22/10/16 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Alan King

3.00 Cheltenham Sceau Royal

Sceau Royal was a decent juvenile hurdler last season and, though he disappointed at Aintree and Cheltenham, my horses were not firing at the time and I’m sure he’s better than he showed there. He has thrived for his summer break, and I am looking forward to getting him out again

★★★☆☆

3.00 Cheltenham Gibralfaro

We have had him cut since he finished down the field in the Triumph here in March and I was pleased with his comeback third under top weight in a four-year-old handicap hurdle at Chepstow three weeks ago. He’ll come on a bundle for that first run.

★★★☆☆

4.05 Cheltenham The Tourard Man

The Tourard Man reverts to hurdling for the Pertemps Qualifier, having disappointed over fences at Hereford when he was taken out of his comfort zone. He enjoyed a prolific summer chasing, but I’m still convinced that he’s a better horse over hurdles. He’ll have the winter off as good ground is important to him, but this is a good opportunity to get him qualified for the series before he heads off on holiday, and Kevin Dowling, who claims the 10lb allowance and has already won on him twice, keeps the ride.

★★★☆☆

Hugo Palmer

13:45 Newbury – Colibri

He improved a good deal for the good to soft ground when winning at Brighton last time. It was only a weakish maiden but he won it by 12 lengths, so, now being rated 92, he is ready for the step up in class. In fact, we nearly didn't run him at Brighton because of the ground as, being a son of Redoute's Choice, we thought he needed it fast. That was a case of trainer error, as he loved it.

★★★★☆

14:20 Newbury - Twitch

This is the last opportunity for her to win a Group 3, as this beautifully-bred filly is off to the breeding sheds after this run. She had been knocking on the door trying to get a Listed win for a while before pushing it wide open with a win at Bath last time. She has struggled in stakes company against the colts in the past but this is one last hurrah for her, and we go into the race with our eyes wide open.

★★★★☆

15:15 Doncaster - To Be Wild

He pulled muscles in behind after winning at Ffos Las in July, and has taken a long time to come right. I don't think a mark of 93 is absurd for him even if the bare form of his maiden win didn't really warrant it - if he hadn't have had a St Leger entry at the time I suspect he would have been rated something like 87 - but his recent work has been really good and I am looking forward to seeing him out again. I actually think he would have run a competitive race in the Leger, the way that panned out in the end.

★★★☆☆

15:20 Newbury - Castleacre

If I don't want the ground to dry out for Colibri, I do for Castleacre. I imagine it will be dead autumn ground which probably wouldn't be ideal for an Exceed And Excel filly with a beautiful pedigree. But she won her maiden at Newcastle impressively and, as I don't set a lot of store in winning nurseries with fillies, I thought we would come here. She seems really well at the moment.

★★★☆☆

17:00 Doncaster - two runners

Evergate

He ran well below par over 6f at York last time, but is clearly much better than that and I think 7f on decent ground will see him in a better light here. He was always on the back foot when starting slowly when second at Chelmsford the time before, and he can be competitive if at his best. I have been looking for a 7f nursery for him for a while, but options are limited.

★★★☆☆

Aventinus

His best form so far has been on the all-weather, which he moves beautifully on. So he has to prove his effectiveness on grass in a competitive nursery, but he goes into the race in good form after just being touched off at Kempton last time.

★★★★☆

17:30 Chelmsford – Liberatum

Ran much better when third at Goodwood last time, and hopefully he can prove equally at home on this surface in what looks a competitive maiden. He is in the Horses In Training sale on Tuesday.

★★★★☆

Paul Nicholls

Cheltenham 13:50 - Keltus
Has had a fruitful summer and autumn and has gone up 4lbs for his latest success at Fakenham where he travelled like the winner before idling in front and then readily found more when challenged after the last fence.
Keltus stays three miles well and this is probably his last run before a short break.
He is on the market and would make a smashing Hunter Chaser If anyone is interested in buying him.

