Imperial rule in prospect at Newbury
Imperial Alcazar should have too much class for a couple of decent rivals in the Join The BetVictor Loyalty Club Beginners’ Chase at Newbury tomorrow.
Always highly regarded by Fergal O’Brien, the sevenyear-old can finally crack on with the job that he looks born to do.
That is not to say he was not useful over hurdles – as wins at Aintree, Leicester and a Pertemps Qualifier at Warwick showed over the last couple of years.
But he always looked a chaser in the making and reappearing following a wind operation he can take high rank among this season’s novices.
He faces far from a penalty kick, however, as Ben Pauling’s The Cob was last seen running in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham having been supplemented on the back of winning the River Don at Doncaster.
Paul Nicholls’ mare Silver Forever also brings smart hurdling form to the table and her 7lb sex allowance could come in very handy – but she is coming back from nearly a two-year absence and it would be some performance to beat rivals of that quality after such a long time off.
Nicky Henderson always takes his best young hurdlers to Newbury and he clearly thinks Broomfield Burg is pretty smart as he is the chosen representative in the Agetur UK Novices’ Hurdle.
Henderson’s Dusart won this race 12 months ago – beating subsequent Betfair Hurdle hero Soaring Glory – and is already being talked off as one of the brightest novice chase prospects this season.
The odds are there will be a smart one this year’s race, but the experience gained from an easy win at Warwick – albeit against nothing flash – should help him offset the 7lb penalty he must carry.
It has been a mixed start to the season for Dan and Harry Skelton with some great results offset by Shan Blue falling with the Charlie Hall at his mercy and subsequently ruled out until the spring.
Their mood can be improved by a win from Elle Est Belle in the CSP Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Again, this looks fiercely competitive with Nina The Terrier, Karlie and Ahorsewithnoname all holding potential, but nothing to match the Skelton runner.
She was third to Sir Gerhard in the Champion Bumper, a huge effort against the boys, and while she was beaten back against her own sex at Aintree, she was no doubt feeling the effects of her huge
Cheltenham effort.
A race like the Dawn Run in March would already look a viable option.
It took a while for the penny to drop for Philip Hobbs’ One For You but he ended last season with two wins.