Review:

Kelso (Thursday 18 February)

Or De Grugy, who came home six lengths clear of Doc Row in the 2m6.5f handicap chase, now has a course record in fields of 11 or fewer runners of: 2111 (3-4), with the sole defeat excusable as it came over an inadequate 2m1f trip. As long as the handicapper doesn’t put him up by more than 7lb he should be back here at the end of March for the Wilfred & Patricia Crawford Memorial Trophy over 3m1f, a race he won 12 month ago.


Lingfield (Wednesday 17 February)

Franco Is My Name, who had scored with something in hand over 1m3f at Kempton on 24 January, repeated the dose over a one furlong shorter trip at Lingfield and now has a handicap record of: 111 (3-3). Don’t bet against Peter Hedger’s charge completing the four-timer at Kempton next Wednesday (24 February).


Kempton (Wednesday 17 February)

Some trainers (e.g. Alan King) specialise in winning with horses blinkered for the first time but others have a terrible record in this area. Kevin Ryan falls into the second camp, the third place for his Breathless Kiss in the 5f handicap taking his record with first-time blinkered runners since 1 January 2008 to just one winner from 53 starts. The application of headgear was a strange move, as the three-year-old filly had blasted out of the traps and made all over course and distance just seven days earlier. She did well to finish so close after fluffing the start and will be interesting here next time.


Southwell (Tuesday 16 February)

Fuzzy Cat took his course record to: 2121 (2-4) when coming late to land the opening sprint handicap. The form of his latest runner-up effort was franked when the winner, Whatyouwoodwishfor, followed up on 18 February and the form looks solid enough for this lowly level.


Catterick (Monday 15 February)

Lease Lend, who took the scenic route in search of better ground when landing a 2m3f handicap chase here on 5 February, repeated the trick over the same course and distance. He once scored narrowly on good ground at Wetherby when 15-8 favourite but seems far happier on the slow stuff. His record on good to soft or softer going now reads: 1121PF434731311 (6-15).


Kempton (Sunday 14 February)

Plum Pudding, who went into this meeting with a 0-9 record on the All-weather and a 1-34 record away from Newmarket, surprisingly traded as favourite in the early exchanges before finishing a tame 7-1 eighth to Viva Vettori.

PLUM PUDDING (IRE)
7yo b g (R Hannon)

Distance
6f: 0 (0-1)
7f: 3861001101213 (5-13)
1m: 622102109010800527930952738 (3-27)
1m1f+: 95000255 (0-8)
Conclusion: he is effective from 7f-1m.

Going
Firm: no runs
Good to firm: 03602001011213 (4-14)
Good: 191100000102 (4-12)
Good (good to soft in places): 5 (0-1)
Good to soft: 600879 (0-6)
Soft/heavy: 829092 (0-6)
Polytrack: 2552357538 (0-10)
Fibresand: no runs
Conclusion: he seems best on good or faster going.

Course
Newmarket (July): 21 (1-2)
Newmarket (Rowley Mile): 811609101115 (6-12)
Others: 03622095000800052793009001223257538 (1-35)
Conclusion: he rarely wins away from Newmarket.

Summary of ideal conditions
When racing at Newmarket his record reads: 812160910911115 (7-15), improving to: 1110111 (6-7) if we only consider his Rowley Mile runs on good or faster going.

Viva Vettori, who needs a good pace to chase, was taking his course record in fields of 12 or more runners to: 111 (3-3). He came into this race rated 15lb lower than Plum Pudding and this was a good example of how official ratings can be misleading in Listed and conditions events on the All-weather (anyone who has backed Aeroplane recently will know what I’m talking about!).


Lingfield (Saturday 13 February)

Dalradian, who has reportedly improved since being gelded, swooped late to land the class 2 handicap over 1m2f - his first try over the trip. This 9-1 success took his course record over 1m or further to: 1131 (3-4), with the sole defeat by half-a-length. He’s 0-7 on turf but has rarely encountered the decent gallop he needs and will be interesting at the likes of Glorious Goodwood this summer.