★★★★☆
Cheltenham 15:00 - Adrien Du Pont
Is a proper horse who enjoyed a really productive juvenile campaign, winning three of his four starts including the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. He is a smart prospect who will stay over hurdles for another year.
Adrien Du Pont carries the maximum penalty of 8lbs here in a tight little race and should go close but I do want to check the ground before giving the go ahead for him to run.
Like all of mine he will improve for his first outing and this should be a perfect prep race for him ahead of his main target next month in a Grade 1 hurdle for four-year-olds at Auteuil.

★★★★☆

Cheltenham 16:40 - Qualando
Found life a fair bit tougher in his second season after winning the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March 2015. I felt he was a little bit disappointing at times but that may have been because he was struggling with his breathing.
Hopefully the operation he had in the summer has sorted that out. I've always felt he would make a nice chaser, he jumps fences well at home, is ready to go and I'm trying cheek pieces on him for the second time.
★★★★☆
Cheltenham 17:15 - Brahms de Clermont
He was one of our most impressive bumper winners on his debut last season, scooting clear of the field at Taunton to score by 16 lengths despite showing signs of inexperience.
Brahms de Clermont has looked the part in schooling sessions at home so I'll see how he goes here ridden by our good 7lbs claiming jockey Stan Sheppard before making a plan. If he runs well or wins I'll keep him for the bumper at the next Cheltenham meeting. If not he can switch to hurdles.
★★★★☆
Kelso 14:00 - Brio Conti
With so many nice novices we are happy to travel North again in search of winners.
I had to be patient with Bri Conti last season and waited until the spring before running him in a competitive looking bumper at Warwick where he finished a promising third. He then won nicely at Stratford early in May.
Hopefully we can press on now as he is a nice prospect and jumps athletically, though for some reason he has been extremely hard to get fit this Autumn. He still looks a bit burly to me despite doing plenty of work at home, so I am sure he will come on for the run here.
★★★☆☆
Kelso 14:35 - Warriors Tale
I'm still not sure how he was just beaten over fences at Newbury at the Hennessy meeting last season after looking all over the winner. He was then pulled up at Catterick before running well on a couple of occasions when we switched him back to hurdles.
He has had an operation to help his breathing since winning over fences at Perth in May, jumps and stays well and has a good chance here carrying a 6lbs penalty.
I'd like to think Warriors Tale can make up for lost time this winter.

★★★★☆

Ryan Moore

13:35 Doncaster - Laurence
I have never ridden him and all I know is what the form books tells me, and that says that he comes here after a consistent spell of runs at and around this trip. In fact, two of those runs were over course and distance, and the only downside is that he has been upped 2lb for his fifth in the Silver Cambridgeshire last time, which seems a touch harsh to me. But if he runs his race again hopefully I won't be far away, though his draw in 19 is not ideal.
★★★★☆
14:05 Doncaster - Khafoo Shememi
The form of his 6f debut win on the July course worked out well and, even though he was a beaten favourite over 7f at Sandown last time, that was an improved performance as he was giving weight to the front two. He steps back down in trip here and hopefully that will suit, though he needs to improve a bit to win this, I would have thought. Then again, this is only his third start, so obviously he can.
★★★★☆
15:15 Doncaster - Wrangler
I rode him on his comeback run after a long lay-off at Windsor earlier in the month, and he ran okay to an extent. He may have been beaten a fair way but that was his first start for over two years. He has been dropped 2lb for it and is now 2lb lower than when I rode him to win at Haydock two seasons ago, but he has a bit to prove now, and he would greatly benefit from any rain. He looks best on soft ground.
★★★☆☆
15:50 Doncaster - Yucatan
I haven't ridden him, only against him, but he certainly looks to be progressing well with his racing, as so many of Aidan's do. He obviously learned a lot from his Curragh maiden win on good ground when chasing me home in the Beresford Stakes in very testing conditions last time, where I thought the first three home were all decent prospects in their own right.
It rode like a good race, too, even in that ground. Yucatan is clearly an improving colt - and a beautifully-bred one, too, being out of Six Perfections - who will probably appreciate the return to better ground, and he is one of a number of horses in here with a winning shot. It is probably not the strongest Racing Post Trophy I've seen, but Salouen was second in the Lagardere and horses like Royal Lodge runner-up The Anvil and Rivet all have chances if coming back to their best. I think I have a favourite's chance, though.
★★★★☆
17:00 Doncaster - Novoman
Hasn't run a bad race in his five starts to date, and I hope he makes it six here, and that will be good enough to get home in front. He looked a very unlucky loser when second over 6f at Pontefract last time, so I suppose something like his 5lb rise was inevitable in the circumstances, and let's hope that he still can be competitive off this mark. The step back up to 7f is clearly not going to be a problem and he must have a leading chance.

