Blacklion looks a big danger

I have to admit I was disappointed with Right Touch last week. Although he seemed to be flying quite high in the conditions race which rounded off the Doncaster card, he had been lightly raced by Richard Fahey, was racing over his best distance of seven furlongs and had run well in a red-hot handicap at Ascot. This time he was never really travelling, went in behind a bunch of horses and found little. As I feared, an in the mood Sovereign Debt simply outclassed them and there is nothIng more to say.

Although I have never thought Cue Card would stay the Gold Cup trip, he can be excused his mishap in last season’s big race because Paddy Brennan seemed to have a rush of blood when driving him between rivals way too far from home. Cue Card came down but romped home at Aintree afterwards and remains a very high-class performer. He has every chance of following up last year’s victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday, especially with Colin Tizzard’s team in blinding form already, but BLAKLION looks a big danger. Nigel Twiston-Davies is certain to have the RSA Chase winner spot=on for this and his team is going along every bur as well as Tizzard’s.

Paul Nicholls has opted for the Sodexo Chase at Ascot with Saphir Du Rheu and many believe he is very fairly handicapped. However, he achieved little after starting favourite for last season’s Hennessy at Newbury and needs to show that he is back to his best. If he is, he looks the one to beat but Neil Mulholland’s THE YOUNG MASTER is decent each-way value at a course he likes and first time up may be the time to catch him.

I shall let the William Hill Handicap Hurdle go, my feeling that Ch’Tibello will love the fast ground balanced by the fact that he has plenty of weight. Instant Karma is a rare runner in this sphere for Michael Bell and is another who will love the surface. I suspect he just needed the race when making hard work of it at Newton Abbot last time.
From the sublime to the whatever, Milton Bradley keeps soldiering on through rain and shine, his modest sprint handicappers travelling the length and breadth of the country. BURAUQ has only a modicum of ability but seems to have found the right bunch of characters in the 8.40 at Chelmsford. He may have most to fear from the veteran Mambo Spirit.