The big day is here in Berkshire. The Coral Gold Cup awaits but the supporting card is good so I'll provide a run down of the days action.
12:07, Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Walkadina 10/3
Rula Bula 12/1 (each-way 3 places)
This is one of the better renewals of the Mares' Novices Hurdle that opens this card. Listentoyourheart deserves to be favourite on hurdles form after an easy win at the track last time out. She carries a 3 pound penalty for that however. She's won both her hurdle races very easily although she strikes me as one for longer trips in time, especially how she shaped in bumpers and this is a strong race. So she may be worth taking on at 6/4. Jubilee Aplha finished in front of Listentoyourheart in an Aintree bumper at the National meeting but hasn't been seen since. She's clearly very highly thought of but she hasn't run since and this is a hard race to make her hurdle debut in. Sanrisk comes over the Irish Sea and must be respected but she carries a 5 pound penalty for winning a below-par renewal of a Grade 3 hurdle at Down Royal last time so this will require a big effort. I was very taken with Walkadina's performance at Uttoxeter on hurdles debut. She powered away from her rivals (decent form) up the straight to win by a widening 13 lengths. She was very well punted in 2 bumpers last season and looked like winning both before not seeing her races out. She definitely saw her race out last time and she has the addition of a tongue tie now. 2 miles round here should be perfect for her and she has loads of room to improve. At the prices, I think Rula Bula is worth an each-way punt for the Jonjo O'Neil team. She ran a cracker to finish 2nd in the Listed Mares' bumper at Sandown last season and that form ties her in closely with several of today's opponents. She couldn't have won any easier on hurdles debut over 4 furlongs further last time and looks a fair bit of value here.
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12:40, Coral Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase
Highstakesplayer 6/1 (each-way, 3 places)
A typically competitive affair for this handicap chase. Genois must be respected given connections and the colours he will be running in here but he was put up 7 pounds for winning a 4 runner race last time out and the suspicion is that he was the only one ready that day. This is tougher and he's been well found in the market. Demnat is another who has been supported. He bolted up on debut last season after a ling break before losing his way. We expect, given the stable form, that he will be geared up for his return today but you'll have to take 4/1 about a horse who is coming into this race off the back of 3 poor runs on the bounce. Twinjets was given a real form boost when Masaccio ran so well at this course yesterday and is respected most of those fighting it out for favouritism. He's 10 pounds above his highest winning mark now after being put up another 2 for that run and will need a big career best to come out on top here. I've come down on the side of the Tom Lacey trained Highstakesplayer. He is 6 pounds above his highest winning mark but finished 2nd to Chianti Classico in the Sodexo Gold Cup last time off a pound lower mark to show he is more than capable still. This will be much easier than the task he faced at Ascot and bar pulling up at this course last season heavy ground he hasn't put a hoof wrong in a very long time with 4 wins from his last 6 races. He looks to be improving all the time and is the choice in a very open race.
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13:15, Coral 'We're Here For It' Novices' Hurdle
The New Lion 8/13
I won't spend much time on this race as I am a big fan of The New Lion for the Skelton team. I thought he looked line one right out of the top drawer at Chepstow and if he improves again he could go right to the top. Califet En Vol and Frensh Navy must both be respected as they have started their hurdling career in good nick but I'm hoping The New Lion is as good as I think.
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13:54, Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Handicap Hurdle
Issam 6/1 (each-way 4 places)
Lac De Constance 11/1
This is very open. Nicky Henderson is well represented and fields the likely favourite in the shape of Impose Toi. His handicap form last year is the best in this field but this is his first run in 322 days and he was held in 3rd off this mark on his last run so perhaps we can look elsewhere for value. Inthewaterside is a lovely individual but every inch a chaser and will be embarking on that career after this race so may not be fully tuned up, the other Nicholls runner Ivaldi has a similar profiles. Anyharminasking is in good form and should run another good race after finishing 2nd in this race last year off a pound higher mark but he hasn't won since 2022 and is looks in the grip of the handicapper. Spring Note could go well having defeated Brentford Hope at this course last year and Guard The Moon arrives in cracking form too. But I really liked the way Issam shaped in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month over an inadequate 2 miles. He needed that run and was ridden accordingly. He's back up to his ideal trip now and soft ground is what he wants. He's only 4 pounds higher than when defeating Resplendent Grey over this trip last season. He also came on for last year's debut to win second time up. He's the main play here for a stable going better now. I'll also be having a little bet on Lac De Constance. He looked a world beater 2 years ago before losing his way over fences. He's been lightly raced over the past year but ran well to be 3rd in a big field at Haydock last year over this sort of trip. He's 3 pounds lower now and fell on his seasonal debut last month when holding every chance at the last hurdle. He could be primed now for a big run.
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14:25, Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle
Queen's Gamble 9/2
Jeriko Du Reponet 5/1 (saver)
Of course Jeriko Du Reponet is well handicapped. That's not in doubt. He has bundles of class but after a no show in the Supreme and a horrible display on chasing debut at Sandown, he's not really one to be trusted and the prices show that. Aston Martini, Ooh Betty and Najavo Indy both have good chances lower down the handicap but are stepping into fiercer waters now and may find this too competitive. Salver is a very likeable horse and will surely be stepping back into graded waters at some point this season but it will take a mighty performance for a 4 year old to defy 12 stone and so I'm ruling in favour of Queen's Gamble. I'm sure Harry Derham will have his star mare ready for this and after being unable to compete in any of the spring festivals she arrives here off a mark of 130. That looks readily exploitable for a mare who has shown so much promise but for one reason or another hasn't been able to really show it. I expect her to win off higher marks than this down the line. I may well have a saver on Jeriko just in case.
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15:00, Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase
Kandoo Kid 16/1 (each-way 4 places) - Ante post
Henry's Friend 16/1 (each-way 4 places) - Ante post
Remastered 33/1 (each-way 4 places)
I won't spend too much time on this as most of it can be found in the piece I wrote last week. I still stick to my guns here with Kandoo Kid and Henry's Friend and hopefully they can both run well. But I'm going to add in a little bet on old friend Remastered who has returned to form this season and is still well handicapped on his best form. This is the weakest renewal he has run in.
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