Newbury, Kelso & Doncaster selections Saturday 28th February
The jumping action is quality across the board this weekend, despite the proximity to Cheltenham. Kelso stages its most valuable race, the Morebattle Hurdle, now establishing itself as one of the foremost 2m handicap hurdles in the calendar. There is the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, often used as a final stepping stone to the spring Nationals, and at Newbury the Greatwood Chase offers the middle distance chasers who perhaps don’t operate around Cheltenham a big prize alternative. However perhaps the best bet today comes in the veterans chase at the same venue. We had a couple of winners last weekend via Hold the Serve (advised 2/1) and Califet En Vol (9/4).
Doncaster 2.30: Dartmoor Pirate
Unfortunately the field for the Grimthorpe has been somewhat decimated by heavy overnight rain, necessitating in a change of selection. However conditions should not be an issue for DARTMOOR PIRATE, a progressive and unexposed chaser who bids to follow up a win here in the Great Yorkshire last month.
The fitting of a tongue-strap, allied to a switch to the bigger obstacles, has brought about significant improvement in this gelding this winter, and conditions were just as testing when he ground down a competitive field to win here last month. A 5lb rise is not excessive and the extra 2f should not pose an issue either.
He has always done well in competitive fields, beating 17 opponents to win on hurdling debut at Wincanton. He was a fine fourth later that season in the EBF Final at Sandown and was second last season in a Pertemps qualifier back at Wincanton. However he has enjoyed the switch to chasing having won at Lingfield just before Christmas. The Great Yorkshire win though was a big step up in grade that he took in his stride and with all the withdrawals, this race looks no harder now.
Kelso 2.55: Serious Challenge & Spectacularsunrise
This is now one of the most competitive races in Scotland and looks worth two attempts today.
SERIOUS CHALLENGE looks overpriced having bounced back to form at Haydock over the Christmas period. He seemed to enjoy being waited with that day, having often raced freely and from the front in the past. Those tactics are likely to be of good use today in such a competitive race and now that Jonny Burke can take his time, this horse can be smuggled into the contest.
He was well fancied for the Greatwood at Cheltenham in November, but was pulled up having lost his action coming down the hill, and perhaps he is better suited to flatter tracks. He failed to stay 2m4f at Aintree on his seasonal return, but a strongly run 2m looks his thing and he looks good each-way value.
SPECTACULARSUNRISE has been well found in the market and already boasts a comfortable win to his name over this course and distance back in December. Since then he has chased home the high class Cheltenham hopeful Mossy Fen Road at Chepstow, and made a satisfactory switch to handicapping at Windsor last month.
Although beaten 8l by Hot Fuss that day, he can easily turn the tables on 11lbs better terms, taking into account the promising conditional Toby McCain-Mitchell’s claim and this stiffer finish should suit my selection far more.
Newbury 3.15: Brave Kingdom & Gabbys Cross
Two horses relatively new to the Veterans class are fancied here.
Preference is for BRAVE KINGDOM, a horse who has promised much but delivered relatively little over the years. However he has had little racing for a 10yo, having raced only 11 times under rules and having needed the run on his return to the track on Coral Gold Cup day here in November, he ran a much better race when just touched off by Royal Jewel at Taunton last time.
He is already a winner around this track over fences, going from the front on that occasion, and it would be no surprise to see Harry Cobden attempt to adopt similar tactics today. This horse had won five of his first six starts under rules, and has been campaigned at a high level since. He has come down to a very competitive mark of 128 now and it would be disappointing if he could not make use of that rating against such exposed rivals.
GABBYS CROSS has to be considered as a big rival however. Representing the red-hot team of rookie trainer Nick Scholfield, he finished a fast finishing third in the final of the previous Veterans series at Sandown last month. He seemed to be ridden overly cautiously that day, perhaps to ensure he stayed the trip, but in the event was finishing best of all.
I would ignore his last run in a Grade 3 hurdle at Sandown, as he would not have the pace at that level over the smaller obstacles nowadays. However he has plenty of good back form, notably when winning the Galway Blazers a few years ago when with Henry de Bromhead. With young claimer Freddie Keighley on board Gabbys Cross has no weight to carry and if taking to the first time cheekpieces, could be tricky to stop.
Newbury 3.45: Vincenzo
Yet to finish out the first two in seven runs over fences, I can see VINCENZO following up a deserved first big win over fences at Ascot last time from just a 2lbs higher mark.
Having got off the mark over fences at Sandown last January, this gelding turned up for this race and almost took the race, only to be mugged late on by the fast finishing Booster Bob. That showed what a useful and well handicapped horse Vincenzo was though and he was then laid out for the Paddy Power at Cheltenham.
Only Panic Attack proved too good that day and he was narrowly defeated again at the same track by Glengouly last month. However he made no mistake at Ascot despite jumping out to his left on occasions. I am sure he will be better suited going this way around and the generosity of the handicapper only putting him up so little can be repaid here.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Dartmoor Pirate – 2.30 Doncaster – 7/2 general
1pt each-way – Serious Challenge – 2.55 Kelso – 14/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt win – Spectacularsunrise – 2.55 Kelso – 9/2 general
1pt win – Brave Kingdom – 3.15 Newbury – 11/4 William Hill
1pt win – Gabbys Cross – 3.15 Newbury – 7/2 general
1pt win – Vincenzo – 3.45 Newbury – 3/1 general
