Warwick Saturday Preview

Golden Chieftan has talent
(photo: sportinglife.com)

The first race is too tough an affair for me to sort out and it is easily passed over.

Therefore we shall begin in the 1:25 Betfred 1350 shops nationwide Novices´ Chase the three mile trip may be against Frascati Park who has done all his winning over shorter. Court Victory was disqualified last time and will need a better effort here to win.

Alfie Spinner had a win on very testing ground at Chepstow on Welsh National day and will go well here as he did when second in the Pertempts Qualifier on the card last season.

Golden Chieftan is one who will also handle the likely soft going that is often associated with Warwick but he has been let down by his jumping of late, if it has improved since he is the one to beat.

The Betfred The Bonus King Handicap Chase (For The Edward Courage Cup) is a very trappy eight runner contest. There is not much to separate them on paper.

Marodima was formerly useful and was a winner by some margin on Thursday on his first run since June. Despite that 53 length win over Massini Sunset he is not one to take a short price about here with only two days since that rout.

Roi de Rose was a comfortable winner on his second run last season and may have needed his first run  again this time round when second last time (just holding Massini Sunset for 2nd). The winner has won again since and coupled with first time blinkers he looks a major player.

Another who was second last time was Super Foreman and has shown solid form all season, Moon Over Miami was not far behind him that day and may finish ahead of him this time and I think the race will be run to suit Charlie Mann’s runner who could go well at a big price.

Educated Evans has gone up 22lbs in the handicap since his first win in October and will need to pull out more off top weight here.

Thehilloffuisneach heads the market for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at 2:30, he has risen a great deal in the weights since his two December victories.

Last year’s winner Mobaasher has not shown much this season since his move to Rod Millman but was hardly in sparkling form before winning in 2011. 12 months on he is 12lbs lower and if he shows his best then he will make a mockery of his current 40/1 price.

Volador had some useful form before his lay-off but will likely be in need of this. Safran De Cotte won at Haydock in bottomless last time and should stay the new trip and is one to consider. The handicapper may have caught up with Water Garden, Petitfour has too much to do off 11-12 and his Cheltenham conquerer Dorset Square is yet another contender in a traditionally competitive Pertempts’ Qualifier.

Barwell Bridge (right) has strong claims
(photo: turfpix.com)

The selection here is Barwell Bridge, he ran really well before fading very late on at Wincanton behind two inform rivals and with a run under his belt back up in trip he is a major contender.

The 3:05 Neptune Investment Management Leamington Novices´ Hurdle is safe to narrow to three. Ambion Wood was an easy winner of a maiden hurdle last time and has some good runs behind useful rivals in the book.

Highland Lodge beat a fancied rival in Diocles over the Haydock brush hurdles last time and is a worthy favourite for a stable with a couple of recent wins in this contest. Cotton Mill is his main rival and was an easy winner of both his hurdle starts. Admittedly he did not beat too much but he looked a good horse in the process.

This winner of this race will no doubt be a strong contender for Cheltenham in March. Given the amount of subsequent winners that have emerged from Emma Lavelle’s charge’s victories he is taken to win again.

The big one at Warwick on Saturday is the Betfred Classic Chase. The favourite is Sona Sasta for David Pipe. He ran subsequent Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai close at Chepstow in December. He was well beaten at Leopardstown over Christmas though and jockey bookings would suggest he is second preference despite being favourite.

The stables other runner is Faasel. He has been second in 2 successive Kim Muir’s at the Cheltenham festival. He goes well fresh and is having his first start since his second place in the Bet365 at Sandown in April.

He does prefer good ground so any rain would hinder his chance. It is apparently currently Good/Soft at Warwick so that should be ok but it often rides softer than description here.

One who won’t mind soft ground is top weight Hey Big Spender. He appears to have a lot to do conceding about a stone all round but is not without a chance.

Blazing Bailey can come again (photo: racingpost.com)

Neptune Equester won at Haydock on Betfair day but was a 25 length fifth in the mud last time at Wetherby. The better the ground the better his chance but he may not be good enough anyway.

Blazing Bailey represents Alan King who has won the last 2 runnings of this race.

He couldn’t go the pace in the heavy going in the Welsh national but had previously run well for a long way in the Hennessy.

He rediscovered form early in the year last season and with 2 runs under his belt and given the trainer’s record in the contest he must be respected.

And finally Paddy Brennan takes a ride for former boss Nigel Twiston-Davies for the first time in a while. The pair team up on Major Mularkey with the trainer’s son Sam on old boy Hello Bud.

It is not an easy puzzle to solve but Blazing Bailey can come good again in the early year and go close for the King stable.

Much like the first race on the card the last one will have to sort itself out also.

BEST BET: BARWELL BRIDGE (EW) [ Mobaasher (EW)]