1:30 Turners Novice Chase
GREY DAWNING 11/4 generally 1.25 POINTS WIN
This is a tight race and you could make a case for quite a few of these. Facile Vega is a classy but does not look a natural chaser. His class could win him the race but I do not entirely trust the horse in the jumping department and although this further trip will be appreciated, he can sometimes use up too much energy by being keen.
Ginny’s Destiny is improving with every run but I am sure had GREY DAWNING not made a mistake at the second last fence back in December, he would have beat Ginny’s Destiny comfortably.
Iroko has made a remarkable recovery as he was said to be out for the season back in November yet he is now running in this race. Has he had enough time in training or are they taking a chance as after this season he won’t have his novice status?
That leaves me with GREY DAWNING who I have been impressed with all season. He has really taken to chasing with two wins at Haydock and Warwick, both in very good fashion. He probably should have won here in the December but for a mistake and had he done so, he would be coming into the race with 3 wins on the bounce.
Last time out he was a winner over 3 miles so he clearly stays further than today’s trip but on soft ground, I don’t see it being a problem. In fact I think GREY DAWNING will go from the front here, get into a nice rhythm and play catch me if you can. WIN.
2:50 Ryanair Chase
ENVOI ALLEN 9/2 generally – 1 POINT WIN
GA LAW 25/1 generally – 0.375 POINTS E/W (4 places, 1/5 odds)
We have 2 selections in this race.
I would not be surprised to see Banbridge a non runner in this race. He just hates soft ground. Had it turned up good to soft ground, he would have been my bet of the race but I just can’t back him on soft ground, it goes against all my rules. The horse for me is last years winner ENVOI ALLEN he is reported to be in rude health and a repeat of last year, sees him go very close.
ENVOI ALLEN is a proper Cheltenham horse and probably don’t get the credit he serves. He has won at three Cheltenham Festivals, The Bumper, The Ballymore and the Ryanair and you could possibly be saying 4 Cheltenham Festivals but for a fall in the Turners Novice Chase, as he was odds on that day.
He has only ran twice this season with his last run coming at Down Royal in November, when 2nd (beaten a neck to Gerri Colombe) over 3 miles.
We know he stays that bit further than today’s trip so if this gets into a stamina test, you know he will be staying on up the hill. At the price he just looks a solid bet and trainer Henry De Bromhead horses were running really well in Day 1. He seems to have horses in a good place. WIN.
Talking of staying on up the hill, our old friend GA LAW will be doing exactly the same, if close enough. He stays 3 miles but a fast run 2m 4 1/2f race on the new course, really suits him. He was a winner last time out at Cheltenham over course and distance and I liked how he was prominent, something I would like to see him do in this race.
He may not have the class of some of these but I do still think he is improving.
He ran in this race last year when 5th of 9, beaten 9 lengths, but he came into the race last year on the back of a heavy fall. This time around he comes into the race in tip top shape and connections have even paid to supplement him into the race when he had other entries. You don’t supplement a horse into a race if you don’t think he has a chance and I am sure Jamie Snowden believes he can run a massive race.
GA LAW is a proper Cheltenham horse and is 2 from 3 around Cheltenham. One thing I know is if he is close enough coming to the last fence, he will fly up the hill better than most. E/W.
Good Luck
