INSIDE TRACK
When Barry Geraghty asked, BUVEUR D’AIR answered, writes Julie Williams.
With a withering run that left the strongly fancied SAMCRO a full 8 lengths trailing.
It looked impressive. Samcro unusually made the pace, an attempt to exploit fitness flaws for the first time out defending champion.
There were none. Tactics rather than talent - or lack of - lost the race. Just an opinion.
SAMCRO can beat BUVEUR D’AIR ( currently even money) in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next March, or at least outrun the crazy odds on offer. For favourite backers there is no guarantee the wind operation that seemed to enhance BUVEUR D’AIR will work a second or third time out.
SAMCRO put in his best round of jumping to date on Saturday; I have a strong feeling that in a bigger field, with plenty pace, SAMCRO will put up a fierce fight.
It’s just a thought. You can back SAMCRO at 7/ 1 ante post. I will.
This Saturday Sandown Racecourse offers a proper treat for jumps fans with the Henry VIII Novice’s Chase at 1.50pm. An hour later we have the Tingle Creek Chase. ALTIOR will win that so enough said.
All talk of the Henry VIII is whether LALOR ( 8/ 13) will turn up.
After an impressive win in the Racing Post Arkle Trial at Cheltenham in November the six- year- old is currently a hot joint favourite for the Arkle proper at the Festival in March.
Boring factoid: Six of the last nine winners of the HENRY VIII were aged five. LALOR ( 8/ 13) is aged six. However, two of the last nine winners were long odds on and they were 6- year- olds. LALOR is 6- years- old and as short as a Tasmanian Devil’s temper.
He re- opposes DYNAMITE DOLLARS ( 7/ 1) whom he beat soundly in the Arkle trial.
Paul Nicholls’ horse will come on but it will take some leap to improve past LALOR.
Nicky Henderson’s PACIFIC DE BAUNE ( 11/ 2) made his chase debut in less choppy waters, winning a 3 runner Novices Chase at Warwick on debut at 1/ 2. The gelding was 99 lengths ahead of the second that day. Make of that form what you will.
On a personal note I’m a sucker for puppies, an absolute pushover to anyone with a sob story and if there was a Patron Saint of Lost Causes then I’d be prostrate at their feet.
With that in mind, I’m going to opt for Philip Hobbs’ DEFI DU SEUIL ( 10/ 1).
He is that price because he was a remote 5th of 5, a full 25 lengths behind LALOR in the Arkle trial.
He did not look a natural at his fences. A far cry from his emphatic 5 length victory in the Triumph Hurdle where he jumped like a stag. Over timber he was different gravy.
The jumping will have to improve plenty for his second attempt at fences but if you forgive that run DEFI DU SEUIL has claims. The favourite is a likely winner, however, so maybe a bet without would be the thing.
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