Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Chance Another One at Kempton
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews Saturday’s racing from Kempton, Newcastle and Fairyhouse.
Kempton, Saturday
PRECIOUS MAN and One Horse Town meet again in the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle (1:45pm), and the former is five pounds better off now compared to when he was beaten at Cheltenham in November. He really looked to step forward from that run too, when winning well at Kempton last time. In contrast One Horse Town has been beaten on his last two starts since winning at Cheltenham. Dan Skelton looks to have targeted this race, and I think his runner can turn the form around with One Horse Town.
It’s hard to see past JAX JUNIOR in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase (2:25pm). He broke a blood vessel behind Steel Ally two starts back in Ascot but still ran a strong race to finish fourth, and that’s form that has really worked out well. He proved his well being when winning easily in handicap company at Sandown last time, and also has winning form at Kempton from earlier in the season. He should be hard to beat here.
In the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3:00pm), I thought MUSTANG DU BREUIL could improve from his win at Doncaster last time. That was a good effort to beat a rival that had won both of his previous starts. As a four-year-old, he gets a handy weight allowance, and should be capable of a good run. Nicky [Henderson] has won this race eight times in the past.
I like an Irish horse, CHANCE ANOTHER ONE, in the big three-mile handicap chase (3:35pm). He won his first two starts over fences, including over this course and distance in November. On his latest two starts he has dropped back to two miles and has been well beaten on both occasions. He will have gained valuable experience in those two starts, and those two starts may have sharpened him up for a valuable prize like this. All his form is over further though, and now stepping back up in trip he has potential to build on his first two chase wins. Donagh Meyler looks to have picked him over the other Emmet Mullins runner, Rising Dust.
Newcastle, Saturday
LIVIN ON LOCO ran a nice race to finish fourth in the Welsh National last time out. I thought he could be the one to side with in the Eider Handicap Chase (2:43pm). He was a winner of the Southern National over three-miles-three-furlongs at Fontwell two starts back but is still relatively unexposed over these marathon trips. He’s two from six over fences, is open to progress and gets in here off what looks like a workable work.
Fairyhouse, Saturday
GRANGECLARE WEST is a high-class horse but not the most consistent. He was beaten 15 lengths by Senecia in March last year, before going on to be third to Nick Rockett in the Grand National, and prior to those two runs he was second to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. He is well capable of throwing in a good performance, so it could be worth forgiving him finishing 74 lengths behind Fact To File on his last start. On his best form he is the one to beat, and Paul Townend also looks to have chosen him over stablemates Spanish Harlem and Captain Cody.
