Timeform Daily: Silver Bowl, Saturday, Haydock 14:30

Race of the Day / Timeform / 21 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Richard Fahey: Has a leading contender in Polar Kite

"The improving Polar Kite scored in what is a traditionally strong three-year-old handicap at Ripon last month and is taken to follow up here."

This handicap over a mile for three-year-olds traditionally proves a very good race...

Toolain was successful twice over seven at two years. He showed signs of temperament after, but ran with promise behind Winter's Night in an Ascot handicap a fortnight ago and has potential at a mile if learning to settle.

Sikeeb is progressive colt who won a seven-furlong Newbury handicap on his return and was just edged out by Bahceli in front of two subsequent winners upped to a mile at Newmarket last time. He could do even better.

King of Jazz was placed in a couple of good maidens last year and impressed with his turn of foot when taking a seven-furlong Doncaster maiden on his reappearance. He pulled too hard over this trip at Sandown last time, though, and has work to do now handicapping.

Sonning Rose has faced some stiff tasks since winning a six-furlong Ponteract maiden last summer. She was well held in a Group 3 on her reappearance and her merit looks pretty much established now going handicapping.

Rigolleto made all in a seven-furlong maiden at Chester last summer.He ran wvery well behind Sikeeb on his reappearance at Newbuyr, shaping as if this return to further will suit, but others here are likely to prove better handicapped.

Fred Willetts thrived with a visor refitted early this year, winning three times on the AW in January. He produced his best turf effort when worn down late by Crown Counsel at Chester last time, but this is much tougher.

Mariachi Man won a six-furlong maiden and a good nursery over a mile at Newmarket in 2010. He was a disappointing favourite behind Polar Kite in a mile handicap at Ripon on his reappearance and possibly needs further now.

Winter's Night has won three of her last four starts, comfortably taking a seven-furlong handicap earlier in the month for her latest success. She has the scope to improve again at a mile and enters calculations here.

Star Surprise won a seven-furlong maiden and a mile nursery at Sandown in 2010. He travelled well in a handicap over a mile there on his reappearance last month and should have come on for that.

Crown Counsel has won two of his last three starts, the latter a handicap over an extended seven furlongs at Chester, and was four in a strong heat at Newmarket in between. He likely has more to offer, though further will suit.

Indian Jack is three from three at Kempton, faring best in a three-way finish last month. He was well beaten back on turf last time though, and others make more appeal.

Polar Kite is very much on the upgrade, winning a maiden at York on his final start in 2010 and easily winning a handicap over a mile at Ripon on his reappearance/ He is in good hands and should go on improving.

Cruiser bolted up in a six-furlong maiden on heavy ground here in September. He got back on the up when third in a seven-furlong handicap at Salisbury last time, but more is needed upped in trip in this warmer event.

Sagramor won an AW maiden last year and has improved since, chasing home a useful prospect in a handicap over a mile at Warwick earlier in the month. He will stay further in time, but is open to further progress at this trip.

Weapon of Choice won a maiden at Goodwood last autumn and offered plenty encouragement when fifth to Crown Counsel in a handicap at Chester last time (spared hard race once chance had gone). He is one of the more interesting runners.

Orientalist won four times in 2010, the last one a seven-furlong nursery at York. He was well held in a handicap at Salisbury last time and looks up against it in first-time cheekpieces trying a mile for the first time.

Mubtadi won a seven-furlong maiden at Brighton last year and ran well when fifth behind Sikeeb and Crown Counsel at Newmarket on his reappearance. He still showed inexperience that day, and could well have more to offer.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Polar Kite
2. Sagramor
3. Sikeeb

Timeform View: The improving Polar Kite scored in what is a traditionally strong three-year-old handicap at Ripon last month and is taken to follow up here. Sagramor put up a promising display on his return and is entitled to be on the premises, while Sikeeb, Crown Counsel and Mubtadi all ran in what is proving a very good race at Newmarket last time and merit respect.

After his Roderic O'Connor won the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday, can Aidan O'Brien double up in the fillies version on Sunday?...

Timeform run the rule over this fillies' handicap......

