News broke on Sunday that Barry Geraghty would miss next month's Cheltenham Festival having cracked a rib and punctured a lung when coming down two out aboard Charli Parcs at Kempton on Saturday.
Geraghty was 5/2 with BetVictor to be leading jockey at the meeting but his absence has led to Ruby Walsh hardening at ½ with Aidan Coleman now 8/1 from 66s as owner JP McManus comes to terms with having to do without his retained rider. I'm a big fan of Mark Walsh and would not be surprised if he took over on one or two of the high-profile British trained runners who will carry the green and gold silks at Cheltenham – at 10/1 with BetVictor he might be a shade over-priced.
There is an all-chase card at Leicester and Belami Des Pictons will be all the rage for the Novices' Chase over two miles and six furlongs but he is unproven going right-handed whilst Dueling Banjos (2.40) is at his best going clock-wise. The selection receives 10lbs from the likely favourite and the Kim Bailey yard remain in good heart of late.
The valuable Open Hunter Chase is a cracker with, by my calculations, both Rebel Rebellion and Toby Lerone having to finish in the first two if they are to be eligible to race in the Aintree Foxhunters' at the Grand National meeting in April.
The former is likely to go off a short price but he is not guaranteed to stay this near 2m 7f trip on soft ground and I am going to go with last year's winner Penmore Mill (3.10) who should strip fitter having had a recent pipe-opener in a point-to-point. The selection isn't in the same class as Rebel Rebellion on good ground but the ground, at the time of writing, is described as soft with further rain forecast and for that reason alone Penmore Mill gets the nod.
Powerful Symbol (3.40) had yet to be asked for his effort when coming down three out at Catterick earlier in the month and cannot be opposed running from the same mark. This Irish point-to-point winner was always going to make a better chaser than hurdler and he will be hard to beat even allowing for the fact that this looks a deeper race.
One of these days Fort Smith will win a small race for Sam Thomas but it will likely be on better ground but the yard do saddle Jamrham (4.10) and it is perhaps significant that Jamie Moore, who rode the horse to win at Fontwell back in December, is reunited with the gelding.
At Catterick Nomoreblackjack (3.20) is 2lbs better off with Halcyon Days for the head he was beaten over C&D at the beginning of the month and that might be enough to reverse the form with the Rebecca Menzies horse who is chasing a fourth win in his last five starts.
Only three to post for the £8,000 Novices' Chase but a good race nonetheless and I hope to see The Bay Oak (4.20) build on his excellent chase debut when runner up to Wild West Wind at Hereford. The Dan Skelton runner won here over timber and the trainer fits cheek-pieces for the first time this afternoon.
Aengus (4.50) has stamina to prove in the finale but the 7-year-old did win a 2m 2f Bumper for Noel Meade in his native Ireland. The selection ran away with a Wetherby handicap hurdle (2m 4f) last week on decent ground but copes with soft ground well enough. Trainer Jennie Candlish might be able to get another win out of the gelding under a 7lbs penalty.
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