Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Myretown can earn shot at Half A Mill bonus
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews the best of Saturday’s racing from Warwick, Kempton and Fairyhouse.
Warwick, Saturday
I like the chances of DOYEN QUEST in the Grade 2 William Hill Price Boosts Every Day Hampton Novices’ Chase (1:52pm). He looked to over-race slightly when going from the front and finishing second at Sandown last time. If he’s ridden with a bit more restraint and dropped in, as he was when he won his two hurdle races last season, I think he should have a good chance here. For me there are question marks against a good few of his rivals. Wade Out looked to profit from a pace collapse at Cheltenham last time, and while Moon Rocket looks a nice horse, this will be his biggest test to date. If Doyen Quest is ridden a bit more patiently, he could be value against those two shorter-priced opponents.
The William Hill Half A Mill Classic Handicap Chase (2:55pm) offers the winner the chance to chase the £500,000 bonus in this year’s Grand National. MYRETOWN could be the one that gets that opportunity. The way he quickened away from a good rival in The Changing Man when winning the Ultima last season marked him down a serious horse. I know his jumping has let him down twice since going chasing, and to me his issue is he has a tendency to be a little bit brave at his obstacles. He picked up early when he fell last time at Newbury, and he was fresh on that occasion with it being his first run of the season. Now he’s got that freshness out of his system, hopefully he will show his obstacles a bit more respect. Connections have given him an entry in the Gold Cup, so that tells you everything you need to know about the regard they hold him in. His jumping looks to be his biggest issue and if he can overcome that then he has the potential to be well-in here. I’m not saying he could be a Gold Cup horse just yet, but he could definitely be a Grand National contender.
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3:32pm) is competitive enough, but I thought LUD’OR was worth chancing after a good run last time out at Newbury, in what was a quality race won by French Ship. That looks like the best recent form by some way in this contest and it’s interesting connections have decided to step up in trip here. That might help bring about a bit more improvement from this six-year-old.
Kempton, Saturday
In the three-mile handicap chase (2:05pm), I like the chances of THE DOYEN CHIEF back on a flatter track. He returned this season with a good second to Deep Cave at Bangor, which is form that has worked out well. I fancied him to run well in Cheltenham last time and he performed well enough to be beaten around seven lengths by the winner Blaze The Way. L’Homme Presse was only three lengths ahead of him in second and the fourth, Herakles Westwood, has gone on to frank the form by winning since. Along with the winner, he looked to me to travel best on the day, but just didn’t see it out on the stiff track. On the basis of that form, he should have a good chance back at a track like Kempton.
The Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase (2:40pm) looks a trappy contest with forgiveness needed for all of the four runners. Favourite KALIF DU BERLAIS probably needs least forgiveness when running no race on his return to action in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, as he might have needed that run. He had some good form to his name last season, winning a Grade 1 in Aintree, and he is the upcoming horse in this field. He hasn’t won over this trip yet, but having won over two miles on soft ground on the New Course at Cheltenham, he should have no problem staying two-and-a-half miles on good ground round a sharp track like Kempton. If he returns to the form of any of his wins last season, at Newbury, Cheltenham and Aintree then he should be hard to beat. Edwardstone ran a good race last time in Huntingdon but he looked to be ridden to be placed that day, and I think he caught the eye to a degree because of that.
I’m very sweet on LANESBOROUGH in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (3:17pm). He was hugely impressive in Doncaster last time, beating Williethebuilder, who has gone on to win since, by over eight lengths. He did get a 14-pound rise in the weights for that, but it’s a reflection of how well he won, and it was a big performance on his first run since February. There are plenty in here that you can make a case for, but he stands out as a horse that could still be well ahead of the handicapper.
Fairyhouse, Saturday
I would like to give another chance to INTHEPOCKET in the Grade 3 Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (1:40pm). He was a very smart novice hurdler from a few years ago, winning a Grade 1 at Aintree, but after that his career was interrupted by injury and he hasn’t really had the chance to progress over fences. He travelled well at Navan over two-and-a-half miles last time and looked the winner on the run to the second last, but stopped very quickly after that fence. Dropping back to two miles here is going to suit him, and he looks the class act in the race.
