Alex Hammond: Going for Gold ahead of Kempton on Saturday
Sky Sports News' Alex Hammond looks ahead to Saturday's feature action in her latest blog with Gold Present fancied to go well.
The Betfair Ascot Chase was a cracking race with Waiting Patiently beating the gallant Cue Card – what did you make of the contest?
I was thrilled having tipped Waiting Patiently last week in this blog! Joking aside, it was one of those races that will stay with you. It’s not often the performance of the first two horses home are equally worthy of comment, but on this occasion that was the case. Waiting Patiently is a very talented young chaser and the manner of his win was impressive, but the fact he won just 24 hours after his trainer’s funeral made it extra poignant. Malcolm Jefferson was a lovely man to deal with from a broadcaster’s point of view and a no nonsense and talented trainer to boot. The dignity his daughter Ruth showed in the immediate aftermath of the victory was humbling and her father would have been proud of both her and the horse. As for the legend that is Cue Card, just when you think his best performances are behind him, he serves up something like that. What a magnificent, brave and tenacious horse he is and I’m looking forward to seeing how he fares in the Gold Cup. He’s still 25/1 for the race and that might just offer a bit of each-way value if Colin Tizzard can get him there in the same sort of form that he was in at Ascot.
Over in Ireland Our Duke beat Presenting Percy at Gowran – do you like one, both or neither for Cheltenham?
I wouldn’t put anyone off backing Our Duke as I’ve been a fan for some time and was delighted to see him win at Gowran. Saturday’s two-and-a-half mile trip was inadequate and he was giving weight to Presenting Percy, so it was good to see him win and come on for his run in the Irish Gold Cup. He’s had an interrupted campaign with his back issue, but that is obviously history for now and he will improve for the step back up in trip and Cheltenham. He’s in the right hands with Jessie Harrington and is a superb spare ride at Cheltenham for the excellent Noel Fehily who will take over from Robbie Power at the festival. Power is sticking with last year’s winner Sizing John in three weeks’ time. Our Duke is now 8/1 with Sky Bet for the Gold Cup.
Blaklion was legless in the National trial at Haydock – could you back him for the Grand National on the back of that preparation?
No. I’m guessing you would like me to elaborate further though?! Blaklion is a proven performer over the National fences having finished fourth in last year’s race and then winning the Becher in December, but he’s not a nailed on stayer and I think as a result of that (and the fact he is carrying more weight in this year’s Aintree marathon) he can run without my support. Also he is 12/1 second favourite and that price doesn’t really tempt me to back him after such a hard race at Haydock and I’m happy to go against him. Saturday’s race winner Yala Enki isn’t in the Grand National and whilst (runner up) Blaklion is classy and sure to improve for better underfoot conditions at Aintree, I’m not convinced. Although trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies would probably argue otherwise and his National pedigree is much better than mine!
The Betdaq Handicap Chase at Kempton is Saturday’s feature betting race – any early fancies?
Well speaking of the Grand National, Gold Present is sure to be shorter than his current price of 16/1 (with Sky Bet) for the Aintree race if he flies home in this race at Kempton on Saturday. I really fancied him to run well at Ascot last weekend, but he was taken out there and comes here instead. It does seem astonishing that his trainer Nicky Henderson hasn’t won any form of Grand National, but this horse could be one to give him a chance of altering those statistics. He stayed well to beat Frodon over three miles at Ascot over Christmas on his last outing, that was his first try at the trip and he stayed it very well. He is by a stallion called Presenting and they generally prefer decent ground, so it should be ideal for him at Kempton on Saturday. There are plenty of factors to recommend him, but his price of 7/2 might not be one of them.
Do you think anything will come out of the Adonis/Sky Bet Dovecote trials at Kempton on Saturday and challenge at Cheltenham?
The Adonis is a race for juveniles, so there could be Triumph/Fred Winter pointers possibly in that one. However, I don’t think anything will beat Apple’s Shakira in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, so it probably rules that race out for me. Having said that, Redicean is the ante-post favourite for the Adonis (5/6) and currently 14/1 with Sky Bet for the Fred Winter and 8/1 for the Triumph, so you’d like to see Alan King’s four-year-old remain unbeaten over hurdles on his third start over timber on Saturday. He was useful on the Flat for Peter Chapple-Hyam and then David O’Meara and has really taken to the jumping game. Given his experience on the Flat, he looks hardy and race savvy enough for the Triumph, so if you didn’t back Apple’s Shakira when she was a bigger price, or don’t fancy her, then this horse could be for you. This will be his third run over hurdles and King was keen to get a third run into him for experience over obstacles before Cheltenham.
As for the Sky Bet Dovecote, I’m not sure there will be any major moves for the Grade 1s at Cheltenham (notably the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle). Alan King’s Scarlet Dragon makes his hurdling debut here and is currently 33/1 for the Sky Bet Supreme on the first day at Cheltenham. Destrier represents Dan Skelton and is another that is a big price for the festival opener; he is also currently 33/1 with the sponsors and has won both his starts over hurdles. Michael’s Mount is also in the Cheltenham contest and is a massive 50/1 at the moment after making a winning debut over hurdles at Doncaster on his first run for trainer Ian Williams.
There are other festival entries in Saturday’s race, but not anything that should trouble the protagonists in three weeks’ time at this late stage. Saturday’s race is potentially informative though and I will be interested to see who lines up. One entry that catches the eye is Humphrey Bogart, who could make his debut for Nicky Henderson after over 18 months off the track. Formerly with Richard Hannon, he was a smart Flat performer with a win in Lingfield’s Derby Trial to his name. He was fifth in the 2016 Derby behind Harzand (beaten 11 lengths) and ran well in other high profile Flat races before his layoff. If he can translate that form to jumping he’ll be smart. Destrier might be the one for me this weekend though as his previous experience will stand him in good stead and he’s held in high regard by the Skelton team.
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