A terrific Saturday of racing to look forward to with the second day of The Showcase meeting at Cheltenham, the home of jump racing. At Newbury on the flat there is Group racing with the Horris Hill Stakes and the St Simon Stakes, in which Hamish is odds-on favourite at Unibet 8/11 and hard to oppose.
There is Group 1 flat racing at Doncaster with the Futurity Trophy Stakes and I spent some time deliberating over whether Stormbuster Unibet 10/1 would be my each way selection or the massive and raw King Steel, who I decided has the untapped potential.
Enjoy whether at a racecourse or #athome watching the coverage on ITV Racing.
Cheers,
The Wine Tipster
1.50 Newbury – Horris Hill Stakes Group 3 (7f)
Lord Of Biscay impressed when travelling well and finding plenty to score at Yarmouth last month on debut, beating the more experienced odds-on favourite Obelix, who won easily next time out. The fourth My Lion has won since too, so the form looks solid. Lord Of Biscey is a half-brother to last Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II winner Bayside Boy and looks the one to beat with plenty of improvement looking likely.
2.05 Cheltenham – What’s Your Thinking Handicap Chase (3m 1f)
The Wolf can take on the favourite The Hollow Ginge, who does have a strong chance but has only won once in his last 12 starts. The Wolf was second here to Full Back at the New Year’s Day meeting and then was runner-up to Captain Cattistock at Musselburgh, who reopposes today. It is best to ignore his run in the Scottish National, when given plenty to do when seventh behind Win My Wings. The Wolf has had a wind op since then and this talented eight-year-old has plenty more improvement to come.
3.15 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2m)
Editeur Du Gite (nap) has Cheltenham form figures of 114, with victories at the November and December meetings last season, whilst at The Festival he was fourth to Global Citizen in the Grand Annual. This is his trip, and this genuine front runner makes plenty of appeal on ground that suits in a renewal that doesn’t look that competitive, so Editeur Du Gite, who will be fit for this reappearance, can strike first time out.
3.35 Doncaster – Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes Group 1 (1m)
King Of Steel is a striking individual and it was pleasing to see him perform as good as he looked on debut at Nottingham last week, when pulling right away in the final furlong to win by an easy 4½ lengths. This is a quick turnaround, and the form needs improving on massively here, however he could just do that and emulate Kingsbarns, who won the Futurity in 2012 on his second start. He is definitely worth an each way play in a Group 1 more open than the market suggests.
3.50 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3m)
An Tailliur on his last ten starts, has won seven times and finished second twice, which is an impressive record. He still remains fairly unexposed over staying trips but couldn’t quite master the equally improving Wbee (good second next time) in the latter stages, giving weight all round at Cartmel back in May on his last start. There was lots to like about the way he was catching the winner that day from a poor position on the home turn and you can see him challenging strongly up the hill here. An Tailliur will handle the good going and is two from two after a break.
Kansas City Chief is looking to follow up on his success in this race last year and this teenager showed he still retained all his enthusiasm on seasonal debut at Wetherby when jumping superbly throughout until dropping back after the second last to finish fifth to the smart Caius Marcus. That performance would have put him straight today and he showed last season that he performs so well at Cheltenham and whilst he is higher up the ratings this year, he still has strong each way claims.
