/ Timeform / 04 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Binocular: Has his final race before Cheltenham at Sandown on Saturday
"The Champion Hurdle picture promised to become somewhat clearer after Saturday's racing, with Peddlers Cross on track to clash with either Binocular or Oscar Whisky, but now that Donald McCain's unbeaten hurdler has been ruled out of action this weekend, both Binocular and Oscar Whisky face seemingly simple tasks."
Timeform look over the weekend's action...
The Champion Hurdle picture promised to become somewhat clearer after Saturday's racing, with Peddlers Cross on track to clash with either Binocular or Oscar Whisky, but now that Donald McCain's unbeaten hurdler has been ruled out of action this weekend, both Binocular and Oscar Whisky face seemingly simple tasks.
Binocular will face just three others in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, and though he will meet some useful rivals, he has so much in hand on Timeform ratings that it will be a surprise if he comes off the bridle to land what will surely be very short odds indeed.
Fortunately, the Contenders Hurdle is not typical of the card at Sandown, where the rest of the action looks particularly competitive. The highlight is the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase over two miles, which features a number of realistic Arkle contenders. The mare Nadiya de la Vega comes out top on Timeform ratings in her bid to make it three from three over fences in Britain, though she will face stiff competition from the likes of Medermit, Captain Chris and Rock Noir.
The next most valuable event on the card at Sandown is the two-and-three-quarter-mile Heroes Handicap Hurdle, which features a whole host of upwardly mobile hurdlers, among whom the most interesting pair are arguably Nick Williams' Aflie Spinner and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Mister Hyde.
Over at Ffos Las, the ratings suggest Oscar Whisky has a bit more on than Binocular as he bids to cement his status as a realistic Champion Hurdle contender in the Welsh equivalent, but even then he is unlikely to be extended if running close to the form he showed at Cheltenham last time.
The best of the other six races on the card at Ffos Las is the three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase in which Blazing Bailey looks the one to beat on the back of his win in a valuable event at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
Saturday's other jumps action in Britain takes place at Wetherby, where the best race is the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase over three miles and a furlong. The most exciting runner in that race is Wayward Prince, who is out to make it three from three over fences on what will be his first run since winning a novice chase at Cheltenham's Open Meeting back in November.
There are two further fixtures on Saturday - on the all-weather at Lingfield and over jumps at Naas in Ireland.
As usual, Ireland is also the scene for Sunday's best NH racing, and there are four Grade 1 events set to take place at Leopardstown. The action kicks off with the Spring Juvenile Hurdle for which Paul Nicholls sends over the form pick Indian Daudaie, though there are a host of likely improvers in the line-up, not least the Dermot Weld-trained filly Unaccompanied.
The next Grade 1 is the 18-furlong Deloitte Novice Hurdle, and this year's renewal looks well up to scratch. Oscars Well and Zaidpour are both already Grade 1 winners, and they set an exacting standard, though the likes of Shot From The Hip and Hidden Universe are no forlorn hopes to improve and get in the mix.
The novice chasers get their chance in the 21-furlong Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase, where Mikael d'Haguenet is on something of a recovery mission after disappointing behind Realt Dubh at Leopardstown over Christmas. He still sets the standard judged on the form he was showing prior to falling at the last the time before, though Grade 1 winner Bostons Angel and Dessie Hughes's Magnanimity both look serious contenders too.
The main event at Leopardstown, and the final Grade 1 on the card, is the three-mile Hennessy Gold Cup. The field includes two previous winners of the race in The Listener and Joncol, and they head the ratings along with China Rock. British raider Pride of Dulcote currently head the market, though he does need to improve significantly on anything he has done to date to play a hand.
The day's two meetings in Britain take place at Fontwell and Musselburgh, the latter track hosting one of its better meetings of the NH season, the card there including the Scottish County Hurdle and the Scottish Triumph Hurdle.
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All the betting moves ahead of the evening racing at Wolverhampton...
Timeform look over the weekend's action......
The Irish Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown is the last stepping stone before the Cheltenham Festival for many leading ante-post fancies from across the Irish Sea and the four Grade 1 events on the card all promise to be high-class renewals....
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