There were plenty of clues for the spring festivals over the weekend, with Team Ditcheat enjoying an excellent treble at Ascot on Friday and both Capitaine and Politologue cut for the Cheltenham Festival after landing both Grade 2 contests. Capitaine made all to land the Kennel Gate Novices Hurdle but it was the striking grey Politologue that really wowed the Berkshire crowd, putting on a tremendous display of jumping to win the G2 Novices’ Chase and cut to 8/1 from 16s with BetVictor for the JLT Novices’ Chase.
That novice chase performance was bettered on Saturday at Haydock with Nicky Henderson’s Buveur D’Air, third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March, impressing in a winning debut over the larger obstacles and cut to 8/1 from 20s for the Arkle and 6/1 from 12s for the JLT. Connections landed the feature G1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot with Unowhatimeanharry extending his unbeaten record to 8 wins on the spin for trainer Harry Fry and he is the new 5/2 (From 4s) favourite for the World Hurdle on the third day of the festival in March.
The Fry yard remain in good fettle and I expect the trainer to score with Acting Lass (1.05) under a penalty at Hereford. The selection looked a good prospect when landing a Novices’ Hurdle over course and distance last month and must go close in his bid to follow-up in a first-time tongue strap.
Eight go to post for a competitive Mares’ Handicap Hurdle where Shoofly Milly (1.35) should go close after a pipe-opener last month down at Exeter. The daughter of Milan relishes soft ground and put her best foot forward when scoring in the mud at Taunton last season. From just a 5lb higher mark she must go close on just her second start of the campaign.
Kim Bailey’s Dueling Banjos (2.05) has always looked a chaser and can make it third time lucky over the larger obstacles in the 3m Novices’ Chase. The 6yo fell at the first on his seasonal debut and jumped well before tiring on effectively his first start of the season when soundly beaten by David Pipe‘s Champers on Ice last time out at Uttoxeter. He is another who should appreciate the forecast testing conditions and is a confident selection to make the frame under regular partner David Bass.
Oscarteea (2.40) looked a different animal when second on debut for the Neil Mulholland yard in the spring and can go one better in the 2m Handicap Hurdle under Noel Fehily. The selection chased home Paul Nicholls‘ 140-rated mare Tagrita over two and a half miles at Wincanton but travelled like a dream and should go close dropping back in trip from an attractive mark of 132.
The Malcolm Jefferson yard remain in good form up north and Robbing the Prey (12.50) should score for the yard in the opening 2m Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr. The selection chased home a well-backed winner last time out at Wetherby, the pair thirteen lengths clear of the remainder, and he looks to have been well-placed to shed the maiden tag at the seventh time of asking under Brian Hughes.
Nicky Richards could do with a change of luck after losing star chaser Eduard at Ascot on Saturday and I think Top Billing should go close from top weight in the feature 2m 5f Handicap Hurdle. The selection has cheek-pieces reapplied and was successful at the track over a longer trip last year however, I marginally prefer Lucinda Russell’s Big River (3.00) with the eye-catching booking of Tom Scudamore. The selection shaped well when runner-up at the track on last month’s seasonal reappearance and is open to further improvement stepping up in trip.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter.
Be Lucky!
