The Weekends Racing – by The Sportsman Racing

In the concluding bumper at 5.00 Red Sherlock looked every inch another Pipe stable star when dismantling the field in a Towcester national hunt flat race. The four-year-old had a ball in the flying mud and can put himself in the picture for the Cheltenham Festival bumper alongside fellow leading British hope Empiracle with a win here. The well regarded Captain Cutter lived up to expectations when shredding the field on debut at Ascot in December and should also be to the fore. The Grand National Trial is the key contest on Haydock’s Saturday card with many an Aintree warrior using this race as a stepping stone to Grand National success over the years. Stamina is of the essence over a punishing 3m 4f trip. My two selections against the field are the strapping Teaforthree from the Rebecca Curtis stable and Venetia Williams’ Rigidan De Beauchene, both at 5-1. Teaforthree recorded a searing performance when second in the recent Welsh National and a 7lb rise may not be enough to halt this progressive horse with his inexorable galloping and solid jumping. Rigadin De Beauchene is an ultra-consistent chaser who caught the eye when winning over 3m5f at Warwick last month. Carrying a 9lb penalty for that success should not put you off this inexhaustible slugger who will provide 100% effort for your cash. Stamina is his forte and the horse has been popular with punters all week with his odds sent tumbling. Jockey Robbie Dunne stated this week “I’m sure he’ll go well as everything – the trip, ground and track – should suit him”. Tasty jumps action on the menu this weekend including the Betfair Ascot Chase, the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock. The key race at Ascot is the Betfair Chase and Captain Chris can cement his place in the Gold Cup by winning for Phillip Hobbs at a best priced 11-4 with Stan James and Boylesports. Captain Chris looked set for a huge chasing career in 2011 when powering away from Finian’s Rainbow to win the Arkle. Sadly, last season was an anti-climax with not one win recorded by Captain Chris in the entire campaign and the horse showing an alrming tendency to jump to the right. The son of Kings Theatre was reinvigiorated on his seasonal return in November when landing the Grade 2 Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot with Finians Rainbow 25 lengths in his trail. Last time out Captain Chris ran a cracker when only Gold Cup winner Long Run could prevent him winning the King George with Cue Card toiling in fifth. Cue Card and Finians Rainbow re-oppose on Saturday but Captain Chris can confirm previous form with both. In the concluding bumper at 5.00 Red Sherlock looked every inch another Pipe stable star when dismantling the field in a Towcester national hunt flat race. The four-year-old had a ball in the flying mud and can put himself in the picture for the Cheltenham Festival bumper alongside fellow leading British hope Empiracle with a win here. The well regarded Captain Cutter lived up to expectations when shredding the field on debut at Ascot in December and should also be to the fore. The Grand National Trial is the key contest on Haydock’s Saturday card with many an Aintree warrior using this race as a stepping stone to Grand National success over the years. Stamina is of the essence over a punishing 3m 4f trip. My two selections against the field are the strapping Teaforthree from the Rebecca Curtis stable and Venetia Williams’ Rigidan De Beauchene, both at 5-1. Teaforthree recorded a searing performance when second in the recent Welsh National and a 7lb rise may not be enough to halt this progressive horse with his inexorable galloping and solid jumping. Rigadin De Beauchene is an ultra-consistent chaser who caught the eye when winning over 3m5f at Warwick last month. Carrying a 9lb penalty for that success should not put you off this inexhaustible slugger who will provide 100% effort for your cash. Stamina is his forte and the horse has been popular with punters all week with his odds sent tumbling. Jockey Robbie Dunne stated this week “I’m sure he’ll go well as everything – the trip, ground and track – should suit him”.]]>