Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: L’Homme can Presse home the issue at Newbury

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews the weekend’s racing from Newbury, Warwick and Navan.

Newbury, Saturday

I fancy L’HOMME PRESSE in the Grade 2 William Hill Denman Chase (2:10pm). Just two years ago he was fourth in the Gold Cup and placed in the King George, so he has a lot of back class. His form this season is very strong too, including a great run when giving Spillane’s Tower six pounds when he was beaten less than a length at Cheltenham last time, when Grey Dawning was a further four lengths behind him. Before that he was second to a really well-in rival in Blaze The Way in what was a competitive handicap. Although Venetia’s [Williams] are out of form, this fellow has been running well, which is often the case with really good horses. He’s not showing signs of his age, and on the form of his two runs this season, I think he will be very tough to beat. I have full respect for Haiti Couleurs but his three major wins have come over three-miles-five-furlongs or further and I’m not sure dropping back to this trip will benefit him, while it’s much more suitable for L’Homme Presse and he’s available at bigger odds too.

Nicky Henderson has run some of his stars in the Grade 2 William Hill Game Spirit Chase (2:45pm) in the past – we won it together with Sprinter Sacre in 2012 – and LULAMBA could be another of them. He is clearly very talented and has only been beaten once in six starts, when just touched off in last year’s Triumph Hurdle. On all known form he would look to have the edge over his rivals here. He’s taken really well to fences and this is the perfect prep for Cheltenham, taking on seasoned older horses. Of the others, perhaps Saint Segal, who was second to Thistle Ask in the Desert Orchid, could be the one to chase Lulamba home.

The William Hill Hurdle (3:20pm) looks a wide-open race. With the chase track currently soft, I’d expect the ground on the hurdles track to be closer to heavy, so an ability to cope with the likely conditions is going to be a big factor. LANESBOROUGH has winning form on soft from last season, so shouldn’t have an issue with the ground. He failed to fire in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last time, when upped to two-miles-five-furlongs on good ground, but before that he looked so impressive when winning at Doncaster. Williethebuilder, who he beat that time, has gone on to win twice since, which gives that form a good look to it. Whether his Kempton run being his second start after a 10-month layoff was a factor, I’m not sure, but on the basis of his previous run it was an effort that was too bad to be true. I would give him another chance here. Another of interest and one that will love conditions is Tutti Quanti, but Lanesborough would be my pick.

Warwick, Saturday

The Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (1:50pm) looks a match between STEEL ALLY and Mambonumberfive, who are both two-from-two over fences. I’ve been really taken by Sam Thomas’ eight-year-old this season – I love his racing style and how he jumps and takes on his fences. He’s put in two really good performances to win at Carlisle and Ascot, and to me he looks very progressive. He beat No Questions Asked into third at Ascot last time and he has gone on to win a Grade 2 at Windsor since then. Mambonumberfive looks like a smart horse too and there may not be much between them, but I think Steel Ally’s form could be slightly stronger and he may cope with softer ground conditions better too.

KNAPPERS HILL produced a good run last time out when third to Konfusion at Wetherby and he might be the one to side with in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2:25pm). He returned this season after two years off the track, but he doesn’t seem to have lost any of his ability as he showed when finishing eight lengths behind The Jukebox Man. This will be his first run in veterans’ company and I think on his form he has showed recently, as well as his older form, he could be the one to beat.

The Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (3:00pm) looks a tricky race with some horses bringing good form stepping up in trip and others dropping down in trip. It’s interesting that Emmet Mullins is bringing GOOD GIRL KATHLEEN over for this and she has shown some very good form when winning and placing at Cork this season. She finished second on yielding ground in November and most recently was impressive when winning a Grade 3 on soft ground over three miles. She doesn’t necessarily race like she needs that trip, so I think this drop back in distance should suit her well.

Navan, Sunday

STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT should be the one to beat in the Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle (2:50pm). He was a good second last time out at Gowran, beaten half-a-length by Home By The Lee, who really returned to his best form there. It was a very good performance to run Home By The Lee close in those conditions, which are similar to the ones he will encounter at Navan. Having already had four starts this season, that’s going to stand him in good stead against rivals like Hiddenvalley Lake and Better Days Ahead who are having their first runs of the campaign.

In the Grade 2 William Hill Racing Bet Builder Ten Up Novice Chase (3:50pm) I’m keen to side with OSCARS BROTHER, who put up a very good performance when beating Koktail Divin and the reopposing Bossofthebrownies at Punchestown last time. It was a big improvement on his first two runs over fences and with conditions in his favour, he should go well again. Gold Dancer looks to be his biggest danger, having finished second to Final Demand last time, but the proximity of the third-placed horse, Western Walk, who was only three lengths behind him makes me question the strength of that form.