13:20 – Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – Kopek Des Bordes
THE antepost favourite since his impressive win at the Dublin Racing Festival is 3/3 and until that performance, it felt like the Supreme was open for a runner of his class to step in. He’s visually impressive, imposing and is quick through the air. His form is very strong on paper, having beat Kawaboomga, who won next time out, by 23/4 lengths in his maiden over obstacles, followed by an emphatic 13 length win ahead of Karniquet in a Grade 1 Leopardstown last month. A few of those in behind including the runner-up had previous places in grade 1 company but none by such a far margin and the form plus the eye test make it hard to back against the favourite here. For the places, Workahead had similarly impressive success at Leopardstown in a strongly-run maiden on Boxing Day ahead of William Munny and Redemption Day. Irancy could go well at a big price and hasn’t been seen since November after bolting up ahead of recent winner Will The Wise at Punchestown. Romeo Coolio also boasts grade 1 success over hurdles after winning the Champions Novice Hurdle in December with Kaniquet and Bleu De Vassy in behind. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him finish in the top three but he just misses out on the verdict here.
14:00 – My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1) –
Jango Baie (Each Way)
PERSONALLY, this is a race I will probably avoid due to the short-priced favourite, the small field and plenty of risks for backing for or against him. Antepost favourite Sir Gino was ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious infection in his leg and Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old would have been one of my picks of the whole meeting for this race. Last season’s Triumph winner gets the pick in his absence due to his athletic ability and the Irish Arkle win on his record from last month. My only concern would be that his jumping hasn’t been the cleanest but I would say it was a big improvement on earlier in the season and Willie Mullins may have worked some magic since. Also, in such a small field, it is difficult to see anything preventing a clear run for this horse to show his true speed as long as he makes it over his obstacles. If the race still pays two places at the off, Jango Baie put in a brilliant performance over a further distance here in December where he beat Springwell Bay and
Caldwell Potter convincingly. He shapes as a really smart alternative each way given his excellent jumping, consistency and the good ground are all in his favour. If betting on this as a stand alone race, Jango Baie each way would be the pick because of the value and safety net of a 2nd place finish. If doing an accumulator to win with a fun low stake the pick would be Majborough.
Only By Night gets a mention in 3rd after she has been switched from the Mares’ Chase for Gavin Cromwell.
14:40 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – Katate Dori
HAVING run six times since the start of November, Katate Dori has built an impressive record over fences this season, with three wins from four starts.
His previous run was the best performance, beating Hyland by 15 lengths in a Premier Handicap at Kempton. He will also only carry 3lbs more than when he beat Hyland who won’t be here to pose a danger on what will probably be good ground. My only concern would be his jumping downhill, as he did put in a risky looking jump at Chepstow in January but his form is too good to ignore on this occasion. Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man has been on a consistent run since a fall in his first start of the campaign in November. He finished 2nd to
Frero Banbou, Victtorino and Docpickedme before finally making a breakthrough win at Ascot last month. Unfortunately, Jingko Blue fell early there so we are missing some data but he galloped impressively to a wide margin victory over lesser opponents and under 10 stone 11lbs is appealing on paper. Henry’s Friend put in a very likeable performance last time out under 11st 12lbs with some very smart jumping and has been kept fresh since December. He runs for Ben Pauling who has been in great form and makes 3rd in my verdict. Victtorino just misses out as he only beat Threeunderthrufive by a nose last time out and to me it suggested he may have reached his limit in the ratings but he has been in great form this season.
15:20 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Lossiemouth
WITH Brighterdaysahead confirmed in the Champion Hurdle, Lossiemouth’s late switch sees her head the market as odds-on favourite. She fell when keeping pace with State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month, with connections not sure what caused her to fall considering she has been a nice jumper. It would be a guess, but possibly the intensity of matching strides with State Man effected her accuracy somehow and it is probable that she won’t have to face such intensity stepping back down to the Mares’ Hurdle. She won last year’s renewal and she should repeat her success considering a mare of her quality definitely wouldn’t look out of place in a Champion Hurdle field.
Joyeuse is a late inclusion after being supplemented by Nicky Henderson’s team for J P McManus after winning the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last month. If the lack of rain continues it will only help Nicky Henderson’s runners and her speed in the closing stages in that last run was eye-catching.
Henry de Bromhead’s yard haven’t been at their best at times this season but July Flower may have gone under the radar after beating Kala Conti and Jetara at Leopardstown in December. There was a strong pace that day but the mare showed good ability to stay after a stamina test. Jetara’s grade 2 success next time out also boosted the form a bit so she could make the places here.
16:00 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) –
Constitution Hill
NICKY Henderson’s star became the first to win three Christmas Hurdles on his first run since the 2023 renewal. He dominated Lossiemouth who could never get on terms when travelling. He followed that by winning the Unibet Hurdle at a canter in January, appearing to be half asleep when he blundered at the last, possibly because it was so easy which may have caused him to switch off.
He’ll face a greater test of pace here, with Brighterdaysahead who is likely to make the running and is confirmed to be running for Gordon Elliot. She was last seen winning by a staggering 30 lengths in front of last season’s Champion Hurdler Stateman in 2nd. The pace to aim at will surely only bring the best out of Constitution Hill much like his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle win. Brighterdaysahead given her incredible form should finish 2nd and Stateman 3rd, despite that 30 length defeat.
16:40 – Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Liam Swagger (Each Way)
STENCIL quite simply holds the most impressive form in the field after his last run in the Triumph Hurdle Trial in late January. He finished 2nd behind
East India Dock, and although the losing margin was 10 lengths, that was more due to the brilliance of the winner who is currently favourite for the
Triumph Hurdle. However, Stencil will be carrying nearly top weight and with only one of the last five winners carrying more than 11st 5lbs (Brazil, 11st 9lbs), it feels right to look elsewhere. Liam Swagger runs for James Owen’s yard who have an abundance of solid juveniles this season, including East India Dock. Liam Swagger has three wins from his last four runs and he won a listed race at Wetherby ahead of Static, who finished a fairly distant runner-up behind
East India Dock on his next start. Teriferma wasn’t the most convincing when a long way behind East India Dock and Stencil in January, but holds form ahead of the majority of the other British challengers and should go better as long as the ground is some description of good. At this point it also feels like anything is possible when Sean Bowen is on board and in a big handicap like this with a large field his tactics and strong drive could steal a place in the top three.
17:20 – Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase – Transmission
TRANSMISSION’S record reads one win and two 2nd’s in three starts over fences this season, including finishing 2nd to Haiti Couleurs here in a novices’ handicap in December. Haiti Couleurs has been very likeable over fences and very nearly got the pick here. He has sharp, efficient jumping and also won at Aintree ahead of Uncle Bert last November. The reason a reverse in the form is predicted here is a swing of 4lbs in the weights in favour of Transmission and a half-a-mile increase in distance. Transmission gained a lot of ground late when the two last met and with the change in the weights it’s possible Transmission can overturn the form. Haiti Couleurs is 2nd pick but is another possible winner, while Will Do could possibly finish 3rd despite not having a win yet over fences. He consistently seems to finish in the places and goes for Gordon Elliot who knows how to produce a staying chaser.
Hawkinsport 