to be an element of doubt as to whether he will see out today’s trip (does stay at least 2m6f), getting into a nice rhythm up front might be able to secure he gets the odd breather in at various points in the race.
As we have seen time and time again in these big handicap chases (Al Dancer being one last year), being in front and out of trouble can help preserve plenty of energy for the business end and with connections no doubt having this race in mind for quite some time, the son of Sixties Icon is likely to put up a bold bid at the head of affairs.
SOUL ICON – 1-point win@4-1