★★★★★

Aiden Coleman

1.50 Cheltenham Any Currency

He was obviously first past the post in the Cross Country race at the Festival, and then followed up there over the conventional obstacles in April.While the Randox Handicap Chase is a nice prize, his main targets will be the cross country races in December and at the Festival, so he should come on for his first run of the season.

★★★☆☆

2.25 Cheltenham West Approach

West Approach is a nice horse who I rode in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. He then enjoyed a drop in grade to win at Newton Abbot in May. The trip and track will suit him well and he would have a squeak

★★★☆☆

3.30 Cheltenham Sizing Platinum

I schooled Sizing Platinum in the week  and he jumped well but I couldn’t tell you much more aside from he has decent form in Ireland, having been runner-up in a couple of Grade Threes.

★★★☆☆

4.05 Cheltenham Listen And Learn

I won on him a couple of runs back at Plumpton and then he ran OK behind The Romford Pele at Newton Abbot this month. He’s straightforward and will run his usual consistent race.

★★★☆☆

Dan Skelton

3.30 Cheltenham Savello

It’s a competitive race, of course it is, but Savello is a previous winner at Cheltenham. He’s always running in this type of race and I’m sure if he lines up that he will give his running. He’s been charging round at home like a youngster, he’s such a character. Bridget gets on really well with him and her 5lbs off is only a bonus. He’s got a place chance and he should run really well, and I’m hoping that he’ll pick up a race or two during the season. He doesn’t owe anyone anything, he’s a lovely horse and I’m sure he’ll do us proud again this season.

★★★☆☆+

4.05 Cheltenham Zarib

I had Zarib entered in a beginners’ chase this week but I think I can wait to go chasing. He wasn’t particularly well in at the weights with a couple in the race so I decided against it. He ran a good race the other day but the ground got quite soft at Fontwell and I think he wants better ground. He ran well here in the spring, but he didn’t get the trip when he ran on Swinton Hurdle day by which time he was probably over the top anyway, so it’s not fair to judge his stamina on that alone. He’ll probably go chasing after this unless he wins it; he has a nice weight and should go well.

★★★☆☆

4.40 Cheltenham Knockgraffon

Knockgraffon is a really good jumper, I wouldn’t start a horse around Cheltenham otherwise. He’s showing all the right signs at home, so he’ll run as long as the ground is suitable and I do expect him to leave his hurdle form behind over fences. He’s a very nice horse, we just have to be a bit careful about the ground.

★★★☆☆

Tom Scudamore

1.50 Cheltenham Alternatif

He’s a bit of an in and out performer. I schooled him the other day and he seems in good form. He’s going to have to pull his finger out but when he’s good he’s very good. Unfortunately he does throw in the odd disappointing run. He has run quite well around Cheltenham before. His stamina didn’t quite last over three and a half miles around here but he did run well for a long way. On a going day he would have a chance. I will take my time on him, get a lead, get him jumping and play my cards late.

