Thursday was bit of a disaster with only Scimon Templar doing anything at all but 2nd is nothing unfortunately.
Anyway onto Saturday and Eider Chase day at Newcastle and that will be a proper test of stamina.
Thats where to start with Saturday the 255 at Newcastle the Eider Chase over 4 miles 1 furlong and sure to take a bit of getting in the Heavy going(soft in places) .Recent dual scorer SUN CLOUD has certainly hit a purple patch winning at Hexham by 7 L then following up at Catterick by 11L he now finds himself 22 pounds higher than his initial win and 12 pounds higher than his last win which may be his undoing however won so well last time it would be dangerous to rule him out completely.Oliver Sherwood sends FINANCIAL CLIMATE north for this stamina test and he’s been a model of consistency winning at Newbury in December over 3 miles 2 f where he returned to finish 3rd against good opposition this test of stamina will suit him and the same can be said for SAFFRON DE COTTE who has not really shone this term as of yet but looked more like himself last time out at Warwick when finishing 6th ,remains well weighted if he can recapture old sparkle. Johnjo has thorough stayer SMOKING ACES in and since he won a 29furlong race at Fairyhouse back in December 2011 he has only seen a racecourse 7 times which would indicate he has had problems however his last 3 runs the first two of which he would have been entitled to need have shown he is heading in the right direction and this could be ready-made test for him.
Kempton 350 race a Handicap chase over 3 miles and Paul Nicholls recent Ascot 1/2 BURY PARADE and GRANDIOSO face up to each other here again and both should go well although BURY PARADE has gone up 9 pounds to 152 and it will be some performance to win this from that type of mark,GRANDIOSO remains on 147 but unsure if this step up in trip will play to his strengths on this type of ground. Alan King also runs two and I much prefer Chocs choice of MIDNIGHT APPEAL he won a good race on his return at Bangor beating a couple of decent sorts who have really franked the form since , he then struggled over the National fences in December before posting a good run here to finish 2nd at start of the month and with stable back in good form I expect him to return to his best here. The Skelton team have a good chance with BAILE ANRAI who won a race at Leicester before finishing 2nd in the Skybet chase at Doncaster he’s up another 5 pounds for that but remains in good heart and still at the right end of the handicap.
Chepstow has a good 2 mile handicap at 305 and again the heavy ground will play a part and Richard Lee’s talented chaser GREY GOLD will relish the going having won a good chase at Sandown against a horse rated 147 in the process he is up 7 pounds for that but is one to keep on the right side off .POOLE MASTER took advantage of a lowly mark and drop in class to win by a wide margin at Ffos Llas ,he has been put up 11 pounds for that and this is a stiffer test for sure but he does relish the going .Our old favourite GUS MACRAE return to the minimum distance having failed to shine over 2 miles 5 f last time out ,easy to dismiss that race and better to focus on the one before that where he finished 2nd at Ascot a race where GREY GOLD finished 3rd 4 lengths behind GUS MACRAE and in fact strictly on the book he is 7 pound better of if you include 5 pound claimer .The Hobbs trained AL ALFA is another horse I like and despite a 9 pound rise for his confidence boosting easy Taunton win I would not discount a good run here.
The opener at Kempton is a 2 miles 4 furlong chase and SUNNY LEDGEND drops back to a more realistic target after contesting a grade 1 at Ascot last week ,his previous race at Towcester where he finished 2nd was his first run in 10 months and looked decent enough ,this is more realistic, recent Ascot winner BALLINVARRIG looked a horse on the upgrade on that occasion and although raised 5 pounds he will still be up to running well here , ex Alan King inmate BALZACCIO is now with Fergal O’Brien and ran a good 3rd on his first start for the yard at Wincanton in November that was his first run in 10 months he is definitely well weighted on the best of his form for King however I’d be slightly worried about the going for him.
NEWCASTLE 2.55 SMOKING ACES 7/1 (3 PTS WIN) SAFFRAN DE COTTE 10/1 (1 PT E/W)
KEMPTON 3.50 MIDNIGHT APPEAL 16/1 (1 PT E/W) BAILE ANRAI 14/1 (1 PT E/W)
CHEPSTOW 3.05 GREY GOLD 4/1 (3 PTS WIN) GUS MACRAE 10/1 (1 PT E/W)
KEMPTON 1.30 BALLINVARRIG 7/2 (4 PTS WIN) SUNNY LEDGEND 10/1 (1 PT E/W)
20 POINTS STAKED .
LOSS OF 16.5 POINTS
No guarantees are ever given all info is free and can be taken in any context ,all views are solely mine based on my hours of studying form and going racing ,I do welcome any feedback or comments good or bad.
BUT I MUST STRESS AGAIN…………
ALL VIEWS ARE MINE AND NO GUARANTEES ARE GIVEN. ALWAYS ONLY EVER BET IF AND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD ,IF YOU CANT AFFORD TO LOSE DON’T BET AT ALL, ALL PROFITS ARE A BONUS.
RF Sports Betting 