By James Watson (James_watson98)
Saturday sees the passing of the seasons as Jumps and Flat racing combine with Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting and Doncaster’s Vertem Futurity card look hotly contested. Not only that but a competitive Newbury card which looks like there could be some nice prospects for next season. Let’s get on with it! 😉
We will start with the first race at Doncaster where I think it will finally be Troubador’s day for a big day. He’s run two big races in his last two starts at York and at Redcar when being beaten by Summer Sands in the Two-year-old trophy. That was a big performance last time and he has had a busy season which is a worry, but he has never been out of the first two apart from his debut and that is in eight starts. His 2nd at York was in a typical hot nursery and was just nabbed on the line by a southern raider. He goes well in heavy/good to soft which is a big plus and I think he sets the standard especially claiming weight from market rival Aberama Gold.
Doncaster 1:45 Troubador 11/4
Over to Cheltenham now and the first looks a typical competitive hot handicap over three miles and I’m siding with Shantou Village at a big price. He was sent off favourite for this race last year and is double this time. He was unseated at the second last in the Kerry National when looking set for a place. If that fall hasn’t left his mark which it shouldn’t have, I think that performance should put him bang there. Hes won novice chases off higher marks and I think he’s dropping to a decent mark. His trainer Neil Mulholland is a trainer whose horses have been running really well and I think he could be decent each way value.
Cheltenham 2:00 Shantou Village
Back to the flat action at Newbury and the Cancom stakes formerly known as the Horris Hill. Kinross is my NAP of the weekend as his performance on debut was devastating. After that performance he went high on my list of Guineas fancies as his turn of foot on soft ground was good between the 2- and 1-furlong pole. The second in that race has come out and won and franked the form and he beat him by eight lengths. This Kingman colt is very well bred being out of Ceilidh House and related to Ceilidh’s Dream and Melrose Abbey and if you fancy him like me for this race then you should probably take the 25/1 about him for the 2000 Guineas. I’m really looking forward to his performance and hopefully he can extend his winning run.
Newbury 2:50 Kinross 6/5
Cheltenham has an interesting 2mile handicap with one of my favourite horses in training Gino Trail running in it. He loves to front run and think that he is normally best when fresh. He isn’t getting any younger at the age of 12 but I’m sure the fire is still in the belly for him. He hasn’t won since February 2018, but he ran well last season in the three starts he had. Obviously, this season looks to run more smoothly as he is starting off early. Saint Calvados may be difficult to beat but I’m sure Richard Johnson will fire him into every fence, and he will respond greatly and I c ant wait to see his big white face ploughing on out front.
Cheltenham 3:10 Gino Trail
Last of all is the Cheltenham Novice hurdle over just short of 3 miles where The Butcher Said lines up for an inform team of Olly Murphy, AP Heskin and the McNeil Family. He has been on the go over hurdles since April which could be negative but will put him match fit for this. Hes been running well on good ground and the ground will obviously be different here but I don’t think that should affect him. He ran over 2m 5f last time and back over three miles should suit him as he got tacked for a bit of toe last time. This is a week enough novice hurdle and he should get his head in front again here
Cheltenham 4:20 The Butcher Said
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