Weekend Runners / Harry Bowles / 25 February 2011 / 1

All thoughts are firmly geared towards Cheltenham at present, but we shouldn't forget that there are major races to be contested before March 15th dawns, and this weekend it's the Racing Post Trophy meeting at Kempton.

The Nicholls yard goes into the feature event double-handed, with both Fistral Beach and Free World. There's a clear disparity in their respective chances, as the market illuminates, and there's little question Fistral Beach is the one on who hopes will be resting.

Fistral Beach was a warm favourite for this race twelve months ago, too, but departed the race at the second. Aside from that blip his progress as a novice last season warranted more than just one win, and he has solid claims of making up for lost time this time around judging by his comeback success at Wincanton last month. Tony McCoy comes in for the ride and he looks a deserving favourite, with the likes of the Philip Hobbs-trained pair Quinz and Mostly Bob likely dangers along with last year's protagonists Razor Royale and Nacarat.

Free World remains without a win since his chasing debut in November 2008, and whilst it's true he was coming up against Riverside Theatre on his reappearance, he's essentially been below form on both starts this season, and that's even before considering his stamina for this trip, unraced beyond two and a half miles and regularly giving the impression he's even unsuited by going that far.

The opening race on the card at 13:55 is the Grade 2 juvenile and it sees the British debuts of two Nicholls-trained French imports. Tonic Melysse looks set to prove the more popular of the pair, with McCoy on board and having proved his aptitude for the game with a winning start over hurdles for Jean-Pierre Daireaux at Pau in December. That was a race for newcomers and, as such, the form is difficult to assess with any degree of confidence, but three of the next four home to have raced since won next time.

Daryl Jacob takes the ride on Zarkandar, a recruit from Alain de Royer Dupre who will be having his first experience of hurdles. He was just fair on the Flat, but is surely held in pretty high esteem to be starting off at such an elevated level. It will be intriguing to hear Paul's thoughts on both horses.

Only four go to post for the Grade 2 Pendil novices' chase at 14:25, but American Trilogy will surely be up against it when it comes to Kerada and, more so, Captain Chris. Granted, American Trilogy had a good bit to spare when putting the fall on his chasing debut a long way behind him at Kempton last time, but that was just an ordinary race compared to this and Captain Chris looks a cut above even if having finished second best on all three starts over fences to date. He promises to be a player in whichever target he has at Cheltenham in fact.

The yard looks to hold stronger claims in the Grade 2 Dovecote (15:35), double handed with the top-rated Toubab and impressive Doncaster scorer Empire Levant. The former progressed by the run on his first three starts in this country, culminating with a ready win in a listed novice at Haydock in November. Whilst below that form when third behind Minella Class in the Tolworth next time, the run is easily excused on account of the far more testing conditions and he can be expected to show what he's really about here.

Empire Levant probably has scope for more improvement than his stablemate after just two starts, idling when beating subsequent winner Palawi at Doncaster last time, and he could well be one to be interested in for the Fred Winter if, as expected, he puts up a sufficiently-encouraging effort on Saturday. The fly in the ointment could be Sire de Grugy, as he found only Bob's Worth too good on his hurdling debut and has had no problem bossing lesser rivals on both starts since, fully justifying this hike in grade.

Following a policy widely used by the yard nowadays, Mr Hudson is fast-tracked to handicap company at 16:10 and will surely be one of the market leaders. It's true that he's probably going to be more at home over fences when the time comes, but that didn't prevent him from winning a bumper before making a successful start over hurdles at Exeter in November. He was ill-equipped for the drop back in trip there next time but showed up well enough to suggest an opening mark of 128 needn't prove beyond him stepping back up to twenty-one furlongs, so long as the very different test the track provides for doesn't hinder him too much that is.

A pair of newcomers kick off their careers in the concluding bumper, with Sleeping Tree (half-brother to the very useful staying chaser Sleeping Night) and War of The World (half-brother to progressive chaser Sagalyrique) both making appeal on pedigree alongside connections.

Meanwhile, at Chepstow, Rangitoto will be bidding to build on the significant promise of his hurdling bow at Ffos Las in the opening maiden (13:50). A winning pointer in Ireland, he arrived with a tall reputation and travelled like comfortably the best horse there only to find Doctor Foxtrot half a length too strong last month. He was granted a well-earned large 'P' there and, sure to be all the more sharp, it will be highly disappointing if he fails to go one better here, even if Cresswell Crusader and Glitzy d'Ocala have likewise already shown themselves above-average novices in defeat.

If the real Voramar Two turns up the novice chase should be his for the taking, but after such a miserable effort behind Master of The Hall at Huntingdon last time there must be a doubt about him turning the tables on second-placed Alderluck. That said, Alderluck ended last season with questions being raised over his attitude and again gave the impression he didn't entirely fancy there on what was his chasing debut. On the plus side, his jumping at least passed muster.

At Fontwell on Sunday, the lightly-raced Vico will be bidding to shed his maiden status in the novice which gets proceedings under way at 14:10. He's finished runner-up on both starts to date, in the very same novice event at Wincanton a year apart. There's little question he's got the ability to pay his way and remains a decent prospect even if not managing to land the odds on the latter occasion, finishing a long way clear of the remainder when second to Buck Magic. The only doubt hanging over him is the failure to stand more regular racing.

Fontwell's big race of the year is the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle (15:45), and this year's looks a well up-to-scratch renewal. Celestial Halo hasn't managed to win since last season's Elite Hurdle success, but he showed there's still plenty of life in the not-so-old dog yet when only just losing out to Mille Chief in the Kingwell last weekend. He would almost certainly have won there but for a last-flight mistake and, with the longer trip in his favour if anything, should take the beating providing he doesn't find this coming too soon. The Alan King-trained duo Karabak and Trenchant are fully capable at this sort of level, but Celestial Halo receives 4 lb from both and is 6 lb clear on adjusted ratings.

Naming the 16:15 a 'Foxhunter Trial' may prove a tad ambitious, but Ornais does at least boast the form to imagine he can prove a force in hunters. Admittedly he hasn't shown it for a long time having been off more than two years prior to making his debut at this level when fifth to Turthen at Wincanton earlier in the month. He was laboured in going about things, rustiness surely the issue, and it looks as if this will be between him and Herons Well.

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1. darren coleman | 25 February 2011

   Hi paul, keep up the good work...have you a best 3?

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