by With the Champions Meeting at Ascot behind us, the most important races at this level for the remainder of the season take place abroad, notably the Melbourne Cup, the Japan Cup and of course the Breeders Cup at Del Mar.
From now on the jumping season begins to get underway, starting with Cheltenham this afternoon where the big highlight of the day is the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase at 2.20 over an extensive three mile course and for which the Season two chaser Broadway Boy is likely to be favorite of the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies team.
The six-year-old was once considered a possible Gold Cup horse and was expected to compete with a mark of 149. So if he still enjoys the same high regard, he must certainly be close here if his farm continues to be in top form – especially since this young horse has an excellent record here.
However, I’m happy to see him win at this price and it has to be my alternative Chasing fire.
Two out of six over the bigger fences, this son of Maxios will appreciate the scattered rain forecast and remains completely exposed at this distance, with his yard in great form so far as the new jumping season begins.
Of his other rivals, the severely disabled Senior Chief of Escaria Ten and Henry de Bromhead appear to be the greatest threats.
HDB is also aiming for a hat-trick MARV MICHAEL (1.10) and he should be close in the first two-and-a-half mile Novice Handicap Chase, while the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier (2.55) may go in the same direction HIGHEST GIFT.
The Henry Daly-trained Rifleman is fourth out of nine in hurdles in his career so far and a good challenge on the ground over these extended three miles looks to be a good fit for him and he gets the Irish Raiders Como Park vote.
The penultimate flat card at Doncaster features the William Hill Futurity Stakes at 2.40, where Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes hero Wimbledon Hawkeye could start the market leader ahead of Aidan O’Brien attacker Delacroix. Both have excellent claims, but I’ll side with Godolphin ANNO DOMINI.
This beautifully bred son of New Bay is second of two in his short career so far with wins at Newbury and Sandown Park, but he is elusive as he barely performs enough in his races.
His breeding suggests that the softest ground he has ever encountered should not be a problem and I think he has the most scope to improve on the two favorites and the recently strengthened Detain, who is making his first run will have on lawn.
There are a number of really tough handicaps on the Town Moor map, but the results of these events depend on how much rain falls late Friday afternoon, with an otherwise dry forecast for the 48 hours to this afternoon.
Aberama Gold has won the Join Century Racing Club Handicap for the last two years but, despite his attractive handicap grade, I feel the ground may be drying out too quickly for the seven-year-old, but such conditions should suit him WHALE BANK one more deal.
This still lightly ridden four-year-old found a touch too sharp five furlongs around Catterick Bridge. This more galloping course could see him reverse his form with winners Vintage Clarets, with perhaps recent easy Nottingham winners Woolhampton posing the biggest threat.
Later, THE REVEREND (3.15) is expected to return to form after dropping from a mile and three-quarters to 12 furlongs.
The three-year-old is set to make only his sixth career start and will be able to see off his older rivals here, the best of them most likely being Promethean, who goes the other way in terms of distance on the journey with his first run-over.
Furious Racingbreaks Ryder finally made a late finish this season after promising much and delivering little when he ran away with a Class 4 handicap rated 76 at Catterick last week.
A new grade of 82 here might well be enough to stop him at 5.00 and get a bunch of weight, ONCE AGAIN might well be good enough.
The four-year-old won over the course and distance on April 26th and should have no problems with the forecast conditions.
Since he’s now a full 3 pounds under the winning score of 67, I expect the underweight will be good enough to beat the well-handicapped veteran pair of Zip and Broken Spear.
The ground at Newbury is likely to be even more challenging and we will really like that ARTHUR’S EMPIRE. The six-year-old bay gelding loves to stick his toe in the ground and showed he’s just around the corner last time out at Haydock Park. The long run home should take long strides towards this player as he looks for his sixth career win.
Finally we head under the lights at Chelmsford City Racecourse and it might be worth a second look ALTANERA (7.30) and SEAMORE (7.00).
The former has very few miles under her belt and seemed to enjoy the extra mileage in Wolverhampton and this further step up to two miles looks perfect for her.
The latter eventually returns to a mile, his only start on this trip being on his debut five runs ago.
