Weekend Preview / Graham Cunningham / 13 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Ascot have reserved special benches for any would be Romeo (or Juliet) who wants to propose to their partner on Valentine's Day. An in-running market on whether said proposals are accepted would make for interesting punting on Betfair, but those who prefer more traditional contests have plenty to occupy them. Racing UK and Betmaverick.com analyst Graham Cunningham runs the rule over the pick of the Saturday action.

Carruthers the value option no matter how many fences they jump

Picture the scene.

The old year ends with a long freeze which continues into January and February is marred by another spell of Arctic weather which decimates the racing calendar. Then the weather finally relents and Ascot stages a Grade 2 chase with £40,000 on offer and a Grade 1 chase with £150,000 up for grabs.

Surely, in such circumstances top trainers would be clanking to get good horses in action again?

Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case. Only four line up for the Reynoldstown Chase at 1.05, while the same number go to post for the Betfair Ascot Chase at 2.15.

Add in the fact that at least one fence in the home straight is set to be bypassed and it's clear that this Saturday's flagship jump card isn't all it might have been.

In theory, Voy Por Ustedes looks the clear form pick for the Betfair Chase, but if the last two fences are omitted this could boil down to a foot race with a run-in of almost half a mile and that could make him more vulnerable than normal.

It's also worth keeping an eye on the fence situation as regards the Reynoldstown. A true gallop looks assured despite the small field here, but Carruthers has created a very positive impression over fences this winter and his courage and stamina could help him make the most of the 7lb he receives from Breedsbreeze and Ballyfitz.

Belcantista can make it better late than never as the freeze relents

Old timers often say that if you miss the wedding then you should try to ensure that you don't go to the funeral. But I'll take that risk in the case of Belcantista, who looks to have all the makings of a serious contender for the Betfair Your Perfect Match Hurdle at 1.40.

First, though, a little background information. Early last week I went for a big antepost touch on Belcantista for Newbury's Totesport Trophy consisting of a nice win bet at [11.0] on Betfair and a sizeable each way poke at 9-1 with the race sponsors.

I did so knowing the weather might intervene - and it duly did kybosh the card and my plans for a gamble - but Belcantista's claims for this £80,000 handicap look equally strong based on his eyecatching second in the Ladbroke here in December.

Sentry Duty proved just too strong for Belcantista that day, but the way the runner-up rallied close to home suggests this longer trip will suit him ideally.

I very much doubt there will be any 9-1 available this time, but the unexposed Belcantista looks well treated from a mark of 134 and his trainer Philip Hobbs is adamant that testing ground is right up his alley.

Sherwoods and Mon Mome can thrive in Haydock stamina test

It's Haydock, Jim, but not as we know it.

The new portable fences at Haydock aren't to every taste and plainly don't take anything like so much jumping as the old black birch jobbies that were a hallmark of the Lancashire track for so many years.

Still, there are 20 of them to be negotiated in the Blue Square Gold Cup at 1.55 and I'm hoping that Sherwoods Folly and Mon Mome will lead the field home in this £115,000 handicap.

The case for Mon Mome is simple in that he is a proven force in top staying handicaps and hails from a yard who have been cleaning up in recent weeks. Venetia Williams feels he lost confidence after early blunders in the Welsh National, but he goes extremely well at Haydock and soft ground is no problem.

Conditions also look suitable for a bold run from Sherwoods Folly, who has been trained with this in mind for some while now. Henry Daly's gelding caught the eye at 66-1 in the Welsh National, jumping well and travelling strongly on the pace until between the last two fences, and he's much less exposed over long distances than most of his opponents here.

Expletives should be deleted when the mike is on

I swear it's everywhere. Bad language is what I'm referring to and you can't seem to turn on the racing channels without hearing a mouthful nowadays.

A red-faced Matt Chapman (yes, I'm fully aware he always looks like that) had to apologise on behalf of one of his Get On guests who used the word "arse" recently, while the Honourable Nick Luck was also caught unawares with a reference to "effing Nad El Sheba" on Racing UK.

The fragrant Alex Hammond had to apologise when her ATR partner Mick Fitzgerald used the word "nob" at Plumpton on Tuesday, while things reached a new low on Thursday when the saintly Yorkshire handler Peter Beaumont spewed forth with a "bloody" from the winner's enclosure at Southwell.

Thankfully, I have yet to fall victim to being caught effing - or indeed jeffing - during my RUK stints... Mind you, there is a first time for everything and you wouldn't want the microphone on too close to yours truly after the nap has been caught on the post.

Have a good weekend, GC.