*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
14:10 Hereford – Eaton Collina
A mid range handicap hurdle and I make this between the two last time out winners, both of which have more to give as they gain more experience. The Street had been on my shortlist for a while before running out a smooth winner at Chepstow last time out, leading in between the final two hurdles, before he dossed in front and saw off Bourbali by a half a length. I think you can upgrade the margin of superiority and a 5lbs penalty looks very fair.
However, I just prefer the claims of Eaton Collina even though he finished some eight and three quarter lengths off his market rival in that event, making a bad mistake when the pace lifted significantly at the second last. He stepped up on that run with a smooth success at Hereford when a well punted 3/1 favourite under Richard Patrick. A 7lbs penalty looks about right, but with 10lbs claimer Daire McConville booked he is in fact 3lbs well in.
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14:20 Fontwell – Alkopop
On his hurdles form, Guguss Collonges is well enough treated for local handler Gary Moore and a move in the market place would be highly interesting. I just feel that if the ground remains testing he could struggle to see it out over this extended distance.
In contrast the Toby Lawes runner Alkopop didn’t see it out three miles at Ffos Las last time out, but that was surely more to do with his poor jumping that any lack of stamina, previously ran on strongly to finish second to the progressive Fairlawn Flyer. Down the far side of the track he made mistakes at four consecutive fences and thereafter his chance had gone.
Granted a clear round here and set to race off the same mark, he could be chucked in on his previous run at the West Wales track and it is interesting to see that his shrewd trainer has added the cheek pieces on for the first time to make him concentrate better; he certainly has the engine to put this lot to bed.
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15:50 Fontwell – Buckhorn George
Getaweapon keeps on finding one or two of these too good and could well be in the handicapper’s pocket, while Game Socks is surely much better than his two poor runs at Ludlow and Leicester suggest when he went out like a light, hence the recent wind operation.
Sometimes form figures can be misleading and although his form line reads P-FPP there are reasons to believe that the seven-year-old selection, Buckhorn George, could be nicely in here. We all know that the Colin Tizzard team are on fire and his charge remains lightly raced.
Two runs over fences can safely be consigned to the dustbin as he looked all at sea over the larger obstacles, falling once and pulled up in the other. Reverting to hurdles last time out looked a tough play in a class two event behind Orbys Legend and this looks much more his level.
Around two and a half miles on deep ground is certainly his make-up and the last time he had that set-up he was placed off 125 a year ago. Set to run off 114 here and down to class four level, this looks a big chance for him to return to winning form in a race which may not take too much winning.
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17:00 Naas – Varna Gold
Expensive cross country purchase, Prengarde, is surely using this race as a warm up for Cheltenham and although not short of pace, this two miles will most likely be short of his best. Still, a positive market move for him would be interesting.
Palace Rock has been crying out for a stronger run race to bring out the best of him and with Denis O’Regan taking over from a conditional, he could produce a career best here, which he must do to nab some of the prize money.
However, the huge value call here could be with the five-year-old Varna Gold who has been highly tried in a busy campaign including when well down the field in the Grade Two Limerick Hurdle, beaten a long way by the classy Teahupoo. Arguably his best run this season came when second to The Flying Scotsman at Balinrobe and off a 2lbs higher mark I think he is likely to outrun his big odds here.
Sunday’s Racing Tips
14:10 Hereford – Eaton Collina
14:20 Fontwell – Alkopop
15:50 Fontwell – Buckhorn George
17:00 Naas – Varna Gold
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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