We take a look at this week's racing.(credit:
James from SoGlos.com)
With Cheltenham less than three weeks away, there are still clues aplenty to be had and several Festival contenders having their final run-out. Racingbase brings us the highlights of the racing week ahead
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Sunday February 21
Naas
3:10 Woodlands Park 100 Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase
A two-and-a-half mile Graded event that varies in quality from year to year although this year's renewal looks to be a decent one. An Cathaoir Mor's win in the Arkle at Leopardstown last time gives him the best form in the race but there are some interesting types in opposition, including the mare Tally Em Up.
3:45 paddypower.com Novice Hurdle
Some decent types have won this two mile Grade Two, including last year's winner Go Native, currently 5.5 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle. There are some highly progressive entrants here, with perhaps the pick of them being Morning Supreme from the Willie Mullins stable and Graded Juvenile winner Pittoni.
4:15 paddypowerpoker.com Chase
A two mile Graded chase featuring some familiar faces such as Mansony, Scotsirish and Made In Taipan. Tranquil Sea is one of the main contenders for the RSA at the Festival and it will be interesting to see how he goes here in his final Cheltenham warm-up.
Wednesday February 24
Doncaster
3:40 sportingbet.com Veterans Handicap Chase
These events for veteran animals are a great chance to see some reliable former stars in action and the early entrants for this one include such grand old campaigners as Trabolgan, Mister McGoldrick and Rambling Minster.
Saturday February 27
Kempton
2:05 williamhill.com Dovecote Novices' Hurdle
This two mile Grade Two race is no longer considered to be a key Supreme Novices trial, but it is usually very competitive and invariably goes to a highly promising horse from one of the top stables. Nicky Henderson has an excellent record in this race, sending out no fewer than five winners.
2:35 Racing Post Weekender Pendil Novices' Chase
Grade Two for staying novice, this race often attracts a small field but is well worth watching for future clues. Any runner sent here by Paul Nicholls is deserving of respect as the maestro of Ditcheat has saddled the last four winners of this race.
3:10 Racing Post Chase
A real betting race, this highly competitive three mile Grade Three Handicap can be a springboard to the big staying contests to come. Though the antepost market has yet to mature, Nacarat is emerging as favourite to repeat last year's storming success in this race. Possol and Fistral Beach are amongst the other leading contenders and you can expect Madison Du Berlais' price to shorten if he is confirmed as a runner later in the week.
3:45 racingpost.com Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle
The Adonis is a contest of the highest class that has proven to be a decent trial for the Triumph Hurdle, with three of the last thirteen winners here going on to Cheltenham Glory. Binocular and Kasbah Bliss have been successful here and the star attraction this time round is likely to be Alan King's Mille Chief in what will be his final run before the Triumph, for which he is currently 6.2 antepost favourite.
Lingfield
3:40 Lingfield Park Cleeves Stakes
A decent card at Lingfield includes this Listed six-furlong sprint that is likely to be extremely competitive and frenetically run contest around one of the sharpest courses in the country.
4:10 Lingfield Park Winter Derby Trial Stakes
This is an increasingly popular betting race, a trial for the Winter Derby next month and is a classy enough Listed event in its own right. You can expect to see some big stables represented here and some Group-calibre horses.
Newcastle
3:30 totesport.com Eider
There are fewer of these gruelling staying chases around these days. With the going expected to be heavy, the four miles and one furlong here will be a real test and any horses which make it up the incline towards the finish will deserve a good long break, perhaps before tacking the Grand National.