13:30 – Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) – GINNY’S DESTINY
REIGNING champion trainer of Britain Paul Nicholls saddled the winner of this race last season, where Stage Star ran out an impressive winner over multiple grade 1 winner Mighty Potter at odds of 15/2. This time he trains
Ginny’s Destiny, who he said after his last run is better than Stage Star was at this point last season. After a disappointing showing on his seasonal reappearance he has racked up a hattrick of wins, each more impressive than the last. In the process he has reversed form over hurdles with Grey Dawning and has improved 22lbs in the ratings with no sign of it slowing down any
time soon. The main danger here is Facile Vega, with Willie Mullins’ yard in red hot form two days into the festival and he will be stepping up in trip to 2 miles 4 furlongs for the first time in his career.
14:50 – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (GBB Race) – STAGE STAR
NICHOLLS could follow success in the first race of the day by winning the Ryanair with last year’s winner of the Turners. Stage Star won a premier handicap chase here in November in a dominant front-running display with excellent jumping and showed a bit of toughness to survive a huge scare after the last. On New Year’s Day he pulled up behind Shakem Up’arry but this was when carrying top weight on very testing heavy ground. He hasn’t run since and if last season is anything to go by he should be coming into his own at this time of year. He does have form finishing fifth behind Banbridge at Aintree last season but that did feel like he left his best at Cheltenham and Banbridge had been saved for the Aintree meeting. It should be very different if the real
Stage Star shows up here.
15:30 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – CRAMBO
LAST seen achieving a career best when fending off a brave late surge from Paisley Park to win the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December. Although his rival is now 12 years old, he has retained a lot of ability and has also come within a head of beating Dashel Drasher and Noble Yeats this season so the form is solid. After the Long Walk Hurdle success, Crambo boasts form ahead of many of the big British runners. Last year’s third Teahupoo runs again here for Gordon Elliott who has kept Teahupoo fresh with only one previous start this season and he is the current favourite. If Crambo reproduces that performance we saw in December, he stands every chance in an open race.
Hawkinsport 