A cracking midweek jumps card at Chepstow and a confident selection at Sedgefield this afternoon to boot. We begin in South Wales and Creepy won the opener 12-months ago for Martin Keighley and the trainer is taken to follow up in the corresponding race with Primo Capitano (2.00).
We had a near 50/1 Grade One treble on Day Two of the Punchestown Festival and today’s feature sees Champion Hurdler Jezki take on Cheltenham fourth Hurricane Fly in a three-runner affair that is sure to be tactical as there is no confirmed pacemaker in the field.
The middle day of the Punchestown Festival but it is possible that on Day 1 we witnessed not one but two potential equine superstars with Faugheen (6/1 for the 2015 Champion Hurdle) and Forgotten Rules who won the concluding Bumper in the manner of a very special horse.
The Punchestown Festival begins this afternoon and it is impossible to oppose the unbeaten Faugheen (4.20) in the first Grade 1 on the card despite the gelding dropping back in trip from his memorable success at Cheltenham in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle over 2m 5f.
Easter Monday racing brings us no less than nine race meetings, including the Irish National at Fairyhouse on an excellent days National Hunt racing on both sides of the Irish Sea.
The second leg of Newmarket’s Craven meeting sees 2000 Guineas hope Toormore (4.05) reappearing for Richard Hannon and Middleham Park Racing – 7/1 with BetVictor to win the first classic of the season next month at HQ.
A quite wonderful days racing today with the Scottish Grand National from Ayr and the first two Classic Trials of the season at Newbury and we start on the flat with top class renewals of both the Fred Darling and Greenham.
It is rare to have a race where all in the field won their previous race but that is what we have in the BetVictor sponsored 12f Handicap at Kempton Park this evening and all four have a realistic chance.
The opening day of the Aintree festival boasts four Grade 1’s on a tremendous day of jump racing in Liverpool, with the Thursday of the festival competing with Ladies Day and National Day in terms of both drama and excitement.
This month’s Aintree Grand National is a race that always grabs the nation, with seasoned racing fans and the ‘once a year’ punters heading down the bookies for a stab at finding the winner in the world’s greatest steeplechase.