Saturday’s horse racing: Chronological guide to the big races on trials day
We have a chronological guide to Saturday's key races in England and Ireland on an afternoon packed full with potential Cheltenham Festival clues.
12.00 Fairyhouse Book Your Easter Festival Tickets Today Beginners Chase
An intriguing start to the afternoon. I wouldn’t like to venture where CARTER MCKAY, GLENLOE or REAL STEEL will rock up a the Festival but they’re horses to keep a very close eye on.
The former was long held in high regard by the Willie Mullins team before being bought by Qatar Racing and switched to Gordon Elliott. He finished seventh in a similar contest to this at Naas on his first – and only – start for the new team last month but shaped pleasingly. There’ll be a target somewhere.
That comment definitely applies to stablemate Glencoe who was touched off in last year’s Pertemps Final. He has only had one run over fences to date – sent over to Plumpton for the warm heat won by Master Dino. He never threatened to land a blow there but is one to watch very closely. He was entered in the National Hunt Chase this week.
Real Steel represents the Mullins team and has been put in the Racing Post Arkle and JLT in March. It will be interesting to see how high he can fly but he was making Paloma Blue pull out all the stops when falling at the last on his chasing debut at Leopardstown.
12.40 Cheltenham JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle
A race that does exactly what it says on the tin. ADJALI was fleetingly favourite for the Triumph itself after winning at Market Rasen on his British debut but was touched off by Quel Destin upped to Grade One company for the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. It was still a big run against a tough-as-teak rival and he sets a good standard for a host of interesting opponents.
They include, and in no particular order, DOGON, a French recruit for Paul Nicholls and Middleham Park who won a chase at Fontainbleau on his last start in France. Joseph O’Brien meanwhile is probably having a couple of sighters for current Festival favourite Sir Erec in the shape of Cork winner FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES and Limerick fourth FINE BRUNELLO.
OUR POWER won well at Newbury last time for Alan King and is on the upgrade, PROTEKORAT unseated at the fourth on his much-awaited British debut in the race won by NELSON RIVER here in December and PAGERO is a big price – but attracted one at the sales too. JP McManus parted with close to €200,000 after he won two of his four starts in France and he starts out here for Jonjo O’Neill.
1.30 Doncaster Napoleons Casino & Restaurant Owlerton Sheffield Lightning Novices' Chase
No Lalor but still a significant pointer for the Racing Post Arkle with DYNAMITE DOLLARS lining up. After all, he had the former back in third when winning the Henry VIII at Sandown before claiming the scalp of Kalashnikov in the Wayward Lad at Kempton. Two big guns silenced already and this looks a perfect final race before heading to Prestbury Park as a major player.
1350 Cheltenham Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Trophy Handicap Chase
JANIKA made an eye-catching start to his British career when second to Hell’s Kitchen at Ascot in December. Jumping and travelling well throughout, he kept on well to try and close the clear leader down from the third last. It was to no avail as he went down by two-and-a-quarter lengths but connections saw enough to warrant an entry in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival. Bear in mind they already have the likes of Top Notch and Terrefort for that too.
2.25 Cheltenham BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase
Now where do we start here? FRODON continued his love affair with Prestbury Park with a fine weight-carrying performance when thumping his rivals in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Connections are working back from the Ryanair Chase with him but could there be Magners Gold Cup thoughts if he wins this?
To do so he’ll have to beat a horse who is already going for Gold in ELEGANT ESCAPE. He won the Welsh National despite idling on the run-in and is a talent. At seven he's still potentially upwardly mobile too.
Nicky Henderson runs both TERREFORT and VALTOR. The former sustained a back injury when well adrift of Elegant Escape at Sandown on his reappearance but counted the Scilly Isles and Midlmay Novices’ Chase among his haul last season. He’s very good at his best.
We don’t know how high Valtor can fly after his winning British debut at Ascot where he seemingly stunned punters and connections alike with an eight lengths win over Jammin Masters. The form has taken the odd knock since though and he’s here to find out whether all roads in the spring lead back to the Cotswolds – or to Aintree for the Randox Health Grand National.
Keep an eye on MINELLA ROCCO. He was last seen when falling in the Irish Gold Cup back in February but returns here post wind surgery and a fresh horse. He was second to Sizing John in the 2017 Gold Cup and has only had four starts since.
2.40 Doncaster olbg.com Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle
LADY BUTTONS is absolutely thriving right now. She’s won all three starts this term, a similar heat to this at Wetherby in November and chases at Newbury as well as at this track last month. She switches to timber for what is likely to be her final race before the Festival in March where… connections are going to test Altior’s mettle in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Fingers crossed she passes this final test with flying colours and while it will offer no clues as to her chances of hitting the frame in March, it would at least be great to see a new face in there against Nicky Henderson's superstar.
3.00 Cheltenham Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
A big day for BIRCHDALE, who looked so promising when beating Clarendon Street on his debut under Rules at Warwick in December. Henderson pitches him straight into Grade Two company and if he comes through this test the champion trainer and owner JP McManus will have a dilemma.
For they are also responsible for Champ, current favourite for the Ballymore at the Festival in March and winner of the Challow at Newbury over Christmas. BREWIN’UPASTORM was fourth there and still looked a work in progress. He’ll give us a decent gauge as to exactly what Birchdale is.
It’s no two-horse race though. JARVEYS PLATE was a wide-margin winner of a Listed contest here on New Year’s Day having chased home subsequent Tolworth winner Elixir De Nutz prior to that. BUSTER VALENTINE looked a very useful prospect in winning at Ayr and Newcastle this season and represents Ruth Jefferson. Winner of a point-to-point, he’s a fascinating contender for a yard who don’t tilt at windmills.
3.35 Cheltenham galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle
The Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle looks the most open of the Festival championship races this year - so much so they’re clamouring to run in it.
BLACK OP and LIL ROCKERFELLER both started the campaign over fences before having their sights readjusted. The former is a big runner having chased home an on-song Samcro in the Ballymore before landing the Grade One Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on his next and final start over timber.
His fencing was never fluent - a comment which also applies to Lil Rockerfeller - and it looks a sensible move from connections of both horses to come down this route.
PAISLEY PARK is on a real roll, winning valuable pots at Ascot and Haydock before taking the step up to Grade One company in his stride in the Long Walk last time. MIDNIGHT SHADOW is another on the upgrade and looked very good in the Relkeel at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He has stamina – rather than ability – to prove here.
SAM SPINNER on the other hand has a host of questions to answer after a stuttering start to his campaign, unseating his rider at both Newbury and Ascot. Fingers crossed it all falls back into place with him.
UNOWHATIMEANHARRY was back to winning ways at Newbury in November before falling in the Long Walk. He won this in 2017 and remains very capable on his day while last year’s winner AGRAPART is back for more in what looks a much deeper renewal.
It includes a resurgent AUX PTITS SOINS, who earned this rise in class when winning a good handicap here last time, and WHOLESTONE, who found the test too sharp behind Midnight Shadow in the Relkeel and will be much better suited to the demands of this contest.
