ITV Racing Tips & Preview

Last weekend saw a couple of Paul Nicholls-trained aspirants appear as though the run would tune them up fully for the festival and it might be a case of more of the same with Black Corton today. Since teaming up with Bryony Frost, the duo have only been beaten once in seven starts together and the form of his Kempton Grade 1 win at Christmas has been enhanced since with the runner-up, Elegant Escape, scoring at Exeter last weekend. However, MS PARFOIS (Best price 5-2) has been impressive in her own right since tackling fences and she jumped beautifully at Warwick when scoring with authority last time (Third home Big River won on Thursday). She has a loveable attitude and the form of her penultimate win at Newbury has also worked out particularly well and soft ground suits ideally.

Another Venture must possess a tremendous engine to win as he did at Hereford as a combination of the track and a litany of small errors meant he spent previous little time on the bridle. Connections reach for the cheekpieces in order to concentrate his mind and he could prove a huge threat off a light weight if finding some rhythm. However, he is yet to prove himself at today’s level so preference is for GOLD PRESENT (Best price 9-4) who is being lined up for a tilt at the Grand National if all goes well. The selection was highly impressive in dismissing Frodon over course and distance last time, form which was handed a handsome boost when the vanquished prevailed by 17l next time out). One of Gold Present’s best attributes is his jumping so I am hopeful he finds some early rhythm in that sphere and fences with more fluency than his main market rival. 

After watching DIEG MAN (Best price 3-1) saunter home in a couple of northern novice hurdles, the impression left is of a horse capable of leaving his 130 rating behind. His hurdling technique, honed in France jumping larger hurdles, has been slick and smart and the form of his Catterick victory has been enhanced by the runner-up winning smoothly next time. This race offers a completely different examination of his ability, but I like the manner of his racing style and I wonder if connections are hoping to pick up another win so that he can be reassessed highly enough to slot into a Cheltenham handicap like the Martin Pipe event.

The talented TOP NOTCH (Best price 9-4) today puts an unblemished track record on the line when he faces six rivals in a mouth-watering renewal of the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Three trips to the Berkshire venue have each yielded victories for Nicky Henderson’s pocket rocket and the seven-year-old must resist the challenge of Coney Island, Waiting Patiently and everyone’s favourite veteran Cue Card among others if he is to also extend an impressive unbeaten sequence on right-handed tracks to six.

Those statistics make notable reading for Top Notch supporters and inspire confidence, even if this is the stiffest test he has faced in a 22-race career.

However, that comment can be applied to a number of his rivals too as this year’s running of today’s Grade 1 looks a vintage event with Waiting Patiently looking to strengthen his Ryanair Chase claims and Coney Island attempting to become a live Cheltenham Gold Cup contender with victory.

Both have reserves of untapped potential, but then so does Top Notch who travelled powerfully before hammering Double Shuffle by eight lengths here before Christmas and he was only beaten a length in the King George by Might Bite to advertise the form.

Hopefully, Top Notch can continue his progression and raise his level once more.

Agrapart will dominate the market for this race and understandably so following his impressive Cheltenham display last time when he relished the deep ground to dispose of Wholestone. He will be a tough nut to crack with conditions sure to suit, however, he will be priced accordingly and there could be some licence in supporting BOITE (Best price 9-2) who displayed the benefit of a wind operation to win handsomely at Taunton. This race represents a rise in class, competitiveness and distance for a horse that was rated 90 plus on the level, but he clearly boasts a high degree of quality and could take the examination in his stride.

It is difficult to knock a horse of Blaklion’s capabilities, especially given his efficiency on heavy ground and affinity for this afternoon’s venue.

However, THE DUTCHMAN (Best price 9-2) created an excellent impression at the North West course last time and could be a hard horse to peg back if finding some rhythm at the head of affairs.

Danny Cook rides this circuit well so it looks a good move to employ his services for a horse that adores deep ground and appears to have thrived for a breathing operation undertaken in the summer.

Admittedly, a 13lb hike for that victory last month looks a stiff riposte from the handicapper, but we have seen before that horses from this yard can improve beyond all recognition when they get on a roll and he is fancied to go well again.

Along with Call Me Lord, CH’TIBELLO (Best price 6-4) puts his Champion Hurdle pretensions on the line this afternoon and he gains the nod over his main market rivals given he looks to have achieved a little more at this stage of his career.

The selection was beaten a length by Yanworth in this race 12 months ago and has since run creditably on his comeback behind My Tent Or Yours at Cheltenham and at Haydock when nailed close home by track specialist The New One.

He boasts the top three ratings on my figures and could make his class and track knowledge count this afternoon.