13:00 NOVICES' CHASE - 2M 7.5F
ART APPROVAL - Landed a decent Handicap Hurdle last season at Cheltenham's November meeting but has struggled since and that win came off a mark of 120. Wasn't the best jumper of a hurdle and best form is over shorter as is his full brothers, AUTHORIZED ART. Does go on any ground but might just need this run
FLASH COLLONGES - Fresh from a wind op and a second season Novice Chaser. Started last season also off a wind op but was thrown into the Grade 2 John Francome at Newbury so was pitched in the deep end. From the family of NEPTUNE COLLONGES so you'd think stamina isn't an issue and may just have needed last season to strengthen up both physically and mentally. Likely to be much better than his current OR of 133 and having run twice at Newbury last season he might just make into a Hennessy horse. Might want to be winning this if that's to be true though
PRESS YOUR LUCK - 4 wins from 11 over hurdles including a Class 2 at Kempton last March off 130. Winning pointer but wasn't the best jumper in that sphere and I'm not sure he's going to make into a dour stayer but should get away with it around here on this ground
Summary - Little confidence in terms of a selection here as I think any of the three could have a case made for them although FLASH COLLONGES, for me, is the class horse in the race. He's capable of much better than he showed last season and I'm hoping he's come forward plenty and, as mentioned before, he could shape into a Hennessy type horse should he show the right attitude and land this. He'd be my idea of the winner, but I think the risks attached would mean he's not going to be a betting proposition
Last year's winner: DOES HE KNOW
Last winning favourite: 2014
13:15 VETERANS' HANDICAP CHASE - 2M 7.5F
CLOTH CAP - 0 from 2 here albeit only one of those runs was over fences but seasonal debut form does read 53434 and last win came in cheekpieces. Likely to have another target in mind this season but a top horse on his day although not been the same since pulling up in his first Grand National in 2021 where he was a disappointing favourite and bled in that race last year
BROKEN QUEST - notched up a hat-trick last spring and rose 23lbs off the back of that which makes things tricky here in better company but loves this ground and clearly enjoying the game has run around here twice and ran well on both occasions and been put away since June, you'd think, with this race in mind
SOME CHAOS - Won this last year fresh from a wind op off a 2lb higher mark and won comfortably enough. Definite chance again but you do tend to find more 10yo's win this than 11 (6 of last 7 were 10yo, last 11yo won in 2018)
FORGOT TO ASK - Demands a career best to defy this mark of 132 and can struggle early on in races. Ground no problem but a tough ask
THE MIGHTY DON - Landed the Novices' Chase over this trip here in 2020 when beating ENRILO when putting in a very good performance considering he was outpaced. Ground will be fine for him here and I think he's underrated off just 132. Has put in good a good run at the Cheltenham November meeting last season which would look a likely target again but no reason to think he won't be running on merit here, it will just depend what sort of pace they go early as to how strongly he might finish but he's on the shortlist
INNISFREE LAD - Really would want further than this and his last win came in a first time Visor. Goes on any ground, a sighter before the Welsh National at Christmas even though that would be a big ask. Not so keen on him here, especially without the headgear
AL ROC - Been kept very busy this summer and has had 20 runs this year, all for his new trainer David Pipe. Did pick up 4 wins but hasn't place in any of his last 7 and this trip would be as far as he would want
Summary - A race that looks fairly tricky to predict and another where I probably won't have a bet. I do think likely favourite CLOTH CAP is opposable on his recent form and reappearance record while both SOME CHAOS & THE MIGHTY DON would be the most likley winners in the race for me. The former would get slight preference having won this race 12 months ago but considering most of the field have plenty of letters against their names you could give BROKEN QUEST a chance as he arrives here in the form of his life
Last year's winner: SOME CHAOS
Last winning favourite: N/A
14:10 PERSIAN WAR NOVICES' HURDLE - 2M 3.5F
ACCIDENTAL REBEL - First time cheekpieces applied alongside the tongue-tie which has been worn on each start since moving to Fergal O'Brien's yard. Won 3 out of 4 and only narrowly denied latest but this really is a tall order and tends to hang left
DEEPER BLUE - Back to back hurdle winner last March when winning twice in quick succession. Was behind STAGE STAR at this meeting last year in receipt of 3lbs going down 6 lengths. I'd say that's fair form but arguably still short of what a typical Persian War requires
HECTOR JAVILEX - Maybe wants a bit further than this but comes here off the back of two wins in March but didn't seem to beat much
OUTLAW PETER - Picked up his first win in May after a break and a wind op and in fairness won it well. Behind THREE STRIPE LIFE in a bumper before joining current connections and every chance there's more to come is they've cleared whatever the issue was early last season but his bumper win is weak form and on what we've seen he might not be up to this. He's in the right hands though and I'm sure they wouldn't pitch him in here without thinking he's capable
PRESENTANDCOUNTING - 8yo who switched back to hurdles after a couple of bad runs over fences following a fall in April. Rating is probably the most accurate of the field given his exposure, but he can run well, although I'd hope there's something more progressive in here
QUID PRO QUO - Really hasn't beaten much in his two hurdle wins to date but can't deny he was impressive in the way he went about things and looks to have a major chance here
