Keith Donoghue’s William Hill blog: Only By Night out to book Cheltenham ticket

William Hill ambassador Keith Donoghue previews his weekend rides from Navan and Thurles.

Navan, Saturday

On Saturday I’m back at Navan for two rides starting with Bottler’secret in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle (1:10pm). In the big field the last day at Leopardstown he didn’t take to the blinkers so we have left them off and we have come back to the cheekpieces with him. Hopefully the slower ground will help him, but he has definitely been disappointing this season. We are sticking at this trip as he ran no race the last day so we don’t really know if he gets it or not.

My other ride on the card is aboard Now Is The Hour in the beginners chase (2:20pm). He probably got flattered by his Grade Two win at Haydock Park last season in heavy ground as the whole race fell apart. At the moment he seems to have hit a level, but hopefully sticking at three miles will bring a bit more improvement out of him as we know he stays the trip really well as he showed at Haydock Park last season.

Thurles, Sunday

I’ll be finishing off a busy few days with a few rides at Thurles on Sunday with the highlight being Only By Night in the Grade Two mares novice chase (1:30pm). She has looked very smart since going over fences. She won really well the first day at Tipperary and she backed it up last time in a Grade Two at Cork. It is great to see her go for another race like this and she looks the one to beat. There would be a slight concern about the ground, but hopefully it will be safe enough for her. This would be her first time racing over two miles five furlongs, but I don’t see that being a problem. If she wins again on Sunday I would say that is her ticket booked to the Cheltenham Festival as well.

Visionarian (2:05pm) has been a great horse for his owner Basil Holian. He has won a Grade Two and been placed in a couple of Grade One races. He is getting on a bit now, but he is a hard horse to place. The better ground will suit him as will this distance of two miles five furlongs as it was over a similar trip he won his Grade Two at Gowran Park back in October. Hopefully he can pick up a bit of prizemoney.

Others to keep an eye on

Although there were more Cheltenham Festival entries out this week, unfortunately, at this stage, I don’t look like being involved in them. However, as I have mentioned Sixandahalf is one I’m really looking forward to seeing take her chance at the meeting.

Away from talk of the Cheltenham Festival keep an eye out for Springt De La Mare as it was a good performance he put in at Fairyhouse yesterday. He has clearly improved for a fence and he is going to be a good handicap chaser going forwards.

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