Those who criticise the jumps season for being "all about Cheltenham" miss the point that any race during the winter gains in interest if any of the runners might be Festival-bound. If it wasn't for Cheltenham, what reason would there be to watch today's five-runner novice chase at Plumpton? But because Verasi (2.40) is a contender for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the March meeting, punters should be paying attention.
Verasi could do with it being softer than today's good to soft (one very good reason why I wouldn't be backing him for the Festival) but he's a cut above these rivals and has progressed well since stepping up to staying trips over fences.
In the next race, Brendar (3.15) is the most interesting bet of the day, from the Jim Best yard that has enjoyed such a productive season. Unbeaten in two attempts over this course and distance, and only 3lb higher than the most recent of those, Brendar was surely in need of his recent reappearance at Huntingdon, when well beaten. It's hard to know why the market favours Grasp -- this one has been consistently exposed in handicaps and his success have been in maiden and selling company.
Strath Gallant (3.40) is one to watch, even if he blows out today. Having his first run for trainer Richard Guest and owner Paul Beck, it would be nice to see some market confidence but instead he's drifted out to 8-1 on Betfair. That's a good price and I'm not put off but even if today is not the day to be with him, this is a talented beast who should be borne in mind. He won a Curragh handicap off 84 on the Flat and was last seen landing a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in October (runner-up won a similar contest next time).
One of the best-backed horses so far today is Alexander Huricane (2.20), now likely to start favourite in Wolverhampton's 5f handicap. Kevin Ryan's colt ran green on his belated debut when winning a maiden over this course and distance and ended up winning by just a neck from a horse who was losing his 25th race in a row. Alexander Huricane has been handicapped on the face of that form but the strong likelihood is that he's a good deal better and he can prove it against these exposed sorts.
2.22pm Alexander Huricane wins at 15-8 He still looked a bit green on the turn but ran on well enough to hold Blackheath at bay. He holds an entry in the first at Southwell tomorrow, when he may attempt to defy a penalty if he comes out of this in good shape. Southwell's Fibresand surface presents a very different test, of course.
2.50pm Verasi (4-6) comes good, in the end Considering their only two serious rivals were let down by their jumping, Verasi and Philip Hide made a bit of a meal of winning that, driving into the last on level terms with one of the outsiders. Verasi was fifth in the Coral Cup a couple of years ago but I can't see him making any impact at the Festival over fences, on that form.
3.45pm Couple of gutterballs Brendar never got into it after making a bad mistake at halfway which seemed to affect his confidence -- he ballooned the next two flights. He'd be worth an interest in similar conditions, but the same cannot be said of Strath Gallant, whose poor effort was disappointing, even allowing for his drift in the market.
6.40pm Last word on Whatuthink's flop yesterday Trainer Oliver McKiernan has revealed that Whatuthink scoped dirty after his poor run in the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday. He finished a distant fifth, which seemed inexplicable, as the first two home had finished behind him on his previous start.
McKiernan intends to give him a week off before training him for the Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He's currently 26-1 on Betfair, compared to 15-2 about Forpadydeplasterer, winner of the Deloitte.
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