The Weekends Racing – by The Sportsman Racing

st 2lb with the benefit of champion jockey AP McCoy’s coercion in the saddle. Never having finished outside the first two in his career, his facile victory over Taqui Du Deuil has been franked with Jonjo O’Neill’s runner-up subsequently winning both his races, including the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle without breaking sweat. My Tent Or Yours has ability in spades but there is a concern he races too keenly and therefore the stronger the early pace the better for him. He shouldn’t go unbacked at 4-1. The ground will be imperative for many of the runners chances one of whom is Cotton Mill. John Ferguson’s charge can deliver a bold performance if he gets his preferred decent ground. A mark of 145 means he is well treated by the handicapper. His lengthy spell off the track is a concern but it didn’t prevent Zarkandar from winning this event on his course reappearance twelve months ago. At odds of 9-1 he is the each-way selection. In the 4.10 the Class 3 Novices Chase the hardy Unioniste puts his Chelteham credentials on the line. The five-year-old found short-priced RSA Chase favourite Dynaste too hot in a Novice Chase at Prestbury Park in November but stormed back to form at the same track when pulverizing the field in a Grade 3 handicap chase before Christmas. The step up to three miles on Saturday should witness further improvement and he can score for Paul Nicholls. Across the Irish sea the Hennessy Gold Cup revolves around Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs with Peter Casey’s horse seeking a hat-trick of wins against his old adversary. Owner of Flemenstar Stephen Curran declared this week “I can’t see anything beating him” though bookmakers are finding them inseparable in the market and I’d rather side with two exciting Willie Mullins juveniles on the undercard. In the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle Blood Cotil jumps with aplomb and the majority of his opponents would have struggled to pick him up with radar in his two hurdle wins for Mullins. The four-year-old can boost his Triumph Hurdle supporters by winning here. Five-year-old Un Atout has different Cheltenham aspirations with a tilt at the Supreme Novices Hurdle a possibility. However, like Blood Cotil he is another exciting prospect who has bolted up in his hurdle outings and can remain undefeated by winning the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at 2.15 before the Flemenstar versus Sir Des Champs bout.]]>