Hennessy Weekend

There is an almighty jumps meeting at Newbury tomorrow with the feature Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. There are loads of good horses in the race and it has it's usual competitive feel about it. I have narrowed it down to 3 horses; Dear Villez, Albertas Run and Slim Pickings. Dear Villez put up a very good display in the Munster National beating the useful Mister Top Notch by 3 lengths. His stamina is proven and he goes on the ground, also he is relatively inexperienced so he could turn out to be well handicapped. A step back up to 3m 2f should suit Albertas Run after finishing last of 4 over 2m 5f. He won the RSA at the festival and has bags of class, the only negative is that he is quite badly treated by the handicapper. Slim Pickings came 4th in the Grand National last year, and put up a good reappearance run at Navan. He likes big fields and could go well again at decent odds. 

Beside the Gold Cup there is a very good supporting card, in the first, if Peppertree Lane can transfer his good flat form to jumps he has got a great chance of winning. His trainer Peter Bowen is in cracking form and this horse can run well here on his debut. In the long distance hurdle at 2-05, there is the return of the masterful Inglis Drever. He has won this race for the last 2 years and can complete the hat trick here, with main dangers being the in form Blazing Bailey and Duc De Regenerie. Randwick Roar can win the 3-15 for my local trainer Gary Moore, he put up a good performance to win a chase at Doncaster last season and if fit could improve greatly on that form to score here. Squadron can win the finale, his fourth in the race at Cheltenham won by Numide shows stunning form and his class should shine through here. Light Yield could run well at bigger odds after coming second ahead of Kings Revenge at Cheltenham, that horse beat Squadron home last time out so LY could run well. 

The wbx.com Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle looks very competitive, but I fancy the Irish raider Fingeronthepulse to score here. The selection finished 2nd to Noland last time in a Grade 3 handicap and this slight drop in class should allow him to get back on the winning trail. The Fighting Fifth looks like a battle between Punjabi and Sublimity, Harchibald doesn't look anything like the horse he used to be so can be passed over here. If Sublimity is fully wound up he looks a good price at 9/2 , the former champion hurdler goes well fresh and on softer ground and can score here. He can turn the tables with Punjabi on this softer ground. 

Dee Ee Williams and Saturdays Action

Dee Ee Williams won in very good fashion at Ascot yesterday and boosted his supreme novice credentials. What seemed even more impressive was that trainer N Gifford said he is still running green and experienced. Given that he has already won at Cheltenham, i would be backing him at the 25/1 on offer.

There is very good jumps action from Ascot and Haydock tomorrow, with a decent Huntingdon card as well. In the 2-05 at Haydock i fancy Alfie Fits, who finished 4th behind Dee Ee Williams in that extremely hot maiden and that form has been franked. Ungaro can run well in the next on his return to hurdles, he won a grade 3 hurdle and can score here off a fair weight. Binocular looks a dead cert for the Betfair hurdle. As does Kauto Star in the chase but Exotic Dancer and Cloudy Lane could be ready to strike if he fails to deliver. I Hear Thunder can win the big handicap chase off bottom weight after two consistent second places. 

Down at Ascot, in the first I fancy Free World, who showed markable improvement to finish second last time out and he can build on that with a good run here. The consistent Lord Henry can run into a place at least after his second to Andreas off level weights but now gets 9lb and that should be enough to score here. Chomba Womba and Franchoek can put in a good showing in the Coral Hurdle and both should make the frame. Possol can win the Intermediate handicap chase after his narrow victory over Oslot and now gets weight from him. 

KICKING KING IS RETIRED

Today came the sad news that Kicking King has been retired because of his recent poor performances, there is no doubt that he wasn't up to his Gold Cup winning best. So KK have a happy retirement!!!

There is a good days racing at Exeter and Ascot tomorrow. Mad Max must win the Ascot opener for the in-form Nicky Henderson. The selection won a grade 2 bumper at Newbury and if fit enough should breeze home. The main danger will be Karabak, who showed good form in bumpers and stable does well with novice hurdlers.

Massinis Maguire can win the 1-30, he was 4th last time out, just 9l behind PP Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. He has very good form to his name and the main danger will be Slash and Burn. The 2-05 looks like a battle between Dee Ee Williams and Shoreacres, i fancy Dee Ee Williams to come out on top after winning possibly the hottest novice hurdle event of the year at Cheltenham last time out. He can score again for my local trainer, Nick Gifford.