Trend Horses to follow

Bold Ransom
Eye-catching return to hurdles when runner-up at Wetherby

Dalradian
Returned from a break to score at Lingfield and could follow up

Fuzzy Cat
Form figures on Fibresand of: 2121 (2-4) and can be followed until beaten

Justwhateverulike
Reappearance Kelso winner and could improve on already healthy strike-rate

Le Burf
Seemed to stay 3m when runner-up at Kempton and compensation awaits; must go right-handed

Oiseau De Nuit
Progressive 2m chaser (5 from 7 away from Wincanton) and further success awaits

Or De Grugy
Won on last three visits to Kelso when racing in a field of 11 or fewer runners

Punching
Yet to finish worse than fourth from ten tries on Southwell’s Fibresand

Saticon
Caught the eye when fourth to better-fancied stablemate at Doncaster and interesting for Coral Cup

Skippers Brig
Comfortable winner second time for Nicky Richards and could run up a sequence

The Walnut Tree
Profitable to follow after very recent run and 28-1 Hereford win no fluke


Big race preview

Betfair Chase (Grade 1) – Ascot 3.15, Saturday 20 February

Albertas Run has proved largely disappointing since his RSA Chase win in 2008 but won well from Planet Of Sound over 2m3f here in November and will be happier over this longer trip. His Ascot record reads: 11 (2-2) but he’d prefer faster going.

Herecomesthetruth would probably have finished second had he not unseated in the Peterborough Chase where he was unsuited to being taken on for the lead. He has won eight of his last nine completed starts and has a right-handed record of: 11111U (5-6).

Monet’s Garden, runner-up to Kauto Star in this race two years ago, is best over slightly shorter trips and disappointed behind Albertas Run here last time.

Oh Crick looks vulnerable stepping up to a new trip on a track that doesn’t favour his come-from-behind style.

OH CRICK (FR)
7yo ch g (A King)

Race type
Hdl: 6211119 (4-7)
Chs: 1423F21153 (3-10)
Conclusion: he has a good strike-rate over hurdles and fences.

Distance
2m-2m1f: 1111942113 (6-10)
2m1.5f-2m5f: 6213F25 (1-7)
Conclusion: he's best at about 2m.

Fresh
Seasonal debuts: 645 (0-3)
Conclusion: he will probably need his first run of the season.

Field size
16 or more runners: 119 (2-3)
12-15 runners: 611 (2-3)
10-11 runners: 214 (1-3)
9 or fewer runners: 1123F253 (2-8)
Conclusion: he's suited by coming late off a strong pace and is likely to prove best in big fields.

Summary of ideal conditions
When racing at 2m-2m1f his record reads: 1111942113 (6-10), with the runner-up effort by a head. His 2m-2m1f figures improve to: 11911 (4-5) if we only consider his runs in fields of 12 or more runners. His last six wins have come on good to soft or faster going.

Planet Of Sound has done his winning over shorter trips but seemed to stay 2m3f when runner-up to Albertas Run here latest and the extra 2.5f should be within his grasp, as this track is far from stamina-sapping nowadays.

The Sawyer likes it here but tends to peak in January and looks outclassed.

THE SAWYER (BEL)
10yo ch g (R H Buckler)

Race type
NHF: 123 (1-3)
Hdl: 258442115769 (2-12)
Chs: 5623133U5411545F262U911 (5-23)
Conclusion: he's effective over hurdles and fences.

Distance
2m-2m2.5f: 123 (1-3)
2m3f-2m5f: 254117623121 (4-12)
2m5.5f+: 8425956133U541545F62U91 (3-23)
Conclusion: though twice a winner at 3m he seems best at about 2m4f-2m5.5f.

Going
Good or faster: 263F (0-4)
Good to soft: 12544952335529 (1-14)
Soft: 382161U4126U11 (5-14)
Heavy: 157154 (2-6)
Conclusion: he needs soft or heavy going - his sole win on anything faster came in a Towcester bumper back in March 2004.

Time of year
Jan: 8116111 (5-7)
Feb: 523541 (1-6)
Mar: 17135 (2-5)
Apr: 263F2 (0-5)
May-Jun: 6 (0-1)
Jul-Aug: no runs
Sep-Oct: no runs
Nov-Dec: 32544295U542U9 (0-14)
Conclusion: he has a good record during January.

Summary of ideal conditions
When racing on soft or heavy going his record reads: 382115761U4115426U11 (7-20), improving to: 117121 (4-6) at 2m3f-2m5f only.

Selection: Herecomesthetruth