NATIONAL HUNT aficionados have been lamenting the demise of the once great Whitbread Gold Cup but this year’s renewal will still take plenty of solving.
The profile of Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup has slipped slightly in recent years such is the emphasis placed on Cheltenham, Aintree and even Punchestown.
However, it looks no easier on paper so for that reason it may be worth chancing an outsider in the shape of Oscar Park.
David Arbuthnot’s charge has had leg trouble so could do with a shower or two but there is no doubting his ability.
Not far behind the best over hurdles and having had just five starts over fences, there could be a good deal more to come from this unexposed runner.
The bet365.com Celebration Chase provides able support on a top-class card with smart novice Kalahari King taken to prove too good for his rivals on his first start of the season in open company.
Ferdy Murphy has made no secret of the regard in which he holds this French import and after winning three of his first four chasing starts in moderate company, he ran a mighty race to go down by just a short-head to Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
He probably improved again on that effort when slamming Tatenen by eight lengths in a Grade One at Aintree last time and he looks difficult to oppose if turning up in similar form.
Paco Boy failed to get the breaks went sent out to Dubai earlier in the year but can gain some compensation in the Bet365 Mile.
The four-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign last year culminating in a Group One success in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
A poor draw ruined his chance in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba so you can put a line through that run and he is the class act in this field by some considerable margin.
Odds-on backers had their fingers burnt when Winker Watson disappointed at Warwick last time but he can reward those who keep the faith at Leicester in the totesport.com Leicestershire Stakes.
Signaller shaped with plenty of promise on his racecourse debut at Ripon and returns to the track for the totesportbingo.com Maiden Stakes.
African Art ran fourth on his introduction at Newmarket and looks one for the shortlist in the Haydock Park Annual Badgeholders Maiden Stakes given normal progress.
Michael Jarvis has his string in fantastic form and he looks set to add to his tally with Ballet Dancer, who takes her chance in Wolverhampton’s Bet With Ladbrokes On 0800 777 888 Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Nicky Henderson has had his best ever season and continues to bang in the winners, making Busker Royal of interest in the Racing UK Focused On Racing Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen.
It is pretty low-key stuff tomorrow, but the booking of Nina Carberry for Heroes in the Home-Tek Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby certainly catches the eye.
Heroes began his career with Geoff Huffer, racing in the colours of Phil Cunningham, owner of 2000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel.
While he was never going to scale the heights of his famous stablemate, he had an early rating of 92 on the level and not many horses with such a handicap mark are sent hurdling nowadays.
Heroes is now in the care of up-and-coming trainer Tim Vaughan and while his three initial runs over timber did not amount to much, the booking of Carberry suggests connections have high hopes.
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