I have a selection for each and every race on the big day.
11:55, Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' Mares' Novices' Hurdle
La Conquiere 15/8, 2pts win
Kingston Queen coming out has robbed the race of a significant amount of quality and it could be that it is now ripe for the taking for Jamie Snowden's mare La Conquiere. The soft ground is a bit of an unknown for the 6 year old but she brings in decent bumper form when second at Aintree in April and produced a power packed finish to win on hurdling debut 29 days ago from a subsequent winner. She'll come on for that run I'm sure and this looks a good opportunity.
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12:30, Coral Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase
Hunter Legend 9/2, 2pts win
Leader In The Park looked like a horse to follow last season when winning at Kempton on Boxing Day but rather lost his form in the Spring and may well need this run on seasonal debut. Scarface on the other hand should be fit after his run at Wincanton last time out and now returns to a more favourable trip. The suspicion is he's in the grip of the handicapper however. Booster Bob pulled off a remarkable win in the Greatwood Gold Cup on this track in March and should continue to progress over this longer trip. He's a threat but Venetia Williams' Hunter Legend was a real eye catcher last time out in the Paddy Power and looks set to come on appreciably for that effort. Proven on soft ground and at around this trip, the stable often comes into form around this time of year and now looks the time to strike.
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13:05, Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Novices' Hurdle
Kocktail Bleu 11/2, 2pts win
Kalkbrenner looks set to go off favourite but he was rather workmanlike when winning at Ffos Las and the form of that race has yet to be tested. Buddy Holly is interesting now in training with Nicky Henderson but preference is for recent Fontwell winner Kocktail Bleu. A runner up to Idaho Sun at Windsor in January, the 5 year old put in a decent effort when winning on hurdling debut from the front. He's proven on soft ground and goes for a stable that couldn't be in much better nick.
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13:40, 'Join Coral Bet 10 Get 50' Handicap Hurdle
French Ship 10/3, 3pts win
A real open affair for the 2 1/2 mile handicap hurdle on the card. Royal Rambler should improve for his seasonal debut at Cheltenham last time out and will enjoy this test more whilst stablemate Guard Duty would be of interest if bouncing back to form. The Emma Lavelle stable isn't in terribly good form at the moment however. Personal Ambition could still progress now back over hurdles and is respected as much as he will find this harder to dominate with plenty of forward running types in the line up. One of those is Lud'or who bolted up by half a furlong at Bangor last time out. He's proven on soft ground but was hammered by the handicapper and now runs in a much deeper race. It could be that recent Cheltenham winner French Ship could follow up in a race that could be run to suit. Conditions hold no fear for a horse from an in-form stable and he's still mightily unexposed.
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14:15, Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle
Indeevar Bleu 4/1, 3pts win
A fair renewal of the Gerry Fielden sees a couple of 4 year olds top the weights on 12 stone. Both bring in the best form but that welter weight could be a bit of an anchor and they are up against other unexposed types. Indemnity is respected after finishing 2nd to Greatwood Hurdler winner Alexei at Ascot last time out but preference is for Olly Murphy's Indeevar Bleu. Very lightly raced for a 7 year old the son of Blue Bressil cantered home to win over hurdles for the first time at Lingfield this time last year on very bad ground. He bounced back from defeat at Haydock (albeit under a penalty) to run out a ready winner at Ffos Las in the Spring. Clearly fragile, but he has a great record when fresh and scampered clear like a well handicapped horse the last day.
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14:55, Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase
Resplendent Grey 13/2, 2pts win
Lowry's Bar 28/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
What a winter cracker! Myretown heads the market and for good reason. He was mightily impressive when tearing apart the field at the Cheltenham Festival and has been kept back for this ever since. He's been kicked up 15 pounds for that win but few would argue with that. He could still be ahead of the handicapper but he may find this harder to dominate. The Changing Man is an admirable performer and should run well again but is starting to look vulnerable for win purposes whilst the ground may have gone against Hyland. Panic Attack goes in search of a big double after taking the Paddy Power 2 weeks ago but she's never convinced over this far. Katate Dori will go on the ground and was progressive last year but needs to bounce back to form now and this is just about as hard a race to do it in as you will find. With so much pace on up front and on a galloping track it could be that everything is set up for Resplendent Grey to run a big race. The Bet365 Gold Cup winner finds himself much higher up the weights than when winning at Sandown but the suspicion is that he's an improving horse at the age of 7. He likes to come home with a late rattle and that could be telling here. At bigger odds Lowry's Bar goes for an in form stable and has been targeted at this race all summer. He finished 2nd to Jagwar this time last year (giving 7 pounds away) and duly built on that to win back to back races in the winter before slightly going off the boil in the end. He's been freshened up for this since and will enjoy this test.
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15:35, Coral 'Pipped-At-The-Post' Payouts Handicap Chase
Etalon 8/1, 1.5pts win
A race with loads who will want to get on with it could play into the hands of Etalon who finished 2nd to Twinjets (winner here on Friday) at Fontwell on seasonal debut 34 days ago. Has won at Newbury before.
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