Jump racing returns to Newbury this afternoon for the first time since March – and for the only time before the ‘Ladbrokes Winter Carnival’ on 1 and 2 December, a meeting that pretty much everyone will refer to as ‘the one that used to be the Hennessy’ for the next 10 years at least.
The Challow Hurdle and Betfair Hurdle are among the other highlights to look forward to over the coming months, but there is plenty to whet the appetite on Thursday afternoon’s card too, starting with the hurdles debut of Claimantakinforgan, third home in last season’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, in the opening race.
Claimantakinforgan, a winning point-to-pointer earlier in his career, finished just under three lengths behind the ill-fated Fayonagh at Cheltenham on his fourth start in a bumper, before going on to finish fifth of 19 in the Aintree equivalent.
It is decent form to bring to a race like today’s, but whether he should be quite as short as 8-13 to make a winning start in this sphere is another matter. He has just one serious rival according to the betting in Colin Tizzard’s Lostintranslation (12.40), but he was a close second on his own hurdling debut at Chepstow behind Dynamite Dollars, who followed up readily in a race at Exeter two days ago. At around 7-4, Lostintranslation could well give the favourite a serious race .
The mares’ novice hurdle at 2.10 is a fascinating race, and it will be no great surprise if the winner ends up in the field for the mares’ novice at Cheltenham next March. Dame Rose, Cap Soleil – the winner of two Listed bumpers last season – and Nicky Henderson’s Countister (2.10) all have plenty to recommend them, but narrow preference is for the latter, the winner of two Grade Two bumpers in France last season.
Henderson’s Beat That, a dual Grade One winner as a novice hurdler in the spring of 2014, makes his latest attempt to transfer his talent to fencing in the card’s Beginners’ Chase, having fallen on his last two outings in July and October.
He would be difficult to beat at anything close to his best form but has not shown it for some time now and faces two very useful recruits from hurdles in Topofthegame (2.45) and Strong Pursuit. The former’s run at Ascot in February ties in well with some of the best novice form last season and he could well do even better over fences.
Robinshill (1.50) fell at the final fence with the race at his mercy at Ludlow two weeks ago and should gain some compensation this afternoon, while the lightly raced Middle Kingdom (7.15) is the best bet on the Flat card at Chelmsford City this evening.
The winner of both his starts to date, the first last November and the latest back in April, John Gosden’s War Front colt is clearly not an easy horse to get to the track but he has the potential to be better than a handicapper next year and should maintain his unbeaten record today.
Thursday’s tips
Newbury 12.40 Lostintranslation 1.10 Dell’Arca 1.40 Mr Medic 2.10 Countister 2.45 Topofthegame 3.20 Volpone Jelois 3.55 Irish Prince
Ludlow 1.20 If You Say Run 1.50 Robinshill 2.20 Tempuran 2.55 Orbasa 3.30 Dizzey Heights 4.05 Imperial Nemesis
Market Rasen 1.00 Knight Destroyer 1.30 Raised On Grazeon 2.00 Debdebdeb 2.35 Shady Glen 3.10 Pretty Reckless 3.45 Shrubland
Chelmsford City 5.15 Maypole 5.45 Vegas Boy 6.15 Gronkowski 6.45 Making Miracles 7.15 Middle Kingdom (nap) 7.45 Miracle Garden (nb) 8.15 Ifubelieveindreams
