Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s international racing coming your way from Cheltenham, Doncaster, Doncaster, Bangor-On-Dee, and Dundalk.
CHELTENHAM
Race 2 No5 HOLD THE NOTE (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
While readily put in his place in novice chases at Wetherby and Newbury, HOLD THE NOTE can step up to the plate to show his liking for this course. His run to place behind Imperial Aura at the Festival in March reads particularly well, and if repeated would probably be sufficient to see him back in the winner’s circle. His cause should also be greatly assisted by the application of a first-time visor as he’s a lazy individual and needs waking up.
Race 3 No9 ROWLAND WARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
Since his creditable comeback run at Huntingdon, ROWLAND WARD has been forced to miss a good opportunity, and now finds himself in a fiercely competitive contest. However, he’s the least exposed runner with scope for bundles of improvement, and rates a value play to get into the money.
Race 4 No11 AGENT VALDEZ (Each Way)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
Although it wasn’t the strongest of races in which AGENT VALDEZ opened her account over fences at Leicester, the mare’s dominance shone through to the extent of a 28 lengths margin of victory, demonstrating how much she had come on from her debut over the larger obstacles. She looks to have been let in lightly at the base of the handicap in an admittedly better race, but can get into the money.
Race 5 Fitzdares Club Loves The Peterborough Chase (Grade 2)
No2 TOP NOTCH
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
The field assembled for the re-scheduled version of a race normally run at Huntingdon is a tad different than that for last Sunday’s abandonment. And with Al Dancer out of the picture, the one to cash in could be TOP NOTCH. The nine-year-old has proved a stalwart for Seven Barrows and although his campaign was restricted to just three outings last season he’s thought to have greatly benefitted from a subsequent wind operation. Stablemate MISTER FISHER flopped in the PaddyPower Gold Cup here last month and needs to raise his game, while FANION D’ESTRUVAL is the joker in the pack following his smart effort in defeat behind Magic Saint at the same fixture. The talented KALASHNIKOV should be straight following a readying run over hurdles, while CLONDAW CASTLE is an improving type that can earn. However, DOLOS doesn’t always find as much as expected at the business end of his races, and GLEN FORSA failed to menace in the Haldon Gold Cup. Along with BUN DORAN he appears to have plenty on his plate.
Prediction: 1st TOP NOTCH, 2nd Clondaw Castle, 3rd Mister Fisher, 4th Fanion D’Estruval, 5th Kalashnikov, 6th Dolos
DONCASTER
Race 4 No2 CAPTAIN BLACKBEARD (Nap)
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
This stable is just getting into the swing of things and CAPTAIN BLACKBEARD looks set to endorse that point by following-up his decisive chase debut win at Kempton. He took out that novices’ handicap by a wide margin from Champagne Noir to show how much he’d benefited from a wind operation in the close season.
Race 7 No11 HYDROPLANE
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: C Todd
HYDROPLANE reached a new cruising altitude under this conditional rider at Market Rasen to step up on previous efforts this season. There seemed no fluke about the way he put that contest to bed, and is going to be dangerous to all from his mark today.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 1 No5 EURKASH
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
EURKASH gets an eye taking jockey booking for this handicap chase which increases my resolve that he can gain an overdue first success under Rules in this handicap chase. The hooded selection put in a solid earning run in similar company at Hereford last time, and is primed to open his account.
Race 6 No1 MINELLA DRAMA (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain – Jockey: Brian Hughes
The McCain stable has received a new injection of strength this season, with horses like MINELLA DRAMA giving it a deserved boost. Second in both his Irish points, he filled the same position behind Llandinabo Lad on his debut under Rules here before smoothly going one better at Sedgefield. He landed some good bets that day, and looks the type to go onto better things.
DUNDALK
Race 1 No1 IRISH POSEIDONTrainer: Matthew Smith – Jockey: Sam Ewing
With a welter burden to carry, IRISH POSEIDON needs all the help he can find in order to make this a fourth win in his last six outings. But having demonstrated admirable resolve to score over the course and distance last time, and from a good draw that should help him get to the front and with first time cheek pieces, he has a good chance of following-up.
Race 3 No6 OH SAY (Nap)
Trainer: Jessica Harrington – Jockey: Tom Madden
OH SAY put in a career best when troubling the judge here last time, going down by a length and threequarters to Ratib. The Starspangledbanner colt now gets a third taste of the Polytrack surface, and from a suitable midfield position in the gate has a good chance to open his account, with Captain Middleton a likely danger if overcoming his wide draw.
Race 4 No2 SILK CRAVAT (Each Way)
Trainer: J Geoghegan – Jockey: Paddy Harnett
SILK CRAVAT kept on gamely to be beaten just a length into third behind Foreign Legion over course and distance last time, signalling that he’s getting closer to ending a protracted wait for another success on Poly. The Kyllachy gelding has a good draw and his capable conditional rider provides relief with his 7lb claim.
Race 6 No7 FEMINISM (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Halford – Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Shamardal filly FEMINISM has attracted market support a few times and proved costly when turned over at 8-15 here on latest start. Taking the view that she might have had an off day, she would be of serious interest if running up to her previous level of form, when second to Fastnet Crown. Furthermore she will be priced up on the basis of the most recent evidence, making her an alluring value play.
