Tony Calvin: Drumcliff nicely priced for Keltbray Holloways Handicap Hurdle

It's good to see so many weekend markets priced up

There are no shortage of weekend races priced up for a change - I am not even going to touch upon the two big handicaps in Ireland on Sunday, mainly because I can't be bothered and anyway Heartbreak City looks nigh-on impossible to oppose off 125 in the hurdle - and the obvious starting point is Ascot's Grade 1 Clarence House Chase.

The race took a bit of a hit when just eight horses were confirmed for the £125k contest on Monday afternoon, and another blow when third-favourite Sire De Grugy was ruled out on Tuesday morning.

The issues of field sizes in these high-value conditions races undermines the call for more prize money at the top end of the sport - it seems there aren't the horses, or the will, to run and properly fill the races - but at least Willie Mullins makes a rare foray across the Irish Sea with the 1.824/5 favourite Un De Sceaux.

In fact, somewhat remarkably, Un De Sceaux has been his only runner in England this season when winning the Tingle Creek and he is bidding to follow up his five-length win in this race last term.

A lot of people think the horse's optimum trip will end up being 2m4f+ and see him more than a Ryanair horse than a Champion Chaser - and the fact that Willie has tried him over an extended 3m1f in France suggests he could be leaning that way, too, especially with Douvan in the yard - but outside of the very highest 2m company he is quite clearly capable of winning plenty more Grade 1s at this trip.

And 2m and 192 yards on soft ground around a stiff track like Ascot is probably as good as it gets for him over this sort of trip, hence his odds-on status.

But he has only 6lb in hand of Ar Mad on official figures, and anyone who watched the Sandown race last month would give Gary Moore's horse a fair chance of bridging the 3½ lengths he was beaten by the favourite.

Now, we know there is always the danger of a horse regressing after his first run back off an injury-enforced lay-off, but Ar Mad appeared to run a blinder in the Tingle Creek.

He led them a merry dance there until his extravagant jumping rather fell apart mid-race, notably with one bad mistake at halfway, and Josh Moore seemed to back off him for a good while afterwards before the horse found a second wind to come home strongly after the last.

It wouldn't surprise me at all were he to reverse the form but there is clearly very little juice in the prices, not least because it is hard to make a case for any of the other five.

Special Tiara would have a shout on his best form but he was very laboured in winning a poorly-contested Grade 2 at Kempton over Christmas and may find the ground too testing, anyway.

There is an exchange market up for the Grade 2 mares hurdle at 13:50 - and at the time of writing Paddy Power have also priced it up - and the 11/10 early favourite is Kotkikova, an ex-French Grade 1-winning chaser who ran perfectly well when fifth to Vroum Vroum Mag in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on her debut for Nicky Henderson, where fellow Grade 1 scorer Whiteout finished one place in front of her.

I have no idea if one, or both, of those are intended runners though and, while they set the form standard along with Ron's Dream, they do meet some progressive youngsters and none more so than 6yo Colin's Sister, who is held in the highest regard and for whom the step up in trip is thought highly likely to suit.

Drumcliff nicely priced for the handicap hurdle

I was very surprised to see Drumcliff installed at 10/1 with the Betfair Sportsbook - and he is also tempting at 10.09/1 and bigger on the Exchange - in the handicap hurdle at 14:25.

I can see him going off at half the price at the weekend if he gets the green light to run. But that could be a big 'if' as his owner also has Protek des Flos (he is the early favourite, in fact) in here as well, and that horse was nibbled at for the Lanzarote early last week before making way for the winner Modus at the overnight stage.

I had a chat with Harry Fry immediately after Drumcliff was unbelievably unlucky not to win at Kempton over Christmas, and he looked a bit shell-shocked, to be honest. Or simply gutted.

Because the horse would have won comfortably had he not been knocked sideways after jumping two out - go and take a look at the video, this was no ordinary 'hampered' - and he would have got up in another 50 yards so strongly was he going on at the finish.

The handicapper obviously hasn't ignored the run, upping him 3lb, but that could still seriously underestimate his potential, even if they all finished in a bit of heap there. His trainer is also in very good form, and is not averse to the odd winner or ten at Ascot in recent seasons.

He hasn't raced beyond 2m and goes up to an extended 2m3f, so that's a question mark. But as a Presenting half-brother to a 3m winner and also to a certain Simonsig, there is a fair chance that it will really suit him.

If you can take advantage of Betfair Sportsbook's 10/1, then an each-way bet is recommended, for all that I have no idea whether he is an intended runner or not, and you may not know your fate until 10am on Friday morning.

Don't blame me if they have a late swerve and you do your money. You have been warned.

The 2m5f handicap chase at 15:35 is also priced up and Thomas Crapper is now very dangerously handicapped off 131. But he is also entered in the amateur riders' handicap chase earlier on the card, so it's probably best to wait if you fancy him.

Meanwhile, over at Haydock...

There is also a good card at Haydock and ten are entered in the Grade 2 Supreme Trial at 14:05. Elgin is the obvious favourite at around the 2/1 mark - but the big talking horse on the card is Colin Tizzard's Alary in the Peter Marsh at 15:15.

Well, I say 'talking horse but he really is anything but.

Yes, his new trainer has spoken highly of him - though when I was down there before Christmas he wasn't that full of praise for the horse - but he is already 162-rated and who has been placed in both of the Grade 1s he contested in France, the most recent of which when he was just touched off by the four-time Grade 1 winner Milord Thomas over 3m3f at Auteuil in November.

Tizzard could well have improved him and have made him a better and fitter horse working him up his daunting hill but the 9/2 available about him on Tuesday morning didn't last long and he would have to of be serious Gold Cup-class if he is to win this race, providing most of those in the handicap stand their ground at the overnight stage. Not many win competitive handicaps off 162.


Recommended Bet

Back Drumcliff 10/1 each-way with the Betfair Sportsbook in the 14:25 at Ascot