Good ground forecast at Warwick for this afternoon’s competitive six-race card.
Vision Des Flos (3.00) jumped well when making all at Uttoxeter last time and can confirm the form with runner up Zoffee although the latter is 2lbs better off this afternoon. The selection – 11/4 with MansionBet – like many of the Colin Tizzard trained animals was below par last term and he remains very well treated on his old form. He may not get his own way up front with Vinnie The Hoddie and Templehills in the field, but his fast fluent jumping can burn them off over the early fences.
Note Harry Cobden is not due to return to the saddle until Friday at the earliest, so Brendan Powell takes over in the saddle.
Go As You Please won the 2m chase on the card 12 months ago but looks vulnerable from a stone higher mark this afternoon although it is not a race that will take a great deal of winning. Three Bullet Gate jumped well – if slightly out to the right – at Market Rasen last time and was still two lengths ahead when coming down two out last time. He has been hit with a 5lbs rise for that effort, however, and I wonder whether he will be quite as effective going left-handed.
Peter Bowen reapplied blinkers to Kapsize (4.10) at Hexham last time – a course he had won at previously – and it brought about a change of fortunes in a stronger race than todays. If the headgear works the oracle a second time, I don’t believe the 4lbs rise will prevent him doubling up. The selection is 7/4 with William Hill.
Birchdale seems to have been around for ever but is still only a seven-year-old and it is possible the change of scenery will bring about a change of fortunes for JP McManus and Enda Bolger in a tremendous Beginners Chase at Listowel.
One could argue all the main protagonists will get further than this extended 2m 1f going forward but the one that I am most looking forward to back on the track is Dancing On My Own (4.55). The selection has not been seen out since the 2019 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle when he was beaten 20L having been sent off at just 9/2.
The selection had previously won at Wexford over hurdles and needs to race left-handed as he showed a tendency to jump slightly out to his left over timber. Henry de Bromhead’s 7-y-old is not the biggest, but he jumped his hurdles nimbly and fitness is unlikely to be an issue – despite the 600+ day absence – with the yard in such excellent form although the market is likely to provide valuable clues as to what is expected of the selection today.
Bleu Berry jumped well on his belated chase debut at Galway in July and is one of a number of dangers in a race that looks sure to throw up a number of winners as the season progresses.
At Leicester, the return to fast ground can see Meydan Rose (1.00) bounce back for a below par run at Lingfield last time. That effort was two months ago, and Richard Hughes has given her plenty of time to get over that run. She held an entry in the G2 Lowther earlier in the season and her fluent Chepstow maiden success on her penultimate start suggested she might be well treated from an opening mark of 74. William Buick is a positive booking for the each way recommendation who is 5s with Boylesports. .
Kingsholm (5.30) has not been getting home over Newcastle’s stiff 5f of late, but he is back down to a mark 1lb lower than when scoring over this evening’s C&D at Wolverhampton back in October and Cieren Fallon – who was in the plate on that occasion – returns to the saddle this evening. He is well drawn in stall three and his course record stands at 511. The selection nis 11/4 with Boylesports.
The hat-trick seeking Street Life and recent course winner True Dancer are respected and the selections market rivals are also well berthed in stalls four and one, respectively.
