You simply cannot call yourself a racing fan if the card at Fairyhouse on Sunday doesn’t get your blood pumping.
This is what we all want to see, it’s an amazing card with plenty of exciting talent on show and I can’t wait for it.
Fairyhouse on Sunday
The Royal Bond Hurdle has produced plenty of top-class horses over the years and I don’t think this year is going to be any different.
I really cannot see past ENVOI ALLEN 5/4 all taking each other on.
It’s the latter I really like on these race conditions, as I think his four-year-old allowance is going to help him to win.
Off level weights I do think it could be a different story, but getting 8lb is going to be a huge advantage. He jumped like a stag on his chase debut and is clearly very talented on what he achieved in his juvenile season.
Just to add to that, if Samcro does shoulder the weight and beats everyone fair and square, then he really will be back to what we all thought he could be a couple of years ago.
I was excited to see Bennie Des Diex, but she hasn’t been declared for the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, a race which has been won by Apple's Jade 5/2 for the past three years.
She’s going to take some beating with her home advantage, but I’m quietly keen on the other mare, HONEYSUCKLE 7/4, who has been so impressive every time we’ve seen her on a racecourse.
She has a lovely way of running and is a super jumper of hurdles – she’s so slick – and she has a great relationship with Rachel Blackmore, who is riding out of her skin.
Newbury on Saturday
While it may not have obvious Gold Cup contenders at the head of the market, this year’s renewal of the Ladbrokes Trophy is really competitive.
I’ve landed on WEST APPROACH 10/1, trained by Colin Tizzard – who has a great record in this race – following his bloodless success at Cheltenham last time out.
Robbie 'Puppy' Power gave him a superb ride, hunting him all the way around before making his move late on. He’s more of a man now than he used to be, so I wouldn’t worry about this race coming too soon after his last.
The other horse who catches my eye is Willie Mullins' CABARET QUEEN 9/1. She was savage at Limerick last time and this has been the plan ever since she crossed the line.
Willie has a great knack of improving horses in his care and it looks as though she’s going to give her enthusiastic owners a great day out.
Having runners in the top races is what every owner and syndicate dreams of, and you can be sure there’ll be some roar in the Newbury winner’s enclosure if she were to win.
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