Skip to main content

Racing Raise a glass for Champagne Platinum at Newbury

Compared to the past few weeks it is a fairly mundane weekend of racing, but there is one outstanding wager which you must have a closer look at in the Newbury 1.50 and in particular top-weight JOHN CONSTABLE.

Bordering on grade one class as a hurdler, the top-weight simply hasn’t enjoyed his recent switch to the larger obstacles, beaten a total of 49 lengths on two starts.

Deep ground was of no use to this classy seven-year-old at Haydock Park over two-and-a-half miles last time out and I fully expect a massive run here returning to the drying ground at the Berkshire circuit.

His handicap mark is another reason to be optimistic about his chance having fallen from a high of 156 down to his current rating of 141 and conditional Conor Ring seems to get on with him well.

I am expecting the son of Montjeu to successfully give the weight away to the likes of Dragon D’Estruval and Subcontinent. The first named of that duo seemed to find three miles too far after pulling very hard at the last meeting here and this should prove to be his optimum trip if he manages to settle in the arms of Daryl Jacob.

Elsewhere on the card I have a strong fancy for the exciting CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM (nap) in the opener at 12.40 following his ultra smooth success at Newcastle last time out and this looks the perfect opportunity for him to defy his penalty before being raised in class.

The Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase at 2.25 looks a much wider open affair and Hey Bill looks interesting down at the bottom of the weights if he jumps with more precision than last time out, but that may still not seem a match for the strongly fancied CAROLE’S DESTRIER who races off a career low mark here.

Hands up those who remember his strong staying on second to Native River in the 2016 Hennessy, since when his form has taken a right old dive.

However, his third to King’s Lad at Chepstow in October showed that the fire still burns bright and off 135 he looks a mighty player here if he is on a going day.

At Doncaster, the ground will be close to “good” and that will suit a number of runners on the Town Moor card including the relatively lightly raced BATTLE OF SHILOH (nb) in the Mansion Bet Handicap Chase at 1.30.

The Tom George-trained gelding has only had nine starts under rules and is two from seven over fences to date.

He had a lovely warm-up for this valuable prize when running on nicely into third spot behind Favorito Buck’s at Ascot.

The assessor has surprisingly dropped him to a mark some two pounds lower here and a huge run is expected on this galloping track which should be right up his street on the prevailing going.

The feature event is the Mansion Bet Silver Vase Mare’s Chase at 2.05 and I expect that the classy RENE’S GIRL can bounce back to winning form here following a below par run when strongly fancied in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

This is a significant drop in class for the daughter of Presenting and this top of the ground is another bonus for her.

There are some big prizes on offer at Leopardstown and the feature Grade One Ryanair Hurdle at 2.30 is a final chance for SAMCRO to lay down the law as a genuine Champion Hurdle player following events in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park.

He has simply looked too slow in recent races and I would expect Jack Kennedy to make plenty of use of him here and try to run the finish out of his recent conqueror Bedrock on these better terms.

Finally, a couple are worth a second look on the Fibresand at Southwell in the form of MAKAARIM in the 1.10 and CLASSIC PURSUIT in the big sprint at 1.45.

The former has fallen down the weights and this is his easiest task for a very long time, while Classic Pursuit wasn’t beaten far on his last run on the turf at Catterick and acts well on this surface.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today