★★★☆☆

3.30 Cheltenham Casino Markets

He’s had a good summer. Yes, he’s stepping up in class but Emma is in such good form that anything is possible. I rode one for her a few weeks ago, Crimson Ark, which stepped up in class and needed to improve, and it ran well. There’s no reason why Casino Markets can’t run well. He’s an improving horse and Emma’s made such a good start from her new yard that I’m sure there’s more to come from him. He’s normally a prominent runner so will likely keep it nice and simple.

★★★☆☆

4.05 Cheltenham Eshtiaal

He must have a good chance. He’s won his last two and comes here on a roll. I’ll chat to Gordon in the morning and go through the race with him. He looks a straightforward horse and has a bit of class, and he looks my best ride of the day. Gordon is very straightforward to ride for. He knows how he likes his horses to be ridden and you always know where you stand on that score. He knows his horses inside-out and while he doesn’t really tie you down you know exactly what’s expected of you when you ride for him.

★★★★☆

4.40 Cheltenham Solstice Star

He had some nice hurdle form and did nothing but improve last year. He’s handled the track before too. This is his first time over fences and we have a little bit to find with the likes of Shantou Village, but there’s no reason why he can’t given the way he improved beyond all recognition last season. He was second in the Imperial Cup and here in April.

★★☆☆☆

5.15 Cheltenham Tikanite

I suspect Shaun must like this horse as though his is quite a small operation, it’s a shrewd operation and he wouldn’t just be coming here for the day out. You do get some trainers just wanting runners at Cheltenham but Shaun would be just as happy having a winner at Plumpton.

★★★★☆

Luke Morris

5.30 Chelmsford – Houndstooth
She’s shown a good level for form so far and has an official mark of 73 for those efforts. That does potentially leave her vulnerable to something that’s quite good if one of her rivals fits that bill. She’s a solid horse though and I think she’s got a good chance. She has a nice draw as well and has a good experience edge on her rivals.

★★★★☆

6.05 Chelmsford – Miss Mayson
She ran very well the last day but the problem is her draw in stall 12 of 12. It’s not going to be easy to do as you’re straight into the turn over 5f at Chelmsford. I’ll wait to see what her trainer wants me to do, but I’d probably look to tuck in a ride her for a bit of luck. If she gets that then I think she can go close.

★★★★☆

7.10 Chelmsford – Ghalib
He’s on a good mark and he’s more than capable of winning this race. I was slightly disappointed with him at Ascot the last day as I thought he could have done better. If he’s on song then this is the right sort of race for him to run really well in. He has a tricky draw in stall 14 but he’s usually tucked in and brought through with his effort so it’s not the end of the world.

★★★☆☆

8.10 Chelmsford – The Greedy Boy
This looks a very weak race and his trainer Mick Channon looks to have found the perfect race for this horse. If he runs to his best I can see him being involved in the shake up as it’s a poor contest.

★★★☆☆

9.10 Chelmsford – Shine Likeadiamond
She’s very consistent this filly and it’s amazing that she’s finished second eight times in 20 starts and never managed to win. She’s tough and honest, so with that bit of luck you need in these sort of races I hope I can persuade her to get her head in front this time.

★★★☆☆

Richard Johnson

1.50 Cheltenham Coologue

Charlie Longsdon’s horses are in fine form and there should be no worries about the trap or trip.He’s high enough in the weights and it’s a competitive renewal, but he goes well fresh and certainly has an each-way chance.

★★★☆☆

2.25 Cheltenham Young Dillon

He comes here in really good form. He will like the good ground and fingers crossed he’s still improving.I rode West Approach here last year and he’s a very interesting horse. He’s a half-brother to Thistlecrack and is definitely a horse to watch out for this season.

★★★☆☆

3.30 Cheltenham Dunraven Storm

There’s no worries about the ground but I’m a bit worried about his handicap mark as he is giving weight away to younger horses.

★★☆☆☆

4.05 Cheltenham For Good Measure

Was unlucky when just getting caught at Market Rasen last time out.He will like the big field and he’s open to improvement.

