Quote:
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Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance
Monet's wins  |
Very nice.
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Sporting Life.....
CHANCE MONK IN CHARLIE TEST
By Man On The Spot
BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
2pts win Monkerhostin in Charlie Hall Chase at best morning price. Goes well fresh, handles any ground and gets weight from main rivals.
Madison Du Berlais: Winner of three handicap chases including a Grade Three event at Newbury in March. Yet to race beyond two miles and five furlongs, and sure to have any stamina limitations exposed here. Having said that he is worth a try at the trip, but has to find significant improvement on all known form to live with the best of these under a penalty. Trainer David Pipe won this race last year with Our Vic.
State Of Play: Showed he goes well fresh when ready winner of the Hennessy last year. Gallant sixth in Cheltenham Gold Cup following that but rounded off last season with a disappointing effort at Aintree behind Exotic Dancer. Leading player on form and ratings, absence not a problem and goes on the ground. Like Madison Du Berlais, has to concede weight to the rest due to a penalty, and that might just anchor him here.
Aces Four: Improved throughout novice season last year and put together three excellent efforts at the end of season festivals. His fourth behind Denman at Cheltenham was bettered when he won at Aintree, and he would have collected at Punchestown too but for a final fence fall. Has yet to win on his reappearance, but did win over hurdles after a three-month break so can go well fresh. Trainer Ferdy Murphy's runners have tended to need their first run so far, and he might just struggle to give five pounds to some talented if frustrating performers.
Turko: Looked useful over two and a half miles as a novice chaser last season, but then disappointed when stepped up in trip on final two starts. He was pulled up behind Aces Four at Aintree last time, and there has to be stamina concerns given they are likely to go at a good clip.
Bewleys Berry: Looks a thorough stayer and was going well in front in the Grand National on his last start before he fell at Bechers. Jumped very well that day and jumping is an asset that is vital at Wetherby - the fourth fence from home is particularly unforgiving. Plenty to find on ratings but trainer Howard Johnson has a good record in the race and this one likes fast ground too, so is not without a chance.
Kingscliff: Hugely talented on his day but is prone to sulk and is not one to trust. Loves a thorough test of stamina and though went well on good ground at the Punchestown Festival in April, would probably prefer easier conditions. Raced prominently in this race twice before when second behind Ollie Magern and when fading to fourth behind Our Vic last year. Could see one or two passing him up the straight again this year.
Monkerhostin: Another with bags of talent but has become difficult to win with since outgrowing handicaps. Much more consistent than the likes of Kingscliff and Ollie Magern though, and has a live form chance given he was fourth in the Gold Cup ahead of the former and State Of Play. Goes on all types of ground and although can be a bit iffy with his jumping, he can be brilliant on his day. Crucially he goes very well fresh - he won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on his 2005 reappearance, and won on his first start in 2004 at Stratford. Will probably be held up here and the likely fast pace will suit.
Ollie Magern: Touted for Gold Cup glory after winning this race from the front in 2005, but hasn't come close to winning since (beaten a combined 300 lengths plus in last eight races). Something may have been amiss and if he is back to his best could win this from the front again. Nigel Twiston-Davies' stable is in hot form and a bold bid wouldn't surprise in the slightest. However, his form has been awful and it would take a great deal of trust if you were thinking about backing him. If he were a big price, and he should be, he may be worth a spectaculative punt, but the sponsors offer of 9/2 means he is readily passed over.
Conclusion: An intriguing contest that is going to depend on fitness and the relative talents of the horses' respective trainers as every contender lines up for the first time this season. Therefore, the top four have a really tough task conceding weight to the rest. Of those off 11 stone, Bewleys Berry is the least complicated, though he has plenty to find on the book. The other three (Kingscliff, Ollie Magern and Monkerhostin) are all risky propositions for different reasons, and it may pay to chance the latter given his record when fresh. Ollie Magern and Kingscliff should ensure this is a decent test, and Monkerhostin could benefit the most.
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Racing Post...
Voy Por Ustedes to return in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter
by John Sexton
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VOY POR USTEDES, last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, looks certain to make his eagerly awaited return to racing inthe valuable William Hill Gold Cup, centrepiece of the card at Exeter on Tuesday.
He is due to carry top weight of 11st 10lb from his rating of 169 in a high-class renewal of the race, better known as the Haldon Gold Cup, next week. He will have to give away at least 11lb to his rivals, with last season's leading 2m novice chaser Twist Magic next in the weights.
"The plan is that Voy Por Ustedes will run at Exeter just as long as the ground is okay," said trainer Alan King, "and at the moment it looks like being fine for him as it is good with good to firm places."
That was confirmed by Exeter's clerk of the course Barry Johnson, who walked the course on Thursday and was pleased with its condition.
He said: "It is mainly good though there area few good to firm spots down the back straight on the chase course. There is a good covering of grass and I think it is holding the moisture.
"It is a little faster on the hurdles course where it is mainly good to firm and I don't think there will be much change by next Tuesday. The forecast is for mainly dry weather, though we could have some light showers at the weekend, but no more than 2mm of rain."
Voy Por Ustedes is likely to be given a stiff test on his return, with Philip Hobbs confirming last season's Arkle Trophy runner-up Fair Along a near-certain runner.
He comes to the race on the back of an excellent third in the Cesarewitch last time and Hobbs plans to run him on Tuesday rather than wait for the Paddy Power Gold Cup 11 days later.
Other likely runners include Royal Shakespeare and David Pipe's Pablo Du Charmil.
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Racing Post...
The Listener Faces Five Depending on Ground
by Thomas Deane
THE LISTENER (pictured) will face five rivals in Saturday's James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal - providing the ground is no quicker than good.
Robert Alner's talented grey has been declared andconnections are eager to run but do not want the word firm to appear in the going description.
The Listener jumped to prominence last season with a classy win in the Lexus Chase on heavy ground and Alner is hoping he will remain competitive in many of the top Irish contests.
Regarding Saturday's race, Alner said: "I'd still be worried about the ground and it'll be interesting to see how it rides there on Friday.
"Nick Mitchell, my assistant, is over there and will walk it after racing and we'll see how it is.
"As long as it is genuinely good ground he'll run and obviously we want to run as the horse travelled over on Wednesday and I'm really happy with him.
"I'd just be worried if it turned good to firm and I'd reserve the judgment whether to run or not if that was the case.
"The plan was to run him four times in Ireland this season - in this race, the John Durkan, the Lexus and then the Hennessy before taking things from there."
Should The Listener get thego-ahead to run, he will face stiff opposition from Taranis and Dusty Sheehy's Justified.
The former won last season's Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and will be having his first crack at three miles, while the latter will have just his second run at the trip after reappearing with an impressive win in a Gowran Grade 2.
Former Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Strong Flow will represent Dessie Hughes, with Baron De Feypo and Light On The Broom completing the line-up.