Timeform Radio Tips: Byrnes set to dominate feature

"The one who makes most appeal at current prices is the Charles Byrnes-trained Domination, who was most impressive when winning the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in September."

Rory Delargy picks out his best bets at Cheltenham today.

With Darlan a late absentee, the Racing Post Hurdle (14:50) has lost a little of its lustre, but it still looks a very competitive affair. My ante-post fancy for the race was Colm Murphy's Glam Gerry, who I am convinced has a big race in him this season either over hurdles or fences. His price has collapsed this morning, though, and I'll have to let him run at current odds. The one who makes most appeal at current prices is the Charles Byrnes-trained Domination, who was most impressive when winning the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in September. He's unexposed over hurdles, and has been kept deliberately fresh for this since. With the ground riding heavy yesterday, this will be much more of a test of stamina than most races at the trip, ans his proven stamina will be a big asset. He proved that he was fully effective around 2m when pushing the progressive Baily Green close at Killarney on his return. That race has been boosted by wins for all those who finished around him, including Rattan, who reopposes today. While he will be fully effective over further in time, the demands of this contest are sure to play to his strengths, and he makes more appeal than Cash And Go, who previous trainer Edward O'Grady talked of in terms of needing to be brought along slowly, and this race may be too demanding for him on debut for Nicky Henderson, who has endured a rather mixed week. Prospect Wells had a hard race when second at Wincanton last week, and wouldn't appreciate a slog in today's conditions.

In the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at 15:25, Paul Nicholls can cap a fine weekend by winning with Fox Run, who won with plenty to spare on his debut for the yard at Worcester last month. As a point winner by the same sire as yesterday's impressive winner Our Father, he's sure to appreciate the increased emphasis on stamina here, and is preferred to Village Vic, who was second to The New One here last month, but strikes me as quite a fragile type mentally, and he needs to show that he can flourish in more robust company. 

Recommendations:

Back Domination in the 14:50 Cheltenham (NAP)
Back Fox Run in the 15:25 Cheltenham (NB)

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Irish National Result: Lion roars home in Fairyhouse feature

News / Timeform / 09 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Lion Na Bearnai caused an upset in the Irish National at Fairyhouse

Thomas Gibney's Lion Na Bearnai showed thorough stamina reserves to deny the Edward o'Grady-trained Out Now in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse...

Gibney has just a handful of horses at his County Meath base but he proved he can produce on the big stage with Lion Na Bearnai, the 10-year-old defying a huge Betfair Starting Price of [71.24] (and in-running odds of [150.0]) in the three-mile-five-furlong handicap chase.

Providing 3-lb conditional Andrew Thornton with his most high-profile success to date, Lion Na Bearnai got the better of the Paddy Mangan-ridden Out Now in the closing stages, finishing four and a half lengths to the good in a 29-runner field.

Jonjo O'Neill's Cheltenham Festival winner Alfie Sherrin fared best of the two British contenders in third, with Kieran Purcell's Paddy Pub back in fourth. [9.8] favourite Four Commanders was disappointing and finished fourth of the four Gigginston House Stud representatives.

With Saturday's Aintree Grand National in mind, it's worth pointing out that Ted Walsh's Seabass (currently trading at [29.0]) beat Out Now by seven and a half lengths when they met in a Leopardstown handicap in January.

Trainer Shark Hanlon has issued an upbeat bulletin regards his Grand National runner Alfa Beat, suggesting that punters who overlook the horse do so at their peril......

Get Me Out Of Here finally landed the decent prize his consistent efforts have deserved when winning the Grade Two Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse......

Akeed Mofeed, well backed in recent days for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, will miss the race through injury....

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Rebel Stakes: Watch TVG feature on Oaklawn contender Scatman

World Racing / Timeform / 15 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Is Scatman a Derby contender?

There's a trial for the Kentucky Derby (May 5) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday in the shape of the Rebel Stakes, in which TVG's latest feature star Scatman is set to go close.

Three-year-old Scat Daddy colt Scatman, a $14,000 buy-back at Keeneland in September 2010, made a successful seasonal return in an optional claimer at Saturday's track, 115 after breaking his maiden as a juvenile.

Scatman's career record now stands at two wins and two seconds from five starts, the most recent of those placed efforts coming when a front-running second to Secret Circle in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, also at Oaklawn, last time.

Scatman is currently trading at [36.0] for the Kentucky Derby.

Watch the TVG feature below to find out more about Scatman from his trainer, Michael Lauer.

Timeform's US SmartPlays team highlight two lays and a back in North America this evening......

An impressive line up of three-year-olds is set to do battle in Saturday's Group 1 Randwick Guineas (off 05:20 GMT), the first group one for their age group during the Sydney Autumn Carnival writes Timeform Australia's Gary Crispe....

TVG's Simon Bray takes a look at the main contenders for this weekend's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, often a key trial for the Kentucky Derby on May 5......

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Kingwell Hurdle Result: Binocular on song in Wincanton feature

News / Timeform / 18 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Binocular was the winner of the 2010 Champion Hurlde

"He (Bincoular) showed he could yet be a big rival to last year's Champion hero Hurricane Fly when easily disposing of Celestial Halo, who had taken the five runners along in his usual pace-making manner..."

