Rebecca Curtis’s nine-year-old is set to grab victory in the Grade Two contest and set up crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Lulamba, Un Sens A La Vie, A Pai De Nom, Jig’s Forge, Kadastral, Smith John Boy, Mambonumberfive, Outlaw Peter, White Noise and Luttrell Lad may also be Saturday scorers
Rebecca Curtis’s nine-year-old is set to grab victory in the Grade Two contest and set up crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Lulamba, Un Sens A La Vie, A Pai De Nom, Jig’s Forge, Kadastral, Smith John Boy, Mambonumberfive, Outlaw Peter, White Noise and Luttrell Lad may also be Saturday scorers
HAITI COULEURS can secure another victory in the William Hill Denman Chase (GBB Race) (2.10pm) at Newbury on Saturday afternoon. And by landing the Grade Two contest in Berkshire, Rebecca Curtis’s nine-year-old can book a trip to next month’s Cheltenham Festival and a crack at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13.
Haiti Couleurs has progressed into a fine staying chaser and has won five of his seven career starts over fences, including when winning the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse last season. Having won over hurdles on his seasonal return at Newbury in November, he disappointed when pulled up in Grade One company behind Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park later that month.
But he firmly put that effort behind him with a superb victory in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow over Christmas, carrying top weight he ran out a three-length winner over another rising stayer O’Connell. That was an excellent effort and Haiti Couleurs stays very well and he was handed a entry in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse earlier this week.
Trainer Curtis stated that was just a tentative entry with a crack at the Gold Cup his primary target. And although the 2m7½f of this Denman Chase may be on the short side for him with just four rivals – Nicky Henderson’s fellow Gold Cup contender Jango Baie was not declared due to the soft ground – he looks to have the class to triumph ahead of another Aintree Grand National entrant L’Homme Presse. Whether Haiti Couleurs can win the Gold Cup is another matter. But he can at least give himself the opportunity to bid for the blue riband with another victory at Newbury.
Henderson’s potential two-mile staying star LULAMBA can also book his Cheltenham ticket with a first win in open company in the Grade Two William Hill Game Spirit Chase (GBB Race) (2.45pm). The five-year-old French import looked smart in three hurdles runs last season, finishing second to 100-1 shock winner Poniros in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, before landing Grade One glory in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in May.
He was always likely to make into a top chaser and although he hasn’t been perfect with his jumping in his first two starts over fences, he won both at Exeter and Sandown. Both those wins were in novice company, the latter in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at the start of December. He now takes on more experienced rivals in the Grade Two contest but he can make the step up before heading to Cheltenham.
Former Seven Barrows’ stable stars Sprinter Sacre and Altior both took this contest for Henderson in in 2012 and 2017 – the latter winning the Game Spirit three times. That duo also went on to win the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham the following month and Lulamba may just do the same.
Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies’ UN SENS A LA VIE can win the William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.20pm). The Twiston-Davies’ stable has won the former ‘Betfair Hurdle’ three times in the past with Splash Of Ginge (2014), Ballyandy (2017) and Al Dancer (2019), so clearly know what it takes to triumph.
Un Sens A La Vie looks just the progressive type who could give them another success. The six-year-old has won two of his four starts over obstacles, including an impressive front-running victory in a Novices’ Hurdle at Ludlow in December. He makes his handicap debut and it can be a winning one ahead of the Skelton-trained Let It Rain.
The Skelton stable could, though, have a couple of winners at Newbury with A PAI DE NOM and KADASTRAL in the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle (1.35pm) and the William Hill Racing Epic Boosts Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1pm) respectively. The former has landed three of his five starts this season and can return to winning ways having been third at Kempton last month. Kadastral won over course and distance on his second start over hurdles in December and he can land another success in Berkshire.
Ben Pauling’s JIG’S FORGE is another course and distance scorer and the seven-year-old can triumph again in the William Hill Cheltenham Non-Runner Money Back Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.55pm). While stable-mate Smile John Boy can win the finale, the Listed William Hill Racing Bet Builder Beacons (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (GBB) (4.30pm).
At Warwick another Pauling progressive star MAMBONUMBERFIVE can win the Grade Two Bet Smarter With Oddschecker Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.50pm). The five-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over fences at Aintree, Newbury and most recently in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas. In a similar contest he can hold off another unbeaten young chaser Steel Ally, from the Sam Thomas stable.
Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls’ WHITE NOISE can make it four wins from four starts over obstacles this season with another victory in the Grade Two Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (3pm).
Paul Nicholls’ JUBILEE ALPHA a can finally get off the mark for the season in the Listed Get The Best Odds With Oddschecker Warwick Mares’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.15pm) after a couple or runner-up efforts at Wincanton and Sandown.
Nicholls’ stable-mate OUTLAW PETER may make a winning debut in the Veterans’ Series as the 10-year-old can land the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Series Qualifier) (2.25pm).
The Skelton-trained JUST GOLDEN can get off the mark over obstacles with victory in the opener, the Oddschecker Free Bets Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.40pm).
Others who can triumph at Warwick are the Stuart Kittow-trained CORNISH STORM – a winner at Ludlow at the end of December – in the Oddschecker Cheltenham Free Bets Handicap Hurdle (3.35pm); Tom Lacey’s LUTTRELL LAD in the Best Cheltenham Odds With Oddschecker Handicap Hurdle (4.10pm); and POPTON POINT – from the Jennie Candlish stable – in the finale, the Total Metal Recovery Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (4.45pm).
Saturday’s meeting at Uttoxeter was abandoned this afternoon due to a waterlogged track.
Wright Ones
NEWBURY
1pm Kadastral 1.35pm A Pai De Nom 2.10pm Haiti Couleurs 2.45pm Lulamba 3.20pm Un Sens A La Vie (NAP) 3.55pm Jig’s Forge 4.30pm Smile John Boy
WARWICK
12.40pm Just Golden 1.15pm Jubilee Alpha 1.50pm Mambonumberfive 2.25pm Outlaw Peter 3pm White Noise 3.35pm Cornish Storm 4.10pm Luttrell Lad 4.45pm Popton Point
UTTOXETER (OFF – waterlogged track)
LINGFIELD
12.35pm Al Najashi 1.10pm Rosieisme Darling 1.45pm Way To Dubai 2.20pm King Of Chaos 2.55pm Mr Cool 3.30pm Silky Wilkie 4.05pm Mary Rose 4.40pm Knight Of Magic
SOUTHWELL
5.30pm Himself 6pm Brazilian Rose 6.30pm Dakota Breeze 7pm Noss Mayo 7.30pm Tyrrhenian Sea 8pm Life After Love 8.30pm Brazilian Belle
NAAS
1.05pm Highland Crystal 1.40pm Grey Jude 2.15pm Jalon D’oudairies 2.50pm Eternal Echo 3.25pm Todo Bien 4pm Dinoblue 4.35pm Panda Boy
SUNDAY’S NAP: Joecooker (Newcastle 3pm)
