Today’s ITV races, by Chris Cook
Unusually, this Midlands National is not expected to be run on a very testing surface. Perhaps that may produce one of the event’s classier winners in Houblon Des Obeaux (3.35), who has top weight but is good enough to defy it. The Venetia Williams-trained veteran has fared well in much better races and his rating has dropped to a beatable level.
He ran well to be third in the Welsh National less than three months ago and yet somehow gets to run here from a 9lb lower mark after just two defeats. He has won two valuable handicaps from this mark or higher and, while those were some years ago, he was still good enough to storm home in a Newbury Grade Two just last February.
It may not be especially surprising, after his Chepstow effort, that he couldn’t muster quite the same level of form in a couple of subsequent slugfests. But there is less strength in the opposition here and conditions will not be so taxing.
Court Frontier is stepping up in class and the form of his five-runner win last time is not sure to be good enough. Mysteree looks more of a threat after his Eider Chase success.
1.50 Uttoxeter With Jonjo O’Neill now back in flying form, Conteur D’Histoire could return to the form he showed when a good second in a novice race at Wetherby in November. He has had a two-month break since flopping on a softer surface at Hereford and has been dropped 10lb for just two runs.
2.05 Kempton Days Of Heaven is interesting, as a former Dovecote winner at this track who will get his favoured fast ground on this return from racing in the US. But Clic Work looks the solid option, having achieved nine-length victories in both starts over fences. Paul Nicholls’ charge would be worth his place in a better race than this.
2.25 Uttoxeter Having missed the Festival in search of softer ground, American should find it here and lends a touch of class to the fixture. His two wins over fences could have justified a higher rating than he has for this handicap debut and he may achieve some consolation for Harry Fry, who went close in two Grade Ones at Cheltenham.
2.40 Kempton Weeks ago, Nicholls acknowledged Brio Conti has one of his best chances at this week’s Festival, but he missed the cut for the Martin Pipe. He hacked up at Doncaster last time, beating a subsequent winner, and looks handily treated for this handicap debut. This is a strong race but the favourite, Golden Spear, comes from the Tony Martin yard that is on a poor run just now.
3.00 Uttoxeter A bit disappointing at Aintree in December, Byron Flyer has since shown significantly improved form in two Flat runs. This is hot but he is a big price at 12-1 or so to return to the winning form he showed at Doncaster in November.
3.15 Kempton Monbeg Gold is of interest, now that O’Neill’s horses are back among the winners. He can prove he has more ability than he was able to show in a couple of midwinter races at Newbury, with the distinct possibility that this drier surface will help.
Tips for all Saturday races, by Chris Cook
Fontwell 1.40 Ms Parfois 2.15 Bertenbar 2.50 Sainte Ladylime (nb) 3.25 Caid Du Lin 4.00 City Supreme 4.35 Bound Hill 5.10 William Money
Kempton 1.30 Trevisani 2.05 Clic Work 2.40 Brio Conti (nap) 3.15 Monbeg Gold 3.50 Bugsie Malone 4.25 Cultivator 5.00 Pointed And Sharp
Newcastle 2.00 Reivers Lad 2.35 Sharney Sike 3.10 Late Date 3.45 Sharp Response 4.20 Titian Boy 4.55 Kelka 5.30 Catchthemoonlight
Uttoxeter 1.50 Conteur D’Histoire 2.25 American 3.00 Byron Flyer 3.35 Houblon Des Obeaux 4.10 Perfect Pirate 4.45 Ballycoe 5.20 Timeforwest 5.50 Linenhall
Wolverhampton 5.45 Par Three 6.15 Thorntoun Care 6.45 Amazement 7.15 Sufi 7.45 Coach Bombay 8.15 Bint Arcano