Binocular warmed up for a bid to reclaim his Champion Hurdle crown when proving to be a super-sub at Wincanton...

The 2010 Cheltenham title-holder was only handed a place in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle after his Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Grandouet was forced to miss the race.

But he showed he could yet be a big rival to last year's Champion hero Hurricane Fly when easily disposing of Celestial Halo, who had taken the five runners along in his usual pace-making manner.

Try as he might, he had no answer to the finishing kick of Binocular after Tony McCoy asked his mount to win the race at the second-last.

J P McManus' eight-year-old bounded clear to score by eight lengths from Celestial Halo with Starluck third.

McCoy told Racing UK: "He's been cantering away and jumping well. He was going to work at Newbury last night but when Grandouet got injured we decided to run him here.

"I wanted him to have a race here. He could have won on the bridle but I actually wanted him to have a blow as well and he quickened away nicely from the last.

"His jumping is always pretty good. I was very happy with him and he showed was in good form.

"Hurricane Fly is going to be very hard to beat at Cheltenham, but I was able to do what I wanted to do on him.

"I knew turning him I'd be able to make a decision and give him a squeeze and make him have a blow. From that point of view I felt confident."

Binocular is now as low as ([8.8]) for the Champion Hurdle, with Hurricane Fly available to back at ([1.97])

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Giles Cross put up a tremendously game performance when leading from to pillar to post in the Grand National Trial over three and a half miles......

Riverside Theatre made the perfect return to action as he landed back-to-back runnings of the Betfair Ascot Chase......

Rubi Light made all the running to win the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park for the second successive year.......

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Weekend Preview: Betfair Ascot Chase the Saturday feature

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 17 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Ascot stages some excellent racing on Saturday.

"Riverside Theatre was last seen when winning the corresponding race last year, beating Gauvain in authoritative style..."

Timeform preview an excellent weekend of racing, featuring action from Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton on Saturday, and Navan on Sunday...

The opening mention has to go to Black Caviar, who will be seeking a 19th straight win in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday morning, the race due off at 05:10 GMT. For more on the contest, read Timeform's preview: "New challenge awaits Black Caviar".

Ascot's feature race, the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase staged over two miles and five furlongs, is a fascinating contest with a number of Cheltenham hopefuls in the line-up. Kauto Stone, a half-brother to the outstanding Kauto Star, will make just his third start for Paul Nicholls having previously been trained in France and will be seeking a second win. His success in a Grade 2 at Down Royal was impressive and the drop to two miles in his following race was unlikely to be ideal.

However, on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings he has 9 lb to find with the returning Riverside Theatre and 3 lb with the Alan King-trained Medermit. The former was last seen when winning the corresponding race last year, beating Gauvain in authoritative style, although his fitness will have to be taken on trust. Medermit, runner-up in the December Gold Cup on his most recent appearance, is likely to be the strongest challenger to Riverside Theatre.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth is the headline entry in the Reynoldstown Chase, Grade 2 a novices' event over three miles. The seven-year-old, rated 153p over fences by Timeform, won the Albert Bartlett at last season's Cheltenham Festival before embarking on a chasing career which has, so far, resulted in a narrow victory over Cue Card at Newbury and a creditable third to Grands Crus at Kempton.

Bobs Worth is likely to have improved for that experience and is a strong candidate, although Silviniaco Conti, who finished a place in front of him at Kempton, is also in the line-up. Invictus, another Alan King runner, adds further intrigue as he steps to the distance for the first time.

Ascot's 14:25 appears to be a fairly open 13-runner handicap, with the Paul Nicholls-trained The Minack, successful on his last visit to the track, heading the weights. Pearlysteps, Cappa Bleu, Exmoor Ranger and Tullamore Dew would be others to consider.

Haydock's feature event is the Grand National Trial, in which the Welsh National first and second (Le Beau Bai and Giles Cross) are currently tied at the head of the market. Aintree hopeful Neptune Collonges will carry top-weight, ensuring the likes of Sona Sasta, Rey Nacarado and King Fontaine run from out of the handicap.

Moving on to Wincanton, where the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle is the stand out race, boasting a line-up that includes Binocular, Celestial Halo and the returning Starluck. Binocular comes out 4 lb clear on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, with the other two tied, giving hope of a fairly tight-knit affair.

Ireland plays host to some interesting races over the weekend, at Gowran on Saturday and Navan on Sunday. To find out more about the Irish action, read Timeform's preview "Rubi Light to return in Red Mills".

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Timeform's Horses to Follow Extra Ascot Chase issue is out now and features no less than six big-race previews and an interview with Alan King.

Red Mills Chase day is one of the feature meetings of the season at Gowran and this Saturday's card promises to be informative with several Cheltenham contenders likely to be having their final prep run before the festival....

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring National Hunt racing from Musselburgh on Saturday, as well as mixed action on the all-weather, and some notable international results......

The adverse weather conditions have scuppered a fantastic days racing at Newbury, but the racing world will plough ahead with Musselburgh and a trio of all-weather tracks staging cards on Saturday, and Exeter, Hereford and Southwell all looking to race on Sunday......

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