Matt Chapman’s Sunday ITV Racing tips
13.55 Windsor – Harpers Brook
14:05 Thurles – French Dynamite
14.30 Windsor – Gwennie May Boy
14:45 Fakenham – Greyval
15:05 Windsor – Protektorat
15:20 Fakenham – Getbazoutofhere (each-way)
15:40 Windsor – Art Decco
*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.
13:55 Windsor – Harpers Brook
ITV Racing is back again Sunday to bring racing from Windsor, Thurles, and Fakenham, starting here with a handicap chase over 2m. This is very tricky and full of horses that have good back form, but many of them haven’t done much recently.
I’ll chance the old rogue HARPERS BROOK for Kielan Woods and Dan Skelton. We all know what can happen here, and the chances are my selection will travel well and find nothing off the bridle. That all said, he did win last time at Wetherby and I’d be pretty sure he has the ability to win off 139 if he wants to. Added to all that there should be a strong pace to run at.
14:05 Thurles – French Dynamite
A Grade 2 chase over 2m5f. FRENCH DYNAMITE has a few pounds to find with some of these and ran a shocker when last seen at Wetherby. That said, he was good the time before at Punchestown, and this is his trip. I’ll take him in a very hard race for Mark Walsh and Mouse Morris. Has won at this track before.
14:30 Windsor – Gwennie May Boy
Here’s a handicap hurdle over 3m. Minella Missile once looked very good, but it will be hard to take this off a 429-day absence and over hurdles. I’ll stick with GWENNIE MAY BOY, who is a very strong stayer and ran well when third at Carlisle last time having fallen before that at Haydock in November.
He rattled off three on the bounce last term, and a mark of 139 is as high as he’s been, but the Carlisle run – traveling easily two out – suggested he still has more to give. Goes for the Skelton team of trainer Dan and jockey Harry Skelton.
14:45 Fakenham – Greyval
Here’s a mares’ handicap hurdle over 2m4f. GREYVAL might get a chance to win a race here after plenty of consistent efforts, including a fine third at Wincanton when last seen. Jack Hogan takes off a decent 3lb for Fergal O’Brien but this won’t be easy with the likes of improver Star Walking and going well Game Colours.
15:05 Windsor – Protektorat
The big race of the day in the Fleur de Lys Chase over 2m6f. A belter. Marks the third run of the season for last year’s Ryanair Chase hero PROTEKTORAT.
The Dan Skelton-trained runner probably needed the outing first time at Cheltenham, and then wasn’t suited to going right-handed at Huntingdon when thrashed by Djelo, who goes again.
Protektorat will need to show a lot more here to start thinking he can retain his Ryanair crown. And at the age of ten, you just wonder how much extra there is in the tank.
This two and three-quarter mile contest really is a belter, and also numbers the Peterborough Chase winner and improver Djelo, multiple Grade 1 hero Pic d’Orhy, hard to predict Ahoy Señor and the unbeaten Indiana Dream, once with Mullins but now in the care of the Jonjo O’Neill camp. I’m happy to give Protektorat the thumbs up as the Skeltons are so good at getting a horse ready for a big prize, and he did run on all right at Huntingdon even though well beaten.
15:20 Fakenham – Getbazoutofhere (each-way)
The final of a series in a mares’ handicap chase over 2m5f. GETBAZOUTOFHERE has cheekpieces and a tongue strap to try and make her go faster, and she did just that when a fine third at Cheltenham last time.
She stayed on well that day and off a mark of just 99 and a racing weight of 10st 2lb. She must have a decent each-way chance. The excellent champion jumps jockey-elect Sean Bowen rides for Tom Gretton.
15:40 Windsor – Art Decco
A stayers’ handicap chase over an extended 3m4f. ART DECCO carries 12st 2lb over a very long trip, so it won’t be easy.
That said, he’s improving and a very strong stayer who returned with a decent second at Exeter in December. He’s had a little time to get over that test and while a mark of 127 is high for him based on what we have seen so far, he’s going to keep going better than most. Harry Kimber rides for Robert Walford.
So best of luck, and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips
13.55 Windsor – Harpers Brook
14:05 Thurles – French Dynamite
14.30 Windsor – Gwennie May Boy
14:45 Fakenham – Greyval
15:05 Windsor – Protektorat
15:20 Fakenham – Getbazoutofhere (each-way)
15:40 Windsor – Art Decco
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.
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