DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14
It goes without saying, today should be treated with a good degree of caution given the weather forecast and there could also be quite a few non-runners thrown into the bargain.
12.45 NEWCASTLE
Fat Harry is a horse improving at a fair rate of knots and has to be respected but there was a lot to like about the way TOO COOL FORSHRULE (best price 5-1) scored at Ayr last time out and a chance is taken on him building on that career high effort.
As is his want, the son of Watar wasn’t foot perfect during the 2m4f event at the Scottish track but he was good when he needed to be at the last two fences and those proficient leaps enabled him to overhaul the smooth-travelling Tommy Combats in the run to the line.
Posting a very good speed figure for the grade, he also proved he handles soft ground and with today’s conditions likely to be easing towards what they were 13 days ago, hope is high he will be equally effective in his bid to follow up.
TOO COOL FORSHRULE – ½ point each-way@5-1
1.10 CHELTENHAM
A PAI DE NOM (best price 5-1) can count himself unlucky to bump into the hugely progressive Gentleman Toboot at Newton Abbot last time out, but he still ran well enough to suggest he might be of some significance when allowed to run in handicaps and this looks a decent opportunity for Dan Skelton’s inmate to strike at the first time of asking in this sphere.
A winner over the same C&D against a nice horse trained by Paul Nicholls previously, the son of Passing Glance looked as though he would follow up turning for home back at the west country venue, but in the end, he had to succumb to the superior qualities of the winner from two out.
Good enough to chase home the potentially top class Sober Glory in a bumper on debut last season, he handled testing ground well enough that day and with an opening mark of 116 potentially on the lenient side based on his level of form so far to date, he is fancied to kick off the meeting with a bang for his in-form yard.
A PAI DE NOM – 1-point each-way@5-1 (five places)
4.00 CHELTENHAM
There is a good chance Alphonse Le Grande will make a mockery of his current hurdles mark at some stage and it easy to see why bookmakers have taken no risks with the possibility of it could well being today.
At the same time, all the value seems to have been sucked out of Tony Martin’s inmate from where he was in the market in midweek and the best policy is to cast the net a little wider in the shape of SHADE OF WINTER (best price 8-1).
Placed on each of his three starts over hurdles last season, his best effort came when he chased home subsequent Grade 1 winner, Julius Des Pictons, on Welsh National Day at Chepstow and even though he failed in his bid to build on that excellent run back at the same track next time, he shaped as 2m4f just stretched his stamina to the limit.
Back over the minimum trip here today, this keen going sort should be more at home in this environment if they go a good gallop and hailing from a yard who are just beginning to ease into gear, Evan Williams’ inmate has a profile to suggest he is more likely to run his race than not.
SHADE OF WINTER – ½ point each-way@8-1 (five places)