We take a look at this week's racing.(credit:
James from SoGlos.com)
Given that we are now just nine days away from the Festival, you might be forgiven for thinking that decent punting opportunities were thin on the ground. But you'd be mistaken. Racingbase highlights the pick of the pre-Cheltenham racing action.
Betfair offers a free £25 Cheltenham bet for all those who want to open a new account with the company. Place a bet up to the value of £25 on any race during the Cheltenham Festival and should that bet not come in - Betfair will refund your stake and give you a second chance to win big on the Cheltenham races.
Sunday March 7
Naas
3:00 Nass Directors Plate Novice Chase
The day's best action comes from Ireland and includes this fascinating novice event run over two-and-a-half-miles. There are only six entrants, but they include the once highly rated Zaarito who has fallen twice in Grade One company but is a talented young chaser with a lot of potential.
4:00 Lucan Racing Leinster National
A smallish field will go to post for this three mile handicap chase but it should be a competitive event. The pick of the runners is Rare Bob, winner of the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival and holder of entries in the Ryanair Chase and Bryne Group Plate Chase at Cheltenham next week.
Monday March 8
Ffos Las
4:00 H M Plant Hitachi Novices Chase
An interesting contest run over two miles, this Class Three event has attracted a mixed bag of entrants, but could be worth watching for future stars. On form, the Gay Moore trained Bergo is the best of these, having made a perfect start to his chasing career with two wide-margin wins in similar events.
Tuesday March 9
Exeter
3:30 Elizabeth Finn Care Devon National Handicap Chase
With the going forecast as soft, three-miles-six-and-a-half-furlongs around this undulating course will take some getting and though this should be fairly competitive, you can put a line through any horses with stamina doubts.
Friday March 12
Sandown
3:30 Grand Military Gold Cup Chase
Always a popular meeting, this annual pre-Cheltenham gathering is an integral part of the rich tradition of National Hunt racing. This particular race dates back to 1841 and besides the brass bands and preponderance of uniforms, there is a keenly fought handicap chase over three miles and half a furlong, confined to amateur riders.
Saturday March 13
Sandown
2:00 EBF National Hunt Novices Handicap Hurdle Final
This is a very competitive Grade Three, the culmination of a series of such events and run over two miles. Novice Handicaps can be tricky to weigh up but this is one of the best such events you are like to see and there should be enough form to examine.
3:05 Paddy Power Imperial Cup
Before the launch of the Champion Hurdle in 1927, the Imperial Cup was the most prestigious two mile hurdle race of the season and it remains a highlight, with a bonus prize on offer to the connections of any horse winning here and going on to win at the Festival. An enormous field of hurdlers will go to post and the betting will be frenetic.
3:40 DBS/EBF Mares Standard Open NHF Race Final
A Listed event run over two miles and half a furlong and confined to mares. As with the earlier novices' final, horses have qualified for this event by winning similar races throughout the season, so there should be more to go on for punters than is often the case with these bumper races.
Wolverhampton
2:15 Lady Wulfruna Stakes
Probably the best meeting you are likely to see at this West Midlands venue kicks off with a seven furlong Listed contest that is likely to be strongly fought and feature another clash between all-weather favourites and horses warming up for the flat season.
3:25 Lincoln Trial Handicap
One of the best Class Two handicaps to be run at Wolverhampton and always a hard-fought contest. As well as being a decent betting event in its own right, this mile and half a furlong event will give some useful clues to the big season curtain raiser though you should always keep in mind how different this sharp Polytrack course is from the long galloping Doncaster straight.
4:35 Class Two Handicap
A closely-matched field of handicappers will assemble for this six furlong contest, one of the best sprints you will see at this venue. As ever, being able to hold a prominent position and to handle the tight turns here will be essential to success and course winners are worth keeping on side.