SCIPION - Tom Lacey did well at this meeting last season and he ran this horse here in March. Probably wants a stiffer test than he's going to get here, both in terms of ground and trip, but he's a very nice prospect for the season although he'd want to have brushed up on his jumping
GENTLE CONNECTIONS - Only mare in the field and the form isn't much to shout about despite winning her last 4, all of which she the cheek pieces were applied
Summary - Typically the Persian War isn't the deepest of Grade 2's but you often have enough to work on form wise to make a reasonable case for a few. QUID PRO QUO has fewer confirmed negatives to his name than some in here, and although he's yet to be tested, looks a worthy favourite. OUTLAW PETER & SCIPION both should be winning plenty over the coming seasons but I'm not sure either really suit this race. DEEPER BLUE for Harry Fry has solid enough form to suggest he'll be in the mix as does PRESENTANDCOUNTING but I have the feeling that any result other than QUID PRO QUO winning handsomely would point to a poor renewal
Last year's winner: CAMPROND
Last winning favourite: 2020
14:50 NOVICES' HURDLE - 2M
Not a huge amount to get stuck into here but I'd say I'm keen to see how both COLLECTORS ITEM & HUGOS NEW HORSE get on. The former was a little unlucky in his bumper but is related to ROYAL KAHALA while the latter was highly thought of but has been kept back for obstacles and is from the family of BLACK CORTON. Not over excited about anything in here to be honest
Last year's winner: KNAPPERS HILL
Last winning favourite: 2021
15:25 MARES NOVICES' HURDLE - 2M 3.5F
PRESENTING A QUEEN has bumper form with some of these in behind so looks sure to run well while DANCINGONTHEEDGE for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls dotted up in her bumper and the yard won this race in 2018 & 2019. She's my idea of the likely winner but she's likely to be priced accordingly
Last year's winner: NINA THE TERRIER
Last winning favourite: 2021
16:00 HANDICAP HURDLE - 2M
SEE THE SEA - Won the last day and the quicker the ground the better. Patchy form really and wouldn't be for me
NINA THE TERRIER - Won the Mares' Novices' Hurdler at this meeting last season on her seasonal debut and backed that up next time out at Newbury. She fell when in contention after in a Class 1 before the ground arguably went against her in the spring. 131 looks fair I'd say so she's capable of being in the mix
MONSIEUR LECOQ - Won the 2019 Welsh Champion Hurdle off 138 but was fortunate that day that it was LE PREZIEN upsides who didn't want to go by. Won twice last season over fences, both times sporting new headgear for the second time. Interestingly doesn't wear anything other than the tongue-tie which is technically the second time he'll be racing in it. Probably a run before switching back to fences, but the mark of 126 looks mighty low and I don't think the ground will be a race ender for him. Interesting
HOLLY - Dual Grade 3 bumper winner in France who was nothing special on her British debut but followed that up with a nice win at Wincanton. Winner of that race won handicaps off 112 and 117 and gave her 7lbs so with her winning by 7 and winning comfortably, you can see where they've got this mark of 125 from. Should run well and might want to be winning this if there's a bigger prize target down the line
JUST THE MAN - Got a decent weight swing with SEE THE SEA after being beaten 11 by her the last day and Brian Hughes takes this ride. Wouldn't be the biggest shock, but you'd think some others might just be a little better treated
SONIGINO - Really doesn't seem to see out his races and despite the Wind Op last spring I'd struggle to have any faith in him. Started off on a Class 1 listed hurdle though with HAUTE ESTIME behind and BARRICHELLO in front, both of which are mid 130's rated now. Another who wouldn't be a great shock if they bolted up but impossible to have any confidence in
Summary - Price is often the driver for bets and in races like this they'd be the only reason I'd have an interest. I think there's a few who should be better than their marks, MONSIEUR LECOQ for sure but also the 5yo's HOLLY & SONIGINO however that pair have their own question marks around them. So MONSIEUR LECOQ could tempt me in depending on his price, however I'm prepared that he's in need of headgear and a fence these days, but I do still think his mark of 126 is borderline offensively low
Last year's winner: N/A
Last winning favourite: N/A
16:35 CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS' HANDICAP CHASE - 2M 7.5F
FAVORI DE SIVOLE - Had a spin around here in March under today's Jockey and has won off just a 2lb lower mark. Maybe wants more of a test though
POWERFUL POSITION - I shouted about this horse at a mega price last year for this race only for him to be backed into favourite and well beaten. That was off a 25lb lower mark so at least I had the inkling that he was better than his mark. In much better form since but probably improves with racing
MANOFTHEPEOPLE - Conveniently waited for his twice runs over hurdles before winning and now being sent in here chasing. Interesting choice and should have much more to come from his mark of just 114
LEN BRENNAN - 1 win from 14 chase starts tempers any enthusiasm but has run well here before over fences and the yard are in great form
GALOP DU BOSC - Comes here from the Point field with no runs under British rules but is only 6 so not to be ignored
Summary - POWERFUL POSITION would be winning this one year too late and I can't look at him twice now he's 25lbs higher despite the fact it looked clear he was under rated before. LEN BRENNAN & MANOFTHEPEOPLE would be my two for the shortlist but it's not a race I want to get involved in
Last year's winner: ON CALL
Last winning favourite: N/A
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