Master Dino ruled out
Less than 48 hours after an impressive win in one of the strongest races ever staged at Plumpton, Guillaume Macaire’s Master Dino has been ruled out of the JLT Novice Chase at Cheltenham in March after it emerged that he sustained a hairline fracture to a hind leg on his way to victory.
Master Dino arrived at the Sussex track with a big reputation having established himself as one of France’s top hurdlers last season and he moved to the head of the market for the JLT at around 6-1 after beating Knocknanuss by seven lengths. Timeform judged his performance to be “the best by a novice all season”.
The five-year-old will not reappear for at least 12 months, however, having undergone an operation to repair his fracture on Tuesday morning. Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the chaser’s owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, confirmed the news on Twitter. “[Master Dino] has had surgery to insert three screws in his hind leg. Glad to say he is fine after the operation. Now the long road of recuperation.”
With Master Dino out of the Festival, Colin Tizzard’s Lostintranslation, the winner of the Grade Two Dipper Novice Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, is the new favourite for the two-and-a-half mile JLT Novice Chase at a top price of 7-1. La Bague Au Roi is a 10-1 chance but is also quoted at between 6-1 and 14-1 for the RSA Chase over the longer trip. GW
Williams’s winning run could dry up
Nothing can stop Venetia Williams just now, except possibly the weather. After a slow autumn, the Ross on Wye trainer has her horses bursting with vim and vigour, judging by 12 winners from 30 runners in the last fortnight. “Santa came down our chimney,” she said at Chepstow on Monday, grinning broadly after saddling two winners and a close second.
But the unseasonably dry spell, which is expected to last until the weekend at least, is no good for Williams and her string of burly staying chasers. “The worrying thing is that we know the ground’s going to dry up,” she said, “so I’m basically trying to run as much as I can today and tomorrow and then we might have to sit on our hands for a bit. I’ve hardly entered anything this weekend.”
Williams plans to make good use of the time by having a big party in the yard on Thursday for Toby Blackwell, owner of Houblon Des Obeaux, who is turning 90. CC
Tizzard to run three in Gold Cup
Colin Tizzard is set to make a three-strong attack on the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, having decided to send Elegant Escape straight to the Festival highlight. Since winning the Welsh Grand National over the Christmas period, the horse has been raised to a rating of 159 and his trainer feels that puts him within half a stone of Gold Cup quality.
“I think his next race will be the Gold Cup,” Tizzard said. “He’s had three hard races and we are only around two months away. If he had only had one run, we would have gone again. He might make a Grand National horse as well, because he is a tough stayer. We’ve just got to sit and think about it.”
The last of the 33-1 about Elegant Escape for the Gold Cup appeared to be under pressure after Tizzard’s announcement. It hardly seemed that he needed another contender for steeplechasing’s blue riband, with Native River and Thistlecrack already in the line-up, but perhaps, having won the race for the first time a year ago, Tizzard is determined to repeat the experience.
Meanwhile, Bryony Frost is not likely to be aboard Milansbar at Warwick on Saturday when he tries to repeat the victory they enjoyed together in last year’s Classic Chase. Frost is wanted at Kempton that day to ride Black Corton in a Listed chase. CC
Tuesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Tuesday’s two jumps cards have a tricky look, so my main interest is at Newcastle, where Casterbridge (7.15) has a potent course record of three wins from six visits. He went down by just half a length from this mark at Southwell 10 days ago, suggesting he’s ready to run his race once more and 9-2 is available from the early 11-2.
Earlier, Encoded (6.15) could be overpriced at 8-1, carrying a penalty for what was admittedly a narrow course and distance success. I think the addition of Joe Fanning helped her break her maiden tag that day and he’s back aboard.
An extra half-mile could make the difference for Lopes Dancer (3.40), who found Loud And Clear had too many gears for him in a shorter race last time. He stayed on well when winning a staying race on soft at Redcar in November.
At Bangor, Some Can Dance (2.50) is of interest at 7-2, with the extra distance and better ground to help him on his third attempt in a handicap.
Lingfield
12.50 Temple Of Wonder
1.25 Sea Of Reality 1.55 London Rock
2.30 Court House 3.05 Very Honest
3.40 Global Wonder
Doncaster
1.00 Talkischeap 1.35 Uno Mas (nap) 2.10 Before Midnight 2.45 Diamond Gait 3.15 Fifty Shades 3.50 Cara’s Way
Taunton
1.10 Sign Of War (nb)
1.45 Legal History 2.20 Still Believing
2.55 Style De Garde 3.25 Shantou Flyer 4.00 Milldean Silva
Kempton
4.15 Admirable Art 4.45 Creationist 5.15 Alkaamel 5.45 Unit Of Assessment 6.15 Cenotaph 6.45 Dotty Grand 7.15 Briyouni 7.45 National Glory
Tips by Chris Cook
