We have day 1 under our belts already and what a day it was with a golden last 40 minutes. It's Champion Chase day now but there's some fiendish handicaps to try and sort out too.
13:20, Turners Novices' Hurdle
The New Lion 15/8, 2.4pts win
What a fantastic start to the day we have in store. The best novice hurdler in Britain, The New Lion, takes on the Irish juggernaut that is Final Demand. And there's a host of impressive pretenders up against them too. Sixmilebridge looked very good indeed when scooting up over this track on Trial's day from re-opposing Potters Charm but the suspicion is that he's better on a softer surface and I that race turned into a proper war from the home bend. He may not uphold form with the runner-up. The Yellow Clay is unbeaten in his last 4 starts and is battle hardened but I just don't think he has the class of the front two in the market. That market is headed by Final Demand who put in a monster performance at the Dublin Racing Festival to hammer his opponents by 12 lengths. He looked relentless that day and I'm sure this drop in trip will be fine for him but one does have to think that he may have been better suited by going up in trip for the Albert Bartlett on Friday. This is as strong a renewal as you like and he may just struggle to power away from this field on better ground on a more speed favouring track. To that end I fancy Dan Skelton's big talking horse The New Lion to come out on top. I was at Newbury to witness both of his wins and although he looked good in November it was the speed he showed in the Challow Hurdle to dismiss his rivals with consummate ease up the run in that really impressed. He is such a good looking horse who has plenty of boot about him and I just think that he will be better suited by the test that this race will pose than the Irish horse. I think The New Lion is a future star and hope he get's Dan Skelton's week started.
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14:00, Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
Ballyburn 4/6, 3pts win
A bit like the Arkle, it must be said that this is a pretty poor renewal and made worse by the fact that there will be no representatives from Britain now that leading fancy The Jukebox Man is on the injury list. The ground looks set to have a big part to play as Dancing City will probably find this lively enough and this race may not favour such a dour stayer. Ballyburn however, looked like a star when hacking up on this day last year and, bar finding Sir Gino too hot to handle over the minimum trip at Kempton in December, he has shaped like a top class chaser this season. His jumping style can be crabbed, as can the bare level of his form but he's the class act in this race and I don't see him fluffing his lines. I'd rather be with him than against.
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14:40, Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Impose Toi 17/2, 1.5pts each-way (6 places)
Be Aware 5/1, 1pt win
The Coral Cup is always one of the hottest handicaps of the week and this looks no different. I quite fancied Jipcot given his running style and that I don't think he's been shown to best effect on his last 2 runs. He will have to come from a mile back however, which will be harder on this ground and his price has collapsed and is now shorter than I am willing to take. Beat The Bat is another who must be on the short list but has also seen his price contract in the past 24 hours and he is a difficult horse to win with. Comfort Zone and Bunting will have their fair share of supporters to fire in another one for the Irish but I fancy Impose Toi for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. This 7 year old has only had 8 runs under rules and looks to be improving with every run. He was sent off a short priced favourite for last year's Lanzarote Hurdle over about this trip. He finished third that day but I wonder if he was feeling the affects of a huge run at Ascot in December when he finished 2nd to Luccia who went on to place in last year's Champion Hurdle. That was outstanding form and after a break he returned to win a decent race at Newbury with relative ease. He's been put up 7 pounds for that, but it was warranted and I marked up that run as he didn't look 100% fit despite being an impressive figure in the parade ring. He looks like a nice horse this lad and I think there's plenty more improvement to come. I love that he's coming here fresh as that seems to be when to catch him and I think he can go close for connections who have a fair record in this race. I will also have to recommend a wager on Dan Skelton's Bew Aware who has been completely laid out for this race having won it for the past 2 years with Langer Dan. He looked like this sort of trip would suit when he finished second in a big field at Sandown this time last year and returned from a break to finish a mighty second to Burdett Road in the Greatwood Hurdle in November. He disappointed at Ascot in December but had excuses that day and like Impose Toi, he comes here fresh. He should go close.
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15:20, Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Stumptown 5/2, 2pts win
I think it was a good idea to turn this race into a handicap as it wasn't really drawing in the punters for the past few years. It's more open this time around but I do think the favourite has an outstanding chance. He is top weight but they are all pretty exposed beneath him and Gavin Cromwell knows the time of day with these sorts of horses. His improving 8 year old could not have won any easier in his trial over this course in December and although he has been slapped with an 8 pound rise, it's fair to say that it could still underestimate him.
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16:00, BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
Jonbon 5/6, 3pts win
This year's Champion Chase is perhaps not as strong as previous renewals but in the shape of Jonbon we have a worthy favourite. He may not be Sprinter Sacre or Altior but he has won 17 of his 20 races and put in an amazing performance to bolt up in last season's Celebration Chase at Sandown in April after being forced to miss this race. 12 months is a long time in racing however and since then Nicky Henderson's star chaser hasn't put a foot wrong in winning all 3 of his starts this year with increasing ease. He gets better as the season goes on and his jumping has never been so astute. He should have far too much class and speed for his inferior rivals here and I fully expect him to have his crowning glory on Wednesday.
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16:40, Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Unexpected Party 6/1, 2pts win
JPR One 10/1, 1pt win
Unexpected Party is another one who could make it a good day for trainer Dan Skelton. He arrives here 6 pound higher than when successful last year but that may not be enough to anchor this likeable grey who is very likely to appreciate this decent ground. He has undoubtably been aimed at this race all season long and it looks as though this is a slightly easier race than 12 months ago. He must be backed. There's a lot of Irish up against him at the front of the market but I wonder if the biggest danger could come from Joe Tizzard's top weight JPR One. He has had just 3 runs since finishing seventh in last year's Arkle but he won a strong renewal of the Haldon Gold Cup on the first of those back in November. That was on good ground, which he seemed to enjoy and since then he has been butting heads with proper graded horses on soft winter ground. I fancy that on this ground, in a big field, he will show his better side again and he is by no means handicapped out of this.
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17:20, Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Kalypso'chance 9/2, 2pts win
I must admit that this race has really stumped me this year. I just think that the Willie Mullins horses aren't as good as they have been in previous years and there's not a lot between them. The form of the Copacabana and Gameofinches runs can be drawn into question and they were only a few weeks ago. I think the British have a fair hand with No Drama This End and El Cairos respected but the one I have come down on in the end is Gordon Elliott's Kalypso'chance. He looked imperious on his two runs at the back end of 2024 and looks to have been kept fresh for his assignment since. The stable knows a good bumper horse when they see it and by all accounts he has been showing the right signs at home. He has really hit the line well in his races and the form is as good as anything in the race. He's a lovely mover who should be fine on this ground and I fancy he should run well.
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