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Whether it
be "the race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs, we
will
attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight
the fancied horses participating each day and their characteristics and
requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides you with a winner
or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a particular fancy
of yours ... it may even convince you to back some of those horses which
we feel are the "ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims.
whichever is the case, we hope the information is of use to you.
SELECTIONS
- For each race, I have given you who, in my view, are the
likeliest winners, as well as horses who could run well at eachway odds.
'R#ecommended'
horses have, in our view, the best chances of success each day. Any
horses from our 'Horses To Follow' list are shown at the foot of each
race's analysis. POSTING TIMES FOR SELECTIONS__
Selections for Monday - Friday should be available after 9:30pm the
previous evening, however on Saturday and Sunday due to other
commitments won't be posted until after 8:30am those respective mornings
unless otherwise stated. Hopefully this helps
RACING POST CHASE DAY AT KEMPTON
Saturday 24th February
2:00 AndersElite Novices' Hurdle Class C
"THE ROOK" _Razer Blade, Alpha Centauri, First Ballot, Golden Eye, and Heracles appear to have the strongest claims in the opener. Heracles has been a relation since
joining Brendan Powell and it wouldnt surprise me if he went close despite conceding weight all around,
however these rival look to potentially very useful recruits. I'm going to
take a chance with Alpha Centauri who was produced in good shape to win on his reappearance at Naas. This horse has a good
home reputation, and hopefully will make use of the weight concession he gets from Razor Blade, who
looks his chief rival
"No.1 Choice" _ Alpha Centauri,
"(e/w) Alternative" _
2:30 betabet Emblem Chase Class B
"THE ROOK" _This should be a straight match between Get Real, and Cenkos. Conditions
should suit both horses today, and therefore Get Real should set this up for Cenkos, who 'holds' him on Victor Chandler form. This track aids Get Real who has tied up alarmingly on his last three starts, however I'm not convinced that he is quite the same horse he was last term.
as a result despite the fact his stable is having a quiet spell, the stables' "thumbs up" has help sway me
"No.1 Choice" _ Cenkos
"(e/w) Alternative" _
RUNNER(S) LISTED IN OUR "HORSES TO FOLLOW" FEATURE _ Cenkos
3:00 betabet Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle Class A Grade 2
"THE ROOK" _There has been plenty of speculation about the well being of Francois Doumen's horses of late, in fact far too
much. There is no doubt that Doumens horses have as always been campaigned for their season, and not ours, and it is impossible to expect a horse to race through the summer and then not expect him not to be jaded by
December. (I think it is also slightly mischievous of pundits to suggest otherwise, but more on that in my
Cheltenham Preview)
Francois Doumen has let all his string down, and his runners have all come back clearly needing the run, his previous
successes at the festival were all given breaks before coming out and running well in their prep races before winning their goal; THE FELLOW third in the Racing Post Chase, the first time he was given a prep race before the gold cup, and
SNOWDROP was given two; 4th to Monsignor, before winning this corresponding
race last year. Expect Bilboa to come on for this run, (remember she raced between July, and December 2000) but she has looked
useful, and has always given me the impression that she would appreciate a faster surface. I'll be
satisfied is he runs well, but hopes she consolidates her position at the head of the
Triumph Hurdle market. Janus Du Cochet was having his first effort since November behind former stablemate Jair du Cochet at
Cheltenham, and he may just leave that form behind here
"No.1 Choice" _ Bilboa (FR)
"(e/w) Alternative" _ Janus Du Cochet (FR)
RUNNER(S) FEATURED ON "FOCUS ON FRANCE" _Bilboa (FR)
3:35 Racing Post Chase Showcase Handicap Class A Grade 3
"THE ROOK" _ A fascinating renewal of this race; Struggles Glory, Commanche Court, Eau De Cologne, Ad Hoc, Young Spartacus, Robbo, Dark Stranger, Djeddah, Windross, Wise King, Tremallt, Tresor De Mai, Bank Avenue, and Flaked Oats. all have a squeak. When asked at the beginning of the week I immediately said that prolific
pointer/hunter chaser Struggles Glory had outstanding claims off of 10-0,particualarly after his thoroughly convincing win here last time out, and that Ad Hoc was too good a horse to dismiss.
Frankly Satchmo's rout today has only confirmed Struggles Glory's claims, and we know that Ad Hoc cannot be dismissed if he puts it all in. These two Tresor de Mai, well treated, and should appreciated
this better ground, and Djeddah who ran a good race in the Agfa Chase look the ones to be on. I have to go with Struggles Glory
"No.1 Choice" _ Struggles Glory 'R#ecommended'
"(e/w) Alternative" _Tresor de Mai (FR)
RUNNER(S) FEATURED ON "FOCUS ON FRANCE" _ Ad Hoc, Young Spartacus, Robbo, Tresor De Mai (FR)
4:10 Keyline Builders Merchants Pendil Novices' Chase Class A Grade 2
"THE ROOK" _Crocadee has a stiff task conceding 12lbs to two french imports in form. Rodock is the only horse to lower
Gastina 's colours thus far in this country, and she again will be hard to beat. For More (FR) was well beaten by Wahiba Sands last time out, at
Doncaster but she can leave that form well behind here. Crocadee' s fencing will be tested
again here, and he may just fail to peg back Gastina (FR) who gets my vote
"No.1 Choice" _ Gastina (FR)
"(e/w) Alternative" _
4:40 racingpost.co.uk Handicap Hurdle Class C
"THE ROOK" _ This race doesn't appeal, and I'll be hoping that Oliver Cromwell, who before his last start had looked a progressive
individual, (beating McHattie at Exeter on one occasion), is a tentative choice to atone for a poor effort at
Leicester
"No.1 Choice" _ Oliver Cromwell (e/w)
"(e/w) Alternative" _Ifni Du Luc,
5:15 Kempton Park Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Class H
"THE ROOK" _ I have already aired my thoughts on the chances of Carthago
on our Future winners feature, needless to say that if Sir Peter O'Sullevan
had laid the money down he must be useful. I am also aware that Jameson and Chauvinist, are thought highly of by connections, and I
suspect the winner of this lurks amongst these three... I'll go with Chauvinist,
"No.1 Choice" _ Chauvinist,
"(e/w) Alternative" _Jameson
RUNNER(S) LISTED IN OUR "HORSES TO FOLLOW" FEATURE _Jameson
RUNNER(S) FEATURED ON "FUTURE WINNERS NOTEBOOK" _ Chauvinist,
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