TimeformBlog

Saturday's meeting at Newbury is one of the best NH cards you could wish to see, and though some of the weekend's other meetings have fallen foul of the elements, there is still plenty to get excited about elsewhere as well...


Denman is currently a 5.4 chance to become the first horse in the history of the race to win the Hennessy Gold Cup three times, surpassing the record that he currently shares with Mandarin and Arkle. Judged on Timeform ratings, Denman has a good chance, even from a mark of 182 (6 lb higher than last year), and despite the fact that he has forced all but six of his opponents out of the handicap, this looks a vintage renewal. Denman will face particularly stiff competition from two of last year's leading novices in Weird Al (7.4) and Diamond Harry (9.8), both of whom look open to further progress over fences.

The abandonment of Newcastle's Saturday meeting has strengthened the card at Newbury, the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle having been salvaged and sent down south. The reigning Champion Hurdler Binocular is set to return to action in the race where he will meet four others, the most interesting of whom is last year's top novice hurdler Peddlers Cross.

Binocular won't be the only star hurdler on show at Newbury as Big Buck's also returns to the fray in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle, bidding to win consecutive renewals of the race and stretch his unbeaten run over timber to nine. On all known form he faces a simple task, having upwards of 12 lb in hand over his rivals according to Timeform ratings.

Perhaps the other most interesting race on the card at Newbury is the listed Gerry Feilden Hurdle over two miles, a limited handicap in which plenty of promising sorts are on show, not least Emma Lavelle's recent Ascot winner Tocca Ferro.

Towcester has also fallen victim to the elements on Saturday, so the sole remaining card in Britain takes place on the all-weather at Kempton. The action there is of good quality, with a couple of listed races set to take place. In the Hyde Stakes over a mile Riggins looks to have a good chance of giving rookie trainer Ed Walker a good start to his caree, while Clive Brittain's Nideeb goes in search of a hat-trick in the mile-and-a-half Wild Flower Stakes, though he will more than likely need to pull out more against the likes of Dreamspeed.

Sunday's undoubted highlight is the seven-race jumps card at Fairyhouse, which features three Grade 1 events. The two highest-rated hurdlers in Ireland, Hurricane Fly and Solwhit, are set to go head to head in the two-and-a-half mile Hatton's Grace, renewing rivalry from last season's Punchestown Festival when the former had a neck to spare over his rival. Solwhit has race fitness on his side this year, having won a Grade 1 at Punchestown earlier this month, and should be better suited by the trip, though Hurricane Fly may prove capable of even better form, lightly raced as he is.

Ireland's top novices will also be on show, the hurdlers getting their chance to shine in the Royal Bond over two miles, which features a couple of hugely exciting prospects in Zaidpour and Carlosiswayback, the former currently 13.5 second favourite for the 2011 Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The novice chasers do their thing in the two-and-a-half mile Drinmore and it is potentially a fascinating contest with the most interesting runner surely Mikael d'Haguenet who is set to have his first run since winning the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in 2009.

Sunday's cards in Britain take place over jumps at Carlisle and Leicester, and on the all-weather at Kempton. There is also Grade 1 Flat racing in the Far East in the shape of the Japan Cup, where the European contingent includes Joshua Tree and Dandino, with Arc runner-up Nakayama Festa spearheading the home team.

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