The horse racing broadcaster offers up his selections for the second day of the Cheltenham November meeting, headlined by the Arkle trial.
There are seven races on ITV4 on Saturday, split between the second day of the November meeting at Cheltenham and two races from Windsor.
At the time of writing on Friday morning there is not a cloud in the sky at Cheltenham, so there is the prospect of omitted obstacles to contend with towards the second half of the card.
As a result, the selections are slightly front ended and hopefully the forecast of a little more cloud cover will result in all the fences being jumped in the Arkle trial, which is the clash of the day between KABRAL DU MATHAN 11/10 (1.45 Cheltenham) and Old Park Star. Hopefully connections of both will be happy with the ground as these really are two heavyweights in the division with genuine credentials for winning back here in March. Personal preference is for Kabral Du Mathan, based on his greater overall level of experience and the fact he has always been so fluent over his hurdles. He looked equally as adept over fences at Perth on his chasing debut, and that success was at a sufficiently low grade to avoid a penalty. A match to savour.
The first live race on ITV also features a clash, this time between Charles Darnay and ATOMIC CITY 9/4 (1.10 Cheltenham). I called the race Charles Darnay won on debut at Wetherby, where he overcame obvious inexperience early to score. Connections were very bullish afterwards about him making up into a Triumph Hurdle horse, but Atomic City looked to win with a bit in hand at Cork and the early signs are positive for horses by Ghaiyyath going over obstacles (5/16 A/E 1.13).
The feature handicap at Cheltenham features JULY FLOWER 6/1 (2.20 Cheltenham), who last year won the Novice Chase that Kabral Du Mathan and Old Park Star contest this time around. This is her first run in a handicap over fences, having been campaigned exclusively in Graded company. She failed to fully see out 3m last time in a Grade 1 at Punchestown last April, but a mark of 142 looks very workable. Usual rider Darragh O’Keeffe will not be able to ride due to a spill at Thurles, so keep an eye out for the jockey change.
Lastly at Cheltenham, MARGARET’S LEGACY 33/1 (2.55 Cheltenham) is available at a good price but may not be a forlorn hope. He proved very progressive over fences last season and would have been far closer in the Ultima if not for an error three-out. The query will obviously be his fitness level, but with Richard Upton (son of Guy and Sophie) claiming 10lb he may have been too readily written off. He reverted to hurdles at Punchestown in a race that has worked out strongly, and looks worth a bet here.
Finally, at Windsor, THANK YOU MA’AM 10/1 (EW) (1.25 Windsor) looks to have the potential to get a soft lead on a jumps tracks that definitely favours speed. She looked to go hard enough at Ascot last time, so deserved extra credit for hanging on to make the frame. She has placed rather more than she has won, so an each-way approach seems the way to go.
