Daily Placepots / Timeform / 18 February 2011 /

After two consecutive returns at Scottish tracks, we turn our attention to Newbury, for a card we had initially shunned for Placepot purposes when it was due to take place last Saturday.

12.10 - JP McManus, who lost a horse in the tragic events of last weekend, could well taste a bittersweet victory in today's opener with Cappagh.

Despite inevitably keeping one eye on Don't Push It, AP McCoy will be doing his best to gain compensation and Cappagh has the ability to do just that. While he's had a break, the form of his last run in November when fifth to Grands Crus at Cheltenham has been bossted no end, and this longer trip will be right up his street.

The lightly-raced Awesome Freddie improved last time for this trip, beating the enigmatic Deep Pockets who has somewhat franked the form with another second again since, and he's included along with Sangfroid, a regularly-placed, reliable sort, whose third behind Mobaasher and Alfie Spinner last time reads extremely well.

12.45 - An intriguing race for such a small field and one in which the high-class What A Friend really should win. Although he has sometimes appeared not entirely straightforward with his awkward head carriage, he has an impressive strike rate and rates as banker material here, freshened up since a low-key reappearance behind Imperial Commander back in November.

Fair Along hasn't been seen chasing since well beaten in the 2008 Kerrygold Champion Chase and it's hard to know what to expect from him, and similar comments also apply to Noland who was off a long time before his return in an all-weather jumpers' bumper in December and subsequently disappointing in a competitive handicap chase. Carronhills looks out of his depth, so perhaps Dance Island will follow the selection home.

13.15 - A close-knit Grade 2 chase in which French Opera bids to bounce back from a disappointing comeback in the race won by Cornas. Runner-up Tchico Polos and the unplaced I'msingingtheblues are others who re-oppose, but that was a handicap in which French Opera was giving weight away, and this isn't. Therefore, if he's back to anything like the form he was in last season, he should take all the beating.

13.50 - Despite cutting up somewhat since Saturday, this still remains devilishly competitive and a chance can be given to virtually everything in the line-up. However, three stand out for Placepot purposes, headed by last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino.
He travelled powerfully for a long way on his return from ten months off and almost certainly needed the run, fading into sixth behind Walkon and Notus de La Tour who re-oppose again today. Barry Geraghty looked after him that day and it would be very disappointing if he isn't much sharper this time.

The aforementioned Walkon put up a storming performance after an even even longer lay-off but there is the sneaking suspicion that the dreaded 'bounce' may come into play, for all that he comes out best on Timeform ratings here. Solix has been highly touted, Rebel Dancer was well-supported on Saturday morning and Get Me Out of Here triumphed last year, yet Salden Licht and Sweet My Lord look certain to run big races and are the much more reliable propositions.

14.25 - It's hard to be too confident here but you would have to imagine that Tricky Trickster is using this as a prep for the Grand National and therefore the three former pointers are the ones to concentrate on.

Our Island, from the family of useful staying chaser Gunther McBride, and Minella Stars, bought for £135,000 at the 2010 Cheltenham Sales, both created good impressions when scoring on their debut under Rules and seem certain to continue their progression here. The potential of the two recommendations means that recent Newcastle winner Railway Dillon is tentatively eliminated.

15.00 - A small field but a competive-looking affair with only the ageing Flight Leader looking out of his depth. Aiteenthirtythree jumped well on his chase debut and is open to any amount of improvement, whilst Glenwood Knight is prone to a blunder and Tarablaze's jumping was only safe in a match last time.

Selections: 18 lines

12.10 4, 7, 11
12.45 1
13.15 3
13.50 2, 6, 14
14.25 1, 2
15.00 1

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: