What a weekend we have in store, with two big equine clashes to look forward to. Tomorrow it is Sprinter Sacre vs Sanctuaire, and then on Sunday at Punchestown, it's Flemenstar vs Sir Des Champs. In this preview piece, I will preview both those races, plus the Becher Chase over the National fences, and then discuss some other horses to watch out for this weekend.
TINGLE CREEK PREVIEW (Sandown 3.05 Saturday):
This year's Tingle Creek is reminiscant of the great Moscow Flyer, Azertyioup and Well Chief battles around Sandown a few years ago, and ever since Sanctuaire completely destroyed a good field in the Celebration Chase over course and distance in May, this clash has been eagerly anticipated.
Both Sprinter Sacre and Sanctuaire are amazing horses, so slick with their jumping; you can't remember the last mistake either of them made, and what a spectacle it will be. Sprinter Sacre beat both Cue Card, who won the Haldon Gold Cup by miles on his return, and Al Ferof, the Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, in the Arkle with ease at Cheltenham in March. Despite his usual tendancy to race keenly, he won every start last year on the bridle, amazing after he won his first rules race in a bumper at Ascot by a nose! He has only ever been beaten twice, once when finishing second despite not staying two and a half miles at Ascot hurdling, and then third in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham when not quite finishing his race off up the hill, behind Al Ferof and Spirit Son, ahead of Cue Card. He was inexperienced then and is now a highly exciting horse.
Onto Sanctuaire; is he the biggest chasing challenge yet to Sprinter Sacre? On this track, almost certainly. He jumped around here in the style of Tingle Creek in the Celebration Chase, beating the top class Somersby by seventeen lengths. He won his first start in Britain, a novice hurdle at Taunton, beating Grand Crus by four lengths, before being a big Festival gamble by scooting clear in the Fred Winter, coming from way off the pace. He has doubts though, he has never won fresh, he is quirky, but he has experienced these demanding Sandown fences twice, and won easily both times, something Sprinter Sacre is yet to experience.
As for the others, they are competing for prize money, with Doeslessthanme the best rated of them on a mark of 150, 19lbs behind Sprinter Sacre and 16 behind Sanctuaire. Kumpbeshwar, Idarah, His Excellency the four year old, and the thirteen year old Kinkeel make up the line up.
For me, it is a fascinating race that is to be savoured and enjoyed, whatever the outcome, I can't wait!
BECHER CHASE PREVIEW (Aintree 2.10 Saturday):
Aintree races over the National fences with two races tomorrow, with the three and a quarter mile Becher Chase the feature.
We have Ballabriggs running here, of course the 2011 Grand National winner, but off top weight in bad ground will have his work cut out. Last year's winner West End Rocker is the favourite to retain his title, and it does usually take him one run to get properly fit. Strangely Robert Thornton has never won on him from 13 attempts. He is also 5lbs higher than last year, and his current price provides no value. Join Together and Any Currency do not really interest me as they both have jumping issues, and no experience of the big fences. Both Big Fella Thanks and previous winner and fourteen year old Hello Bud are sure to go well, but I'll suggest two each way plays. IN COMPLIANCE is the first of them for Dessie Hughes, who has won this with Vic Venturi and Black Apalachi in the past, and Niall 'Slippers' Madden, who has won a National on Numbersixvalverde. As for this horse, he has completed in each start over these fences, sixth in a Topham, thirteenth behind Ballabriggs in 2011, before reversing that form and finishing a remarkable fifth behind Neptune Collonges. He is twelve, but he has won a John Durkan and is a classy type with only ten stone four to carry he should run really well. The other that I like a little is GULLIBLE GORDON for Peter Bowen. To say he looked like he needed the race last time is an understatement, and he ran accordingly. He ran in this two years ago when trained by Paul Nicholls, and fell at Bechers, but off a 12lb higher mark. He is ridden by Jamie Moore, who has ridden a winner over these fences before and at 33/1, he could surprise a few.
JOHN DURKAN PREVIEW (Punchestown 2.00 Sunday):
What a contest this promises to be, Flemenstar, Sir Des Champs, Rubi Light and Bog Warrior over two and a half miles on heavy ground on Sunday.
This is a mouth-watering clash between the big two, Flemenstar, who is one of the best jumpers I have ever seen; just breathtaking at his obstacles, and is very high class too. The only time he has been beaten in a rules chase, he was beaten by Bog Warrior, who prepared for this with an easy victory in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse last week. He has improved much less than Flemenstar since that defeat in November last year. Sir Des Champs is still unbeaten, and is one of the favourties for the Gold Cup in March. He was electric in the Jewson, before winning, despite a terrible blunder at the last at Fairyhouse. He has ideal conditions, and Willie Mullins will certainly not be leaving anything to chance. Don't discount Rubi Light, who is very good fresh and won this last year, but this is a completely different test altogether.
HORSES TO WATCH ON SATURDAY:
The Listed chase, the 1.05 at Aintree on Saturday should be fascinating, with Quito De La Roque the best rated runner, but ACROSS THE BAY will relish conditions, and may get an easy lead for the in-form McCain and Maguire. The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase a 3.20 is the other race over the National fences on the card, and I like CHANCE DU ROY, who took to these fences really well when second in the Topham, and should go well again.
The feature race at Chepstow on Saturday is the Rhys Howells Memorial Handicap Chase, a Class 2 over three miles at 2.05. I like the chances of SONA SASTA, who was second behind Chepstow specialist Le Beau Bai in this last year off a 5lb higher mark, and is very well weighted with a good conditional aboard.
Back to Sandown, and the Henry VIII Novices Chase at 1.55 is a belter. Captain Conan was very impressive at Cheltenham, foot perfect, and has a win here to his name in the Tolworth Hurdle, but he has dangers. Mainly, Hinterland, who went off far too fast at Exeter last time, and did well to finish as close to Theatre Guide as he did.
Wetherby are also jumping and ALAND ISLANDS in the 12.45 is one of the main attractions, together with his jockey Tony McCoy. He was a classy novice hurdler and won impressively at Newcastle on chase debut, and should go in again. WAR POET in the 2.20 is the final one to look at, a useful Flat horse making his handicap hurdle debut off a low weight under Brian Hughes.
I hope you have enjoyed this, and I will be doing a Soundcloud on Sunday morning to preview the racing on that day.
Enjoy the racing and Be Lucky!
Will
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