Timeform go through the runners for this tricky big-field handicap......

Betfair website

Timeform Irish 1-2-3: Silver Friend to shine at Killarney

Tipping / Stuart Jones / 15 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Sunday is the opening day of the Killarney Festival

"A smooth traveller who has few miles on the clock, Silver Friend ran a fine race in defeat on his handicap bow when third to Peak Raider at Leopardstown in February and remains capable of better".

Two meetings in Ireland this Sunday and we have selections on the Flat at Navan and over the sticks at Killarney.

Wakhan (15.15) looked a sure-fire future winner when finishing a length second to odds-on stablemate Zanughan in a maiden at Navan on debut and appears to have been found a suitable opportunity to go one better there on Sunday. He hails from a good family, is bred to appreciate this step up in trip (entered in the Derby), and it will be bitterly disappointing if he can't land this maiden enroute to bigger and better things.

The ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle lookes fiercely-competitive, but the unexposed Silver Friend (15.25) is on a potentially lenient mark and, with rain forecast, conditions should be ideal. A smooth traveller who has few miles on the clock, Silver Friend ran a fine race in defeat on his handicap bow when third to Peak Raider at Leopardstown in February and remains capable of better.

Apt Approach may have won at the recent Punchestown Festival but for coming to grief at the last and is capable of gaining compensation in the minor event at 16.25 if none the worse for that mishap. He's progressed into a useful chaser in recent seasons and was still a length clear of his nearest pursuer when coming to grief at Punchestown last time. Very few of the opposition come into this in much form and Apt Approach really ought to make amends.

Recommendations

back Wakhan @ 1.71 in the 15.15 at Navan
back Silver Friend @ 8.0 in the 15.25 at Killarney
back Apt Approach @ 3.2 in the 16.25 at Killarney

Timeform go through the runners for the first British Group 1 of the season for older horses......

A seven-race card over the jumps at Kilbeggan gets underway at 17:45 and we have come up with three more bets......

After two winners and a non-runner yesterday, here are three selections for Friday from Timeform's US team......

Betfair website

Haydock Grand National Trial Meeting Preview: Top weight no barrier for Silver By Nature

Tipping / Timeform / 17 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Silver By Nature bids to follow up last year's Haydock success

"Likewise weight isn't a huge hindrance, with two winners carrying top weight of 11-12 in the past eight years, something which last year's winner Silver By Nature has to deal with this time around."

Haydock stages one of its flagship jumping days on Saturday, featuring three Grade 2 hurdles as well as the Grand National Trial, in which Silver By Nature bids to repeat last year's success...

The Victor Ludorum gets things underway (13:40), when Local Hero aims to continue his progression up the juvenile hurdling ranks. The Steve Gollings-trained gelding may have appeared only workmanlike in victory at Cheltenham last time, but he responded favourably to AP McCoy's urgings and it will be interesting to see if connections of the second-placed Third Intention take him on again after that horse pulled far too hard early on last time. Smad Place is a huge danger but has to put a disappointing run behind him, whilst Alan King also has Dhaafer, Jalail and Kumbeshwar to choose from. Houblon des Obeaux is the other horse to note after an encouraging British debut, when succumbing only to Marsh Warbler in a Grade 1 at Chepstow.

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (14:10), formerly known as the Prestige, was won by the since-unbeaten novice chaser Wymott last year, and his trainer Donald McCain has the improving pair of Lively Baron and Tornado Bob entered at this stage. However, both will have to continue their rapid progress if they are to challenge the strong-travelling Court In Motion, who has already shown form good enough to win an average renewal of this race and is a high-class prospect indeed. Dangers include Mr Moonshine, who is a fluent jumper and is capable of better still, and Rose of The Moon, who was second to Bobs Worth at Cheltenham but needs to put a desperate run last time firmly behind him.

The Rendlesham Hurdle (14:45) has been won by some very good staying hurdlers in its history and has been a happy hunting ground for French maestro Francois Doumen in recent years, with Baracouda landing the spoils in 2002 before Kasbah Bliss provided two victories (2008 and 2009) in its new home at Haydock Park (moved from Kempton in 2006).

