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/ Timeform / 27 February 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Nacarat regained the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton.
"The grey, who was also successful in 2009 and has finished in the placings on two other occasions, looked as good as ever on Saturday, running to a Timeform rating only 1 lb inferior to his career-best."
Timeform review a weekend featuring a win for Nacarat in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton alongside a whole host of Cheltenham pointers...
The Tom George-trained Nacarat added to his fantastic record in the three-mile handicap when beating Hector's Choice by 11 lengths. The grey, who was also successful in 2009 and has finished in the placings on two other occasions, looked as good as ever on Saturday, running to a Timeform rating only 1 lb inferior to his career-best. His trainer has stated that a defence of his Aintree Bowl crown is his target, and with him having a good record there and likely to be granted good ground, who's to say he can't follow up.
The Triumph Hurdle market took on a more defined shape on Saturday and, with the defeat of Minsk and his subsequent removal from the picture owing to a throat infection, it was left to Baby Mix and Grumeti to highlight their claims.
The former made a deeply promising British debut, comfortably beating Hinterland at Cheltenham, but disappointed back at that venue last month when failing to settle and looking awkward under pressure. However, he got back on track in winning the Adonis with just about as good a performance as has been seen in a juvenile hurdle this winter, jumping well and quickening decisively. The quirks shown on his penultimate start were again shown to some extent though and they'd be the main concern with regard to his Festival prospects.
Grumeti landed the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle later on the card, a race more slowly run than the earlier contest and resulting in a victory more about style than substance. His jumping was very slick and his acceleration impressive, his experience clearly an advantage against a pair of hurdling newcomers.
Grumeti is right up with the pick of the four-year-old hurdlers and merits serious consideration for the Triumph, presently heading the market at [6.2], whilst Baby Mix can be backed at [8.0].
Another name to bear in mind for the future is the Paul Nicholls-trained Dodging Bullets, runner-up to Grumeti on what was his hurdling debut. He was useful on the Flat, beating subsequent Grade 1 winning hurdler Hisaabaat on his last start, and made a highly promising start to life over timber. Given his inexperience he may now head to Aintree rather than Cheltenham, and he looks sure to win good races.
Cristal Bonus, also trained by Paul Nicholls, landed the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase in impressive style, beating Duke of Lucca by 13 lengths. It is disappointing that his two main market rivals, Zaynar and Minella Class, failed to complete, somewhat weakening the form, but Cristal Bonus has certainly made a bright start over fences with his jumping looking fluent both on Saturday and when winning at Chepstow last month.
He has a host of Cheltenham entries, including the Arkle and the RSA, but the betting would suggest that the Jewson is his most likely target with him currently second-best in the market at [6.6].
The remarkably progressive Hunt Ball continued his upward curve when successful for the sixth time in his last seven races, winning of a BHA mark of 127 having begun his winning sequence on a mark of just 69. His progress shows no signs of abating and he will warrant respect in valuable handicaps from now on, currently heading the Byrne Group Plate market at [11.5].
Newcastle's feature event was the Eider Chase, with the 2012 renewal going the way of Portrait King, trained in Ireland by Maurice Phelan. The seven-year-old was successful at Punchestown on his previous outing, looking one to follow in marathon handicaps, and he duly confirmed that impression when beating Posh Bird by three lengths.
A final mention on Saturday goes to Aldermoor, who won a competitive Sprint Series Final at Lingfield. The participants had all been putting up good displays in the various rounds of the series, meaning there is every reason for the form tp prove solid, but it was Aldermoor that sealed the win in a first-time visor for trainer Stuart Williams.
Moving on to Sunday, which saw Fontwell host the Grade 2 National Spirit hurdle over two and a half miles. Trainer Colin Tizzard has been in excellent form of late, going at a 24% strike rate this month, and Third Intention bolstered that statistic when landing the feature. The five-year-old was not seen to best effect in the Betfair Hurdle, held-up in a slowly run race, but the step up in trip and the first-time tongue-tie may have been the catalyst for improvement.
Barbers Shop, prominent in the betting for the Gold Cup in 2009 and Ryanair in 2010, continued his resurgence in hunter chases at Fontwell, having previously won on his debut in the sphere at Fakenham. Seeing him travel and jump with enthusiasm again is a definite positive and, although he was pushed to within half a length by runner-up Merry Vic, he is still prominent in the Foxhunter Chase betting at [15.5].
Union Rags, and arguably unlucky runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November, got his three-year-old campaign off to a winning start when comfortably landing the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in North America. Clearly impressive in victory, he now heads the market for the Kentucky Derby at [4.2].
There was excellent racing in Ireland over the weekend, at Fairyhouse on Saturday and Naas on Sunday. Prince de Beauchene cemented his position at the head of the Grand National betting, with Seabass also highlighting his claims for that race, whilst Rathlin and Felix Yonger were also impressive in victory.
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Timeform ratings are in fine form! Among 5 top-rated winners at Kempton on Saturday was Nacarat (BSP [5.58]). Click HERE for today's cards & ratings.
With opposition to reigning champion Quevega thin on the ground, Emma Lavelle is keen to run Kentford Grey Lady in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham......
Union Rags has shortened markedly in the ante-post betting for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, following his authoritative success in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sunday....
Kauto Star is reported to be in tremendous shape ahead of his bid for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup success on Friday February 16....
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