ONES TO WATCH - 22nd 23rd FEBRUARY 2020

SATURDAY

Kempton

12:40 – DOWNTOWN GETAWAY

Not a race I’ve looked at in great depth but this lad was pulled up when sent off as 15/8 favourite off this mark at Newbury. He’s clearly had an issue but comes here fresh from a wind op and potentially could better than these. That said, he would rate as a risky betting proposition and I think he’ll be well found in the market

13:15 – PENDIL NOVICES’ CHASE

A tidy renewal here with Paul Nichols appearing to hold a very strong hand. SOUTHFIELD STONE won the Dovecote on this card last year but MASTER TOMMYTUCKER might just be the class horse if he can ensure a clear round and that is not a given. COMMANCHE RED & WHO DARES WINS are both capable of landing this which ensures that any wide margin winner here will be above average

13:50 – ADONIS JUVENILE HURDLE

SOLO jumps of the final declaration list as the typical ex French Nichols Juvenile but you’d be hard pressed to agree with his opening British mark of 146. FUJIMOTO FLYER sports a first time hood which I’m not keen on for Juveniles and has been well supported for the Triumph proper at bid prices. The pair should have the race between them

14:25 – KINGWELL HURDLE

The re-arranged Kingwell Hurdle means race goers are being spoilt at Kempton and looks like a typical Grade 2 in terms of class. ELGIN will be very interesting after a significant layoff while both CH’TIBELLO and SONG FOR SOMEONE have chances in this grade, especially the latter who is just a 5yo but has some nice handicap form coming into this

15:02 – DOVECOTE HURDLE

It’s a bit late in the day for genuine Cheltenham contenders to be appearing and this race wouldn’t looks the strongest of renewals but it’s nice chance to see the likes of BUZZ, KID COMMANDO, HIGHWAY ONE O TWO and WEST CORK in action as they’ve looked quite nice this season. It is, however, BENSON that would be the one I’d be keen to side with at the prices considering he was genuinely in with a chance I the Contenders Hurdle when unseating at Sandown. This should be much easier but he might just need more rain to be seen to best effect

Fairyhouse

14:17 – JUVENILE HURDLE

This Grade 3 might offer some pointers towards the Triumph, much like the Adonis, but there are a handful in here without Cheltenham entries BATTLE OF WILLS does have one, and Gordon has hinted he’ll be his Triumph horse so I’ll be keen to see how he fares but Willie Mullins has 4 in here so my eyes will be split across those for future reference

16:02 – BOBBYJO CHASE

This isn’t far off a veterans race with VOIX DU REVE the only runner aged in single figures but it does look a nice match up for BELLSHILL & ALPHA DES OBEAUX. Not sure how much we’ll learn from these older horses, but it should be an exciting race all the same

17:12 – FERNY HOLLOW

This horse has twice been second and looked quite green so you’d really want to see him finally go and get on with it. Willie Mullins said to see how this goes as he might still make the Champion Bumper but he’d want to winning this if he were to go there with a genuine chance. FRONTAL ASSAULT ran well enough in his bumper and should step forward from that and Gigginstown also run BAPTISM OF FIRE who was well fancied at Christmas but underwhelmed. He might not be straight forward but they’re always worth a watch next time out

SUNDAY

Fontwell

15:20 – NATIONAL SPIRIT HURDLE

QUEL DESTIN, THOMAS DARBY, WILLIAMS HENRY & MONSIEUR LECOQ makes up 4 of the 5 runners and on adjusted figures they have just 4lbs separating them so on paper we have a thrilling race in prospect. THOMAS DARBY running at this trip would suggest they want to bypass Cheltenham and might be thinking about the Aintree Hurdle over 2m4f for him but whatever they decide to do with him this will be a clear indictor to his well being. You’d like to think he’d land this but I’m just not yet convinced after that one handicap hurdle win so this would be a watching brief

Naas

14:10 – CHASE

HARDLINE is one of my guilty pleasures and like ORNUA & CADMIUM he could be in here to get his mark lowered although I think he has a genuine chance at this level. ANY SECOND NOW & ARTICULUM comes into play at these weights too so another race to sit back and watch

15:10 – NOVICE HURDLE

This Grade 2 looks a decent standard, and probably hints to those who might miss The Festival. ANDY DUFRESNE has been confirmed already to be sidestepping it and has to give weight away all round here. BEACON EDGE looks an above average runner, as does the other Gigginstown runner in GRANGECLARE NATIVE and we haven’t even mentioned ENVOI ALLEN’S half brother FIGHTER ALLEN yet. MT LEINSTER & TIGER TAP TAP are also in the race so it’s another sit back and watch but it should read quite well for form lines going into the Spring

17:10 -  BUMPER

FAROUK D’ALENE has been classed by Gordon Elliott as his Champion Bumper contedender but this looks a steady enough bumper too. FIRE ATTACK, STATTLER & VINNIE IS BUSY all look very nice prospects in their own right so if anything wins this well then I think they’re very smart