No French challengers this year and, indeed, it doesn't seem there are any horses likely to repeat the feat of winning both this and the World Hurdle in the same year last achieved by the aforementioned Baracouda in 2002. That said, trainer Alan King won this race in 2005 with World Hurdle third Crystal d'Ainay and looks set to saddle Bensalem here.

The fact that the trainer toyed with the idea of sending Bensalem back over fences but has entered him here suggests that he could have the Cheltenham contest firmly on his radar, albeit he will have his work cut out against Big Buck's and Grands Crus.

More immediately, though, he faces the challenge of the admirably-consistent Any Given Day, who finished seven-lengths second to Oscar Whisky over a shorter trip last time, despite being off the bridle early on. Donald McCain's grey is certainly genuine and rates a big danger to all here. The best of the rest could be the somewhat-tricky Ashkazar and the infrequently-raced Sentry Duty.

The Grand National trial has gone through a few incarnations in the past but remains a relevant precursor to the main event, even if the winner of the race isn't always the one to follow at Aintree.

Age doesn't seem to be a boundary, with a couple of 7-y-os and a pair of 11-y-os emerging victorious since 2005. Likewise weight isn't a huge hindrance, with two winners carrying top weight of 11-12 in the past eight years, something which last year's winner Silver By Nature has to deal with this time around.

One of those to shoulder that burden was 2008 winner Miko de Beauchene whose year younger brother Nicto de Beuachene attempts to follow in his footsteps and comes into the race on the back of a sixteen-length defeat of Quattrocento at Sandown. Soft ground is his bag and the same comment applies to the diminutive Le Beau Bai, who is usually a solid jumper and isn't without a chance granted his favoured conditions.

Trainer Kim Bailey knows what it takes to win the race, saddling none other than Master Oats to win in 1994, and he is represented by Sarde this time, who comes into the race unbeaten in handicap chases, but they all might have to give way to West End Rocker if he turns up in the same form he was in when victorious last time.

Alan King's 9-y-o has been let down by his jumping in the past but is doing very little wrong at present. What's more, he beat subsequent winners Cornish Sett and the aforementioned Nicto de Beauchene back in December before scoring again last time, so he looks to hold a very strong chance. His stiffest opposition may come from King Fontaine if he can just eliminate the mistakes he can sometimes make early on.

To view the latest odds for Haydock's Grand National Trial click HERE.

Haydock stages one of its flagship jumping days on Saturday, featuring three Grade 2 hurdles as well as the Grand National Trial, in which Silver By Nature bids to repeat last year's success......

The National Hunt season has had more than a stop-start feel to it thus far, with all the abandonments of December rolling into January and then the unfortunate events at Newbury last weekend. Here's hoping that the rearranged meeting at the Berkshire track on Friday and Ascot's big card on Saturday signal the return of the show to the road....

Clonmel has passed a morning inspection and we are hoping for better luck than yesterday with these three selections........

Betfair website

Haydock Grand National Trial Meeting Preview: Top weight no barrier for Silver By Nature

Tipping / Timeform / 15 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Silver By Nature bids to follow up last year's Haydock success

"Likewise weight isn't a huge hindrance, with two winners carrying top weight of 11-12 in the past eight years, something which last year's winner Silver By Nature has to deal with this time around."

Haydock stages one of its flagship jumping days on Saturday, featuring three Grade 2 hurdles as well as the Grand National Trial, in which Silver By Nature bids to repeat last year's success...

The Victor Ludorum gets things underway (13:40), when Local Hero aims to continue his progression up the juvenile hurdling ranks. The Steve Gollings-trained gelding may have appeared only workmanlike in victory at Cheltenham last time, but he responded favourably to AP McCoy's urgings and it will be interesting to see if connections of the second-placed Third Intention take him on again after that horse pulled far too hard early on last time. Smad Place is a huge danger but has to put a disappointing run behind him, whilst Alan King also has Dhaafer, Jalail and Kumbeshwar to choose from. Houblon des Obeaux is the other horse to note after an encouraging British debut, when succumbing only to Marsh Warbler in a Grade 1 at Chepstow.

