Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2): Captain Redbeard to Capsize Opposition

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2): Captain Redbeard to Capsize Opposition

3.15 Haydock Just as it should be, this year’s renewal has a majority of its runners very close together when handicapped with conditions in mind, several of them within 2lbs of each other by our reckoning. With former favourite Valtor a late defector the price on our selection has contracted, but nonetheless we should still be able to grab some decent value in what is a competitive heat. It’ll be interesting to see former Grand National champ One For Arthur…

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Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle: Kloud To Make A Canary Out Of Lanzarote Rivals

Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle: Kloud To Make A Canary Out Of Lanzarote Rivals

2.40 Kempton Fifteen runners have been confirmed for the Lanzarote at Kempton and it looks a typically competitive affair. We’ve narrowed this one down to what we think are six key contenders, the selection certainly being a nice type going the right way. And The New Johnny Farrelly’s entrant has won just a soft ground novice hurdle to date but may be all the better for being in a bigger race, though he may attempt to lead them with the…

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Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3): He’s Not The Messiah, But He May Win The Welsh National!

Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3): He’s Not The Messiah, But He May Win The Welsh National!

2.50 Chepstow A race steeped in history, the Welsh Grand National has been on the go since 1895 and despite it not carrying quite the same level of prestige as the big one at Aintree, no mugs win this race. Horses of the calibre of Earth Summit, Bindaree, Silver Birch, Synchronised and Native River have won this event in recent times and whatever happens in this renewal we are bound to get Cheltenham and Aintree clues. Here are the best…

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Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase: Patrick’s Day At Ascot In Silver Cup

Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase: Patrick’s Day At Ascot In Silver Cup

3.oo Ascot We have another quality renewal of this race in which last year’s winner Gold Present will be a warm order, trained by the increasingly powerful Nicky Henderson and coming into this second time out after a wind operation. Race Card Main Contenders There are plenty in with chances though, many preferring this track over the likes of Cheltenham and many potentially loving this soft ground.  In any case, here are the best six in the race as we…

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Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (Grade 3): Frodon And On And On

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (Grade 3): Frodon And On And On

1.55 Cheltenham The highlight of day two of Cheltenham’s International meeting is the £130,000 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup or the December Golf Cup in old money, an enthralling two-and-a-half mile handicap chase. Winners in the recent past including Village Vic, Frodon and Gutar Pete have had a propensity to be carrying lower weights so we certainly can’t discount those at the bottom of the handicap, though the field is littered with runners in with a shout so narrowing this down…

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Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3): Mill To Grind Them Down In Becher

Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3): Mill To Grind Them Down In Becher

1.30 Aintree We could uncover some possible Grand National clues on Saturday as we welcome back the Becher Chase to Aintree. A quality field has been assembled for the 27th running of this race with last year’s winner Blaklion once again popular among punters in the run-up to the race and it’s easy to see why.  There may just be a very good one against him though, especially for each-way purposes. We’ve narrowed the field down to six we think…

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Ladbrokes Trophy Chase: Elegant To Escape Rivals’ Clutches In Ladbrokes Trophy

Ladbrokes Trophy Chase: Elegant To Escape Rivals’ Clutches In Ladbrokes Trophy

3.00 Newbury Those chasing the £142,000 first prize here look set to be hit with a proper test; 3m2f around Newbury in soft ground at this stage of the season will try out their limits and we’ve narrowed a competitive field down to six for you with an improving type taken to land the pot. Black Corton This will be a proper staying contest and I feel Black Corton is right in the middle when it comes to deciding whether…

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Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle: Paisley The Pattern At Haydock

Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle: Paisley The Pattern At Haydock

Saturday 2.25 Haydock This race has only been a Grade 3 since 2011 but it can attract, and has attracted, a quality field with at least two of the runners looking to improve enough to get themselves into Grade 1 contention in March. Sam Spinner won this race last year off a featherweight but it has been shown the race can be won by the classier types and with the ground on the fast side for this time of year,…

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Greatwood Handicap Hurdle: Warning Of Storm Rising At Cheltenham

Greatwood Handicap Hurdle: Warning Of Storm Rising At Cheltenham

3.00 Sunday Cheltenham We have at least one contender in this race whose connections will have designs on getting to the Champion Hurdle March in the shape of Verdana, though once more we have a good value selection among our six against the field for this Grade 3 hurdle. Racecard Contenders Charli Parcs Nicky Henderson’s 5yo has not only started well in each of the last two seasons but has in fact improved a fair amount and as such is…

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BetVictor Gold Cup (Handicap Chase): Baron To Lord It Over BetVictor Field

BetVictor Gold Cup (Handicap Chase): Baron To Lord It Over BetVictor Field

2.25 Saturday Cheltenham This two-and-a-half mile Grade 3 chase is an early season highlight with £90,000 up for grabs to the winner and no shortage of quality competition for the main prize. Nicky Henderson’s Rather Be has been favourite in the run-up to the race but is not short of challengers and we have five against the field on our shortlist, the selection set to go off at a particularly inviting price for backers. Racecard Contenders Baron Alco Having run…

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