Good morning/evening to you all, I hope we all have our countdown hats on as it is now under three weeks until the Cheltenham Festival of 2015. But before then we have plenty of racing to get out of the way including a few key trials today at Kempton and Chepstow. We will learn a bit more about the Triumph Hurdle through the Adonis at Kempton as well as the Dovecote that was won last year by Irving. We are also treated to the BetBright Chase where Easter Day looks to make amends for his fall last time out at Cheltenham. If that isn't enough then we will also get to see Sire De Grugy at Chepstow in his final test before defending his Champion Chase crown. Lingfield also stage a good meeting which will see the return of the greatest racehorse in recent years look to win back to back Winter Derby Trials. But onwards and upwards!
As always @OnTheOtherHoof have a preview video prepared for you guys as we mark your card for the afternoon's Channel 4 races. Joining me on the panel this week are the regular suspects of @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell who give you their best bets of the weekend. But wait!! That isn't the only video we have done this week. If you missed it on Tuesday we recorded our first Cheltenham Festival preview along with Nick Scholfield and Sam Twiston-Davies who we thank for taking time out of their busy schedules. You can find both videos via the links below, enjoy!
BetBright Chase Day - Saturday Preview
Cheltenham Preview with Nick Scholfield and Sam Twiston-Davies
Now onto the all important selections!
2:55 Newcastle - Herdsman
We start today off with one of the highlights of the season at Newcastle with the Eider Chase over a stamina sapping four miles and a furlong. The last two winners of the race line up here once more with 2012 winner Portrait King and last year's winner Wyck Hill, both of them also have entries at Aintree in the Grand National.
There is one at a bigger price that has caught my eye however in the form of Brian Ellison's representative Herdsman. He may be getting a bit long in the tooth now as a ten year old but he still remains lightly raced after only gracing the racecourse 19 times. During those visits he has had his success through placing on nine of those starts and winning five of them, he must run off a three pound higher mark than his last winning one today though. Saying that he seems to be in good form after an eye catching effort over three furlongs shorter in the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick. That effort came with first time cheek pieces that are used once more after just failing to get up by a neck behind Scotswell, who re-opposes this afternoon. The extra three furlongs should help him but the one thing that is a slight worry is his jumping as he can be prone to a mistake or two, saying that he has never fallen and should give a good account of himself over this marathon trip.
Shotgun Paddy is one of the obvious main dangers but is also susceptible to a bad mistake or two as he has proved on numerous occasions. The biggest danger may come in the form of Knockanrawley who will appreciate the strong stamina test and Wyck Hill should put up a strong defence of his crown. (16/1)
3:45 Kempton - Easter Day
Bally Legend was a shock winner of this race last year at 28/1 when getting the better of Bury Parade, but hasn't won since and as a result is only two pounds higher in the handicap than he was twelve months ago. This looks a wide open race however and he will do well to win it again with Tom O'Brien in the saddle this time around.
Easter Day is a horse that I haven't been too complimentary about in the past, but he impressed me when still travelling strongly before falling three out at Cheltenham. Despite falling he is generally a very good jumper and it may not have been his fault last time out as he seemed to jump the fence well. He was unsighted at the fence by Little Jon jumping markedly to his left and across his line of vision and seemed to be put off. On that basis his jumping wouldn't be a problem as long as he doesn't have anything repercussions of the fall.
I am still of the thought process that he needs three miles and will likely get even further than that so it's a relief to see him stepped back up in trip here. Things haven't really gone his way over fences after missing a year through a bout of colic before reappearing at Newbury in December. He ran well enough on that occasion and looked to have improved before his tumble last time out when looking like playing a key role. He remains well handicapped on the back of that though and looks to have plenty in hand off a mark of 142 and is taken to land the BetBright Chase this year. (9/2)
NAP - Easter Day
Nb - Herdsman
Have a good weekend and as always, happy punting!
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