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (14:10), formerly known as the Prestige, was won by the since-unbeaten novice chaser Wymott last year, and his trainer Donald McCain has the improving pair of Lively Baron and Tornado Bob entered at this stage. However, both will have to continue their rapid progress if they are to challenge the strong-travelling Court In Motion, who has already shown form good enough to win an average renewal of this race and is a high-class prospect indeed. Dangers include Mr Moonshine, who is a fluent jumper and is capable of better still, and Rose of The Moon, who was second to Bobs Worth at Cheltenham but needs to put a desperate run last time firmly behind him.

The Rendlesham Hurdle (14:45) has been won by some very good staying hurdlers in its history and has been a happy hunting ground for French maestro Francois Doumen in recent years, with Baracouda landing the spoils in 2002 before Kasbah Bliss provided two victories (2008 and 2009) in its new home at Haydock Park (moved from Kempton in 2006).

No French challengers this year and, indeed, it doesn't seem there are any horses likely to repeat the feat of winning both this and the World Hurdle in the same year last achieved by the aforementioned Baracouda in 2002. That said, trainer Alan King won this race in 2005 with World Hurdle third Crystal d'Ainay and looks set to saddle Bensalem here.

The fact that the trainer toyed with the idea of sending Bensalem back over fences but has entered him here suggests that he could have the Cheltenham contest firmly on his radar, albeit he will have his work cut out against Big Buck's and Grands Crus.

More immediately, though, he faces the challenge of the admirably-consistent Any Given Day, who finished seven-lengths second to Oscar Whisky over a shorter trip last time, despite being off the bridle early on. Donald McCain's grey is certainly genuine and rates a big danger to all here. The best of the rest could be the somewhat-tricky Ashkazar and the infrequently-raced Sentry Duty.

The Grand National trial has gone through a few incarnations in the past but remains a relevant precursor to the main event, even if the winner of the race isn't always the one to follow at Aintree.

Age doesn't seem to be a boundary, with a couple of 7-y-os and a pair of 11-y-os emerging victorious since 2005. Likewise weight isn't a huge hindrance, with two winners carrying top weight of 11-12 in the past eight years, something which last year's winner Silver By Nature has to deal with this time around.

One of those to shoulder that burden was 2008 winner Miko de Beauchene whose year younger brother Nicto de Beuachene attempts to follow in his footsteps and comes into the race on the back of a sixteen-length defeat of Quattrocento at Sandown. Soft ground is his bag and the same comment applies to the diminutive Le Beau Bai, who is usually a solid jumper and isn't without a chance granted his favoured conditions.

Trainer Kim Bailey knows what it takes to win the race, saddling none other than Master Oats to win in 1994, and he is represented by Sarde this time, who comes into the race unbeaten in handicap chases, but they all might have to give way to West End Rocker if he turns up in the same form he was in when victorious last time.

Alan King's 9-y-o has been let down by his jumping in the past but is doing very little wrong at present. What's more, he beat subsequent winners Cornish Sett and the aforementioned Nicto de Beauchene back in December before scoring again last time, so he looks to hold a very strong chance. His stiffest opposition may come from King Fontaine if he can just eliminate the mistakes he can sometimes make early on.

To view the latest odds for Haydock's Grand National Trial click HERE.

Haydock stages one of its flagship jumping days on Saturday, featuring three Grade 2 hurdles as well as the Grand National Trial, in which Silver By Nature bids to repeat last year's success......

The National Hunt season has had more than a stop-start feel to it thus far, with all the abandonments of December rolling into January and then the unfortunate events at Newbury last weekend. Here's hoping that the rearranged meeting at the Berkshire track on Friday and Ascot's big card on Saturday signal the return of the show to the road....

The Cheltenham showpiece; jumps racing's Blue Riband; the Gold Cup: whatever you call it, the feature on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival remains the most prestigious race at the most prestigious jumps meeting in the world. With six weeks to go until the big day, Keith Melrose takes a look at the main contenders....

Betfair website