CHELTENHAM – SATURDAY
12.05pm
I K Brunel
We have always rated this horse, and long before he won his bumper in the soft at Carlisle on his debut, too. He finished an excellent third here on his hurdling bow in December before not running his race at Kempton, but he reappeared to put up a very promising performance indeed when winning over 2m3f at Fontwell, beating an unbeaten and well-regarded horse of David Pipe’s by 6 lengths. He doesn’t pick up a penalty for that win and he clearly goes well on soft – though this will be far more testing if the card gets the go-ahead – and I definitely think he has the ability to be making his presence felt as he steps up in grade here. I don’t think the longer trip will be an issue, either, and he is a real hard-trier, which is a big plus in the conditions. Oh, and well done for all concerned for getting this race transferred from Friday.
12.40pm
Dawn Treader
He ran better than the bare form suggests at Huntingdon earlier in the month and has winning form on soft on the Flat, but he clearly has to step up a lot on his debut effort to be in the shake-up here.
3.00pm
The Butcher Said
He has done us proud this season already, winning four times on good ground, and he probably ran a career-best when an excellent second to Ramses De Teillee in heavy over course and distance last time, where he was giving that smart chaser 8lb. And that proved he can operate in these conditions. I think he can be competitive off his mark of 136 on his handicap debut, and hopefully he can progress again, too. He’s already been a bit of a star for the team.
FONTWELL – SUNDAY
3.45pm
Amron Kali
She ran a good third on her most recent start in July but the handicapper has played very fair by dropping her 3lb for it, which allows her to get into this 0-100. Most of her better efforts have been on better ground but she has won on soft, the trip is fine, and she has run okay around here before.
