Horse racing / Andrew Hughes / 02 February 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

It starts at Punchestown and finishes at Warwick with stops at Kempton, Wolverhampton and Newbury on the way. Let Andrew Hughes lead you through the best of the week to come.

Sunday February 1

Punchestown

1:25 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle

Providing this course escapes the fate of Fairyhouse, the going will be on the squelchy side of soft and stamina will be a must for all runners. No worries on that score for Mikael D'Haguenot, likely to go off very short odds favourite for this Grade Two. Just one of the Willie Mullins Cheltenham hopefuls, he is [9.0] third favourite for the Ballymore Properties at the Festival and is bidding for a fourth consecutive win here.

2:25 Amazing Thailand Chase

Another likely short-price favourite as Big Zeb bids to follow up his win at Leopardstown at Christmas en route to taking on the awesome Master Minded in the Champion Chase, for which he is [15.5] second favourite. He locks horns with two veterans here in the shape of Mansony and Watson Lake in a two mile chase won twice by the great Moscow Flyer.

2:55 Grand National Trial Handicap Chase

Chelsea Harbour produced a phenomenal effort when humping top weight through the mud here last year. Less than half the field finished that day and with similarly heavy going forecast, expect a lot of stragglers by the end of this three-and-a-half mile marathon.

Wednesday February 4

Kempton

8:20 Class 2 Handicap

One of the better Polytrack handicaps you are likely to see, and there are some decent entries for this seven furlong contest, including the bang in-form Orchard Supreme, narrow winner of a decent conditions race at Wolverhampton last weekend.

Thursday February 5

Clonmel

2:35 Surehaul Mercedes Novices' Hurdle

A Listed event over two miles and six furlongs for the staying novices. Amongst the entries are Philip Fenton's undefeated Cairn Hill and John Kiely's On The Way Out, who ran respectably in the Pierse Hurdle a couple of weeks back.

Wolverhampton

8:20 Winter Open Stakes

This ten furlong Listed contest is one of the highlights of the racing year in these parts and has attracted some intriguing entries, including one time Guineas third Kandidate. Dansant, who has found his niche in hoovering up these better kinds of Polytrack contests, is likely to be a popular betting vehicle.

Friday 6th February

Kempton

2:30 Class Two Novices' Hurdle

Another staying contest for novices, this one over two miles and five furlongs. Pick of the entries is Tarablaze, a thoroughly consistent young hurdler yet to finish out of the frame who ran very well in the Persian War Hurdle.

3:05 Graduation Chase

The Venetia Williams inmates, Lightning Strike and Something Wells take the eye amongst the entries for this two-and-a-half mile contest, though the latter did run on Saturday. Nicky Richards has also entered the undefeated Palomar.

Saturday February 7

Newbury

2:15 Game Spirit Chase

Named after the Queen Mother's grand old campaigner, this prime Champion Chase Trial has seen some very informative battles over the years. The betting for this year's renewal will inevitably centre around Master Minded, with Paul Nicholls as yet undecided on whether he will risk the super horse ahead of his big engagement in March.

2:50 Aon Chase

A race that has rapidly gained significance since its introduction in 2000 as a Gold Cup trial. It has seen some thrilling contests in that short time and both of the last two Gold Cup winners have won it en route to Cheltenham triumph. This year, it is all about the reappearance of Denman and whether 'The Tank' will be back to his best.

3:25 Totesport Trophy Hurdle

A good old fashioned Saturday betting handicap, featuring a big and fiercely competitive field of handicappers and hopefully a true pace around this galloping course. As ever, unexposed young horses will be the danger.

4:35 Winter Bumper

Bumpers are an acquired taste, but this is one of the better such events on the calendar and can be very informative, so is well worth watching for future stars.

Warwick

2:30 Kingmaker Novices' Chase

One of the best races you are likely to see at this Midlands course and another chance for some Arkle outsiders to announce their presence and set the cat amongst the pigeons in the ante post Cheltenham markets.