Racing
Wetherby Tips: Le Breuil could be set to shock
Syndicate Captain Cheltmental takes a break from the greyhound previews to take on the £10,000 Place 6 at Wetherby on Saturday. Read on for his extensive Wetherby Tips
Cheltmental: Wetherby plays host to a cracking card with the Charlie Hall Chase the feature. With no more than 5m of rain forecast I’d hope it stays about soft, good to soft in places. I’ll go through the first 6 races and try point you in the right direction of a winner a two
12:50 – HANDICAP CHASE
OUT FOR JUSTICE notched up a couple of wins in the summer but has disappointed since. Fresh from a wind op though and carrying a featherweight means he’s worth a second look.
RENWICK is lightly raced and has two wins to his name. He’s never been sent off bigger than 5/1 over obstacles and although he’s disappointed plenty he’s clearly a better horse than his current mark. If the step up to 3m is the answer for him, and he keeps mistakes to a minimum he could run well but it’s LATE ROMANTIC who appears to hold the answer to this opener race.
He’s winless from 8 starts under rules but was a 3 time point winner and, in the main, he’s run ok under rules despite not getting his head in front. He’s had a wind op, will like the ground and with Paddy Brennan on board again, twice second on him, I think he could take this.
Selection – LATE ROMANTIC, RENWICK, OUT FOR JUSTICE
13:20 – HANDICAP CHASE
WEST TO THE BRIDGE is one of Dan Skeltons runners who really does want some proper cut in the ground, which he’s going to get here.
He’s only had the one start over fences where he was a bit keen in a Novices’ Handicap so I suspect they’ve gone for a Handicap proper to ensure there is some pace in here. Wouldn’t suggest he’s going to become a worldie but you’d have to say he’s plenty capable of winning races of this current mark of 125 and his best effort have come on soft ground.
Top weight JUST DON’T ASK is dropping down to a tempting mark but a line needs to be drawn through his last start. VALHALLA isn’t the most prolific but he’s not hard to fancy now he’s down to a mark of 119, over a stone below his peak.
KAPGARRY is another who should be handicaps this season off his current mark and the drop back in trip for him is interesting at least.
Selection – WEST TO THE BRIDGE, JUST DON’T ASK, KAPGARRY, VALHALLA
13:55 – MARES’ HURDLE
LADY BUTTONS is giving weight away all round here but she took this race 12 months ago and only found LA BAGUE AU ROI too good the year prior. She performed well throughout last season and is the one to beat, although she is beatable with that weight concession.
INDEFATIGABLE rates as the most obvious danger having got to within a neck of LADY BUTTONS last season, although that was partly due to BUTTONS idling. INDEFATIGABLE has had a prep run at Chepstow although would have preferred the rain to have not come. That’s enough to cast doubt over her credentials although I do think this 6yo will go onto good things this season if she can get her ground.
AWEEMINIT has been in flying form, including when running a huge race at Kempton in a Class 1 listed hurdle at 100/1, but on ratings she’s got a good bit to find and she is another who would have wanted good ground. DIAMOND GAIT has won twice when fresh in November and she’s very lightly raced. Another who probably needs to take a step forward though very capable of doing that
SMAOINEAMH ALAINN will at least handle the ground and, if you go back a couple of seasons, she looked like she was going to make into a decent type so she has an outside chance. But it’s the 4yo’s VISION DU PUY & ZAMBELLA who look like they could hold the answer.
The former won nicely enough on her stable debut, although would need to settle better here, and ZAMBELLA will be making her British debut but any rain fall will help her chance and she could be anything.
Selections – LADY BUTTONS, INDEFATIGABLE, VISION DU PUY, ZAMBELLA
14:30 – NOVICES’ HURDLE
THEBANNERKING REBEL gives weight away to the entire field but he is by far the best horse in the race and will be able to take this. He was second in the Aintree bumper, his only completed defeat, and he’s beaten some decent sorts in other races.
The potential danger to him would be PROSCHEMA who ran really well at Chepstows season opener and on these terms might be able to get close. The ground won’t be a problem for him either
Selections – THEBANNERKING REBEL, PROSCHEMA
15:05 – WEST YORKSHIRE HURDLE
UNOWHATIMEANHARRY was back to his best at Punchestown, which was great to see, and he starts this season over 3m for the first time since 2016 when he first took the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. He’s conceding weight all round but if able to show his best he’s still the one to beat.
BALLYANDY put in a great effort in the Coral Cup in March and has long looked like 3m could unlock further improvement. Getting the 6lbs from Harry is a major plus too but I think he’s short enough now. LE BREUIL will be off to Newbury for the Ladbroke Trophy after this but I am expecting a big run from him in here and Ben Pauling has touched on the fact he’s here in order to protect his chase mark. NATIVE RIVER almost took this race before going on to land the, then, Hennessy and I can see LE BREUIL going one better in this. He’s a fair price but I also suspect his Labrokes Trophy price could drop too.
THE WORLDS END lost his way a bit last season but there’s no denying he’s a horse with plenty of ability. He’s running around the high 140’s now so I’d expect he’ll have a handicap in mind over either hurdles or fences if he doesn’t land this but I suspect he’s here trying. AYE RIGHT is another who will be here to win but although he’s an improving type he does need a significant step forward to land this.
TEESCOMPONENTS, TWO TAFFS & LORD NAPIER will likely find at least a couple too good.
Selections – LE BREUIL, BALLYANDY
15:40 – CHARLIE HALL CHASE
Ground will be no excuse for any runner in here and this looks as competitive a renewal as I can remember. DEFINITLY RED took the race last year against just 3 rivals. Age would be the only thing against him retaining that title here and it is a deeper heat this time round.
LA BAGUE AU ROI heads the market and rightfully so. She was incredible last season and only tasted defeat once when running second to KALASHNIKOV at Aintree. Her mares allowance means she’s the right favourite and with normal progression she is the one to beat.
ELEGANT ESCAPE has been around for a while now but he’s still only a 7yo and a busy winter campaign seems to excuse his efforts in the spring. I think he has a proper chance in here and runs well fresh.
BALLYOPTIC was ultra-impressive at Chepstow last month and a repeat of that would actually see him hard to beat. He is inconsistent though and he races outside handicap company here. He also hasn’t won back to back since his Novice hurdle days in 2016.
TOP VILLE BEN will probably find a couple too good here but should be progressive this term while ASO was good in two handicaps early last season before a sensational second in the Ryanair. A repeat of any of those efforts would see him run well at a slightly bigger price.
Selections – LA BAGUE AU ROI, ELEGANT ESCAPE, ASO