★★★☆☆

4.40 Cheltenham Brother Tedd

I’m really looking forward to riding Brother Tedd in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Chase. This looks a very strong race, but he made a pleasing debut over fences at Newton Abbott and I’m hoping he’ll come on for that. Fingers crossed he’s my best chance of the day

★★★★☆

5.15 Cheltenham Somewhere To Be

I was really impressed by how much Somewhere To Be improved on his first run when finishing third at Worcester last time out and he should have a chance in the last

★★★★☆

Richard Hannon

1.35 Doncaster Bag of Diamonds 40/1

We’re stepping him back up in trip and after staying on nicely at Lingfield it should really suit him and the conditions here are just what he has been asking for all year. He’s been dropped 4lbs by the Handicapper which is obviously a help and I rate his chances quite considerably under Tom Marquand.

★★★★☆

1.45 Newbury The Grape Escape

I really like this horse. He’s obviously stepping up in grade and has to improve but I think that is entirely possible. He won very well first time and he’s a horse we are all very excited about. He’s win material and I expect him to go close. 

★★★★☆

2.05 Doncaster Grizzel

Whether six furlongs is her best trip, I’m not sure but the ground should be right for her and she receives a little bit of weight so there are plenty of things in her favour and she has plenty of ability. She will be heading to Canada after this and might join Michael Doyle to continue her career there.

★★★☆☆

2.05 Doncaster Khafoo Shememi

didn’t quite stay the seven furlongs at Sandown last time as he has plenty of speed and it looks like the flatter six here will be much more suitable as he won over this distance on debut at Newmarket. He’s a nice horse and should go well. 

★★★☆☆

2.05 Doncaster Tomily

stayed on very well at York and wasn’t beaten far so a reproduction of that effort would definitely see him in the firing line. He’s a real tough customer and will go very well.

2.20 Newbury Tashaar

He has run pretty well in a short season and needed his first couple of runs but is gradually hitting top gear. He’s a pretty good horse and I’m convinced the ability is still there. Obviously he has got it to do in what looks a very good race with the likes of Western Hymn and a few other smart sorts in there but he has a pretty good chance of running a good race and goes well on the track too which gives me confidence.

★★★☆☆

3.20 Newbury Peak Princess

We’re looking for a little bit of Black-Type with PEAK PRINCESS and it would be nice to think she could gain some here. She’s a very nice filly and I expect her to go well. 

★★★☆☆

4.30 Newbury Northern Thunder

has an obvious chance  as he missed the break the last time but had previously won at Kempton and Chester and was starting to show he had real talent. If he can bounce back, he’d be the pick of the quartet.  

★★★☆☆

5.00 Doncaster Himself

He’s quite a nice horse and we’ve taken our time with him. He battled very hard to score at Windsor over six furlongs in August and steps back up 200m in trip here which I think will suit. He’s had a break as he got a little sick and his scopes weren’t quite right so we gave him plenty of time to come right and he arrives here a fresh horse which counts for a lot at this time of the year. This is his first run in Handicap Company and he has to keep improving, but he’s a lovely horse who tries real hard and he has a solid credentials. 

★★★☆☆

5.05 Newbury Sunset Dream

She’s a filly I really like and she’ll also like the ground. She should go quite close as she’s been really catching my eye of late and showing me all the right signs. I rate her chances off a nice low weight. 

★★★★☆

5.30 Chelmsford City Al Mansor

He’s another horse I think has a great chance of winning. I’ve not done anything with him since his last run and he’s really flourished over the last few days. He’s shown more than enough to suggest a race like this is winnable. 

★★★★☆

6.40 Chelmsford City Not Touch

has been knocking at the door and there are no real excuses here

★★★☆☆

7.10 Chelmsford City George William

He’s a lovely horse who is very reliable and we know where we stand with him as he really tries his heart out and I think he can run a big race. 

★★★☆☆