Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five racing tips at Sandown, Ripon and Haydock on Saturday. View selections below.
KITTY’S LIGHT (3.35) has sound prospects of repeating last season’s success in the 3m 5f bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
The Christian Williams-trained gelding ran a stormer in the Grand National at Aintree a fortnight ago, finishing fifth to I Am Maximus after holding every chance at the final obstacle.
Kitty’s Light won this event last year coming off only a seven-day break, having scooped the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in fine fashion. Jack Tudor’s mount goes particularly well on a sound surface, so drying ground will be in his favour.
His third to classy Irish stayer Hewick in the 2022 version of this event further underlined his liking for the track.
Annual Invictus is also of each-way interest trading at bigger odds.
Chris Gordon’s nine-year-old sprung a 25-1 surprise in Doncaster’s Great Yorkshire Chase in January and runner-up Forward Plan went on to win at Kempton before posting an honourable third at Aintree when contesting another tough handicap.
A sound surface will also play to his advantage and he did well to finish seventh in the Kim Muir at muddy Cheltenham.
Willie Mullins has whittled his team down to three, with Miella Cocooner and Nick Rockett joined by Aime Desjy.
Mullins pitches EL FABIOLO (3.00) into battle against home hero Jonbon in a thrilling renewal of the bet365 Celebration Chase.
El Fabiolo’s impressive winning sequence came to an unfortunate end in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham after he sprawled on landing and was quickly pulled up.
His jumping will be put to the test when negotiating the railway fences which come up quickly down the back straight.
The drop back to two miles may just catch out Jonbon but he was in great form in Aintree’s 2m 4f Melling Chase when accounting for Conflated and Protektorat.
At Ripon, SPIORADALTA (5.15) looks primed to land the one-mile handicap.
Mark Walford’s four-year-old, a previous course winner on testing ground, caught the eye when finishing a close-up fourth to Do I Dream here nine days ago.
Hiromichi won at Lingfield earlier this month but Jack Channon’s grey couldn’t overcome a 5lb penalty when re-appearing at Kempton five days later.
There isn’t much separating Clear Angel and Helter Skelter on their running behind Look Back Smiling in Doncaster’s Spring Mile, where re-opposing Titian finished well behind in fourteenth spot.
CHILLINGHAM (6.20) wasn’t unduly punished on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton three weeks ago and Ed Bethell’s five-year-old should go to post sharper for that experience in the 1m 4f handicap.
Sea King has gone well fresh in the past for Sir Mark Prescott and his gelding was returning from a 95-day absence when scoring at Goodwood (soft) in late August.
Dual course and distance scorer Knightswood has shown his best form on a sounder surface but Charlie Johnston has his team in good nick.
Irish raider EARLS (2.45) catches the eye in the competitive 7f handicap at Haydock.
Gavin Cromwell’s gelding would have won in another stride when losing out in a blanket finish at the Curragh last Saturday (heavy) and Franny Norton has been booked.
Rainbow Fire ran out a comfortable winner of this event last April but the track was riding much quicker on that occasion. The gelding enjoys a hefty 9lb pull in the weights from runner-up Gweedore and trainer Marco Botti is in terrific form.
David O’Meara’s Rhoscolyn goes well in the mud and is easing down the ratings.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