Soulard can win the next after having a couple of warm up runs over hurdles and should be fully wound up for his return to fences. Soleil Fix could be better on this slightly firmer ground and could reward e/w support. Dishdasha can run well in the last, now back at a more modest level after coming 4th of 5th behind Chomba Womba. He came second in a similar event at Aintree and can be in the frame at the end of this race.

The only horse I would back at Exeter is Passato, he showed markable improvement on his handicap debut and he is related to a group 1 winner so should make his present felt. 

Sundays Racing

Imperial Commander put up a very good performance yesterday to win the PP Gold Cup.

Don't have much time so my tips for Sunday are-

• Pascha Bere e/w at Fontwell, he put up a good performance on his comeback run and is likely to have come on alot for it.
• Straw Bear can build on his chasing debut to take the Novices Chase at Cheltenham, AP has chosen to ride him rather than go to Ireland to ride the well fancied Jered, so he is expecting a big perfomance.
• Mamlook can win the Greatwood Hurdle after a good display in the Cesarewitch
• Diamond Harry can win the novies hurdle after a superb win last time out at Uttoxeter
• Lindeman can win the listed bumper with McCoy aboard. He won last time over this C&D, and can follow up here

Controversy at Cheltenham

There was a an unusual incident in the first race at Cheltenham, when J P Mckeown was riding the winner of the first, Hoopy. He appeared to take the riders whip in the finish but after the stewards enquiry it was determined it didn't affect the outcome of the race.

In the second Golan Way upset the favourite by winning gamely from Over Sixty, with American Trilogy back in third. As I tipped yesterday, Ornais won the Graduation Chase and Pass Me By came third at 50/1.

On to tomorrow, in the opening Grade 2 novices hurdle I fancy Tuanku to run a big race, he ran well on his debut and was only just beaten in his last two races. Although he is the stables second string he can run a big race.

In the novices chase it looks like a straightforward win for Big Fella Thanks. The third race sees the return of grand national hero, Comply Or Die. Halcon Generaldais looks to face too tough a task at the weights and on this ground. So it could come down to a fight between Comply or Die and Beat the Boys. However, Comply or Die can come out on top, he looks to be well weighted considering his national triumph. He has won on the ground and stamina will certainly not be an issue. 

The Paddy Power looks a tricky puzzle to solve. I have shortlisted three contenders:Ashley Brook, Il Duce and Barbers Shop. The fore mentioned ran an absolute blinder on his reappearance and looks to have regained his confidence, so a big run can be expected. Il Duce finished runner up last year and can repeat that hear. Barbers Shop was a very progressive novice last term and the trip looks ideal for him. 

Fair Along can win in the next for Philip Hobbs. He finished runner-up in the Arkle over this course and can strike reverting back to hurdles. The finale is just as hard a puzzle, I have whittled it down to 2, Qanta De Thaix and Keki Bleu. The first mentioned is making his handicap debut off a lowly mark and looks AP's pick of the McManus horses. This is significant considering Sunhillyboy looks well fancied. Keki Bleu loves soft ground and won well last time out. He looks a tempting price at 8/1. 

Open Season

Tomorrow sees the first of the three day Open meeting at Cheltenham. It is to be televised on channel 4. King Harald can win the first race under top weight, he has won over the course, the distance and on the ground so can defy an absence to win again. In the grade 2 novices hurdle Over Sixty can win to deny Nicholls and Walsh another win. He receives 10 lbs from American Trilogy, he showed some good bumper form before scoring well on his hurdling debut. Ornais can win the PP Graduation Chase for NIcholls, he finished a very creditable 5th in the P O'Sulivan at the festival. And has won on softish ground before and is a decent price at 13/8. 

A very good turnout for the cross country chase, with lots of good horses entered. I have managed to wittle it down to 2 horses, last years runner up Puntal and Garde Champetre. The latter mentioned has won over this C&D at the festival and should be a leading player today. Puntal finsihed a staying on 3rd in his last start in this race last year. If he is fit enough he could make the frame. One interesting horse in Pass Me By, back at Suzy Smiths and not running under top weight in handicaps, he could warrant e/w support. 

The 3-35 handicap is just as difficult a puzzle to solve. Again I have it down to two horses, Templer and Lordsbridge. The fore mentioned goes well on softened ground and is likely to have come on alot for his latest run, he looks a good price at 20/1. Lordsbridge finished 4th of 16 in a similar contest here back in October and again goes well on softened ground. A leading contender. 

Herecomesthetruth can win the last for Nicholls who's chasers are always respected. He won well last time at Chepstow after a break and can build on that performance with a win here.  

Nicholls The Master Trainer

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is in scintillating form of late with 16 winners from his last 42 runners, a strike rate of 38%. However he could not find a winner today at Kempton with 3 of his 4 horses finishing second. Nakai was well beaten by Duc Du Regniere and more notably the Arkle hope Imsingingtheblues getting beaten odds on by a horse who had been off the track for nearly two years. He looked as though he had nothing extra to give and was beaten by a better horse on the day, can he bounce back? I'm not so sure. 

In the 1-05 novices hurdle at Kempton today the front two Shalone and Tataniano pulled a mile clear ahead of the rest of the field. Shalone battled on gamely to win for Alan King, the front two could well be worth following in similar events and handicaps considering how far ahead of the rest of the field they were. 

Ashwell absolutely demolished the field in the 3 mile chase finishing 29 lengths clear of Urban Tiger and could be one to defy a rise in the weights to score again. Or Bleu scored in the Beginners Chase at Bangor, and gives a boost to Straw Bears form, who is meant to run on Sunday at Fontwell or Cheltenham. He looks a likely winner. Nenuphar Collonges scored again on his reappearance and won well under Choc Thornton. 

Cheltenham's Open Meeting soon and some stars should come out for that, should be very exciting and we could even see some festival contenders!

Saturdays Action

Just watched the bumper at Fontwell, and although Karada won easily, the horse to watch out for next time is Gentle Caribou. Trained by Nick Gifford, he ran greenly last for 3/4 of the race, but on the run the penny dropped and grabbed third from about 20 lengths back. 

In the 1-10 at Wincanton, Kilcrea Asla should run well and defy the Nicholls team. He has won with ease in the ground and has been running well of late. In the handicap hurdle Mossville can place again after finishing second in this race last year and is also a C&D winner. Sir Harry Ormesher can win the Grade 2 Novices chase after his defeat of the useful Straw Bear last time at Exeter. King's horses are in cracking form of late and he can gain another winner here. We see the return of Katchit in the 2-50, I feel he is too high in the weights giving a stone away to his nearest rivals. So I am going to put up Chomba Womba for the in form Henderson yard, he has won a Grade 2 over this distance and can win again. Trigger The Light can win the listed chase, he goes well fresh and is a consistent sort. 

Nelsons Spice can win the class 3 chase at Sandown for AP Mccoy. In the next Pascha Bere can build on a very promising comeback run and score at decent odds, for a stable who are in cracking form. The Sawyer can win the next handicap chase, he runs very consistently and well in good races so should get a place at least. 

Tidal Bay to wash in

Tomorrow sees the return of the promising Tidal Bay, and he can score in the intermediate chase at Carlisle, but faces a real danger from Albertas Run, who is ultra consistent. Wilkinson can put in a big run in the Novices hurdle under Dom Elsworth. He was an average bumper horse but will be more suited by hurdling, and can come in at a big price. Strong Coffee can complete the hat-trick by winning the novices chase under a penalty. And in the last Mix N Match can sneak a place at a decent price under Jamie Moore. 

Kruising Kauto

Sorry about the lack of posts in the past week, I was on holiday in Cornwall without access to a PC.

Anyway, Kauto Star recorded a facile victory over in Ireland against average opposition and The Listener was highly disappointing finishing a very distant fourth. However, Noland was more impressive beating Fingeronthepulse by 7 lengths, at a canter. 

There was a good days racing at Ascot and the old boy Bleu Superbe scored in good fashion in the listed chase, coming in at a big price 20/1. Sentry Duty was an impressive 6 length winner for the mighty Henderson yard and could be one to follow in handicap hurdles. Gungadu ran a gallant race under top weight for AP and Nicholls, and will be much better in graded races. But the first and second pulled away well and Air Force One could be worth keeping on the right side of. 

In the Novice Hurdle, Nick Gifford's Wizard of Odds put up a very impressive perfomance to finish third after an almost 700 day absence and will come on for the run alot. Could turn out to be very good hurdler considering his position 4 out. 

Up at Wetherby My Petra put up a good perfomance for Johnson to win by 4 lengths and could be worth noting as could Theatre Belle who took a big step up in class but ran creditably. I thought Lough Derg was very disappointing finishing a mile back, but he may have needed the run.