Virgin Bet Contenders Day Race Previews

12:35pm- Gary Moore saddles two here in the Virgin Bet 2-mile Novices’ Hurdle. Jamie Moore takes the mount on an interesting French recruit Stenatee. The market should prove informative for this selection and for sure one to keep an eye on. Another former French trained horse Iliko D’Olivate was a comfortable winner for the Paul Nicholls yard last month at Taunton and is expected to come on further again from that run but slight question mark on whether he would want a bit more ease in the ground. CHASING FIRE has done nothing wrong as of yet over hurdles, will handle todays ground and is with a possible lack of early pace today, he could get his own way up front and is tipped to continue his winning run under rules.

1:10pm- The Virgin Bet Novices Handicap Hurdle ran over 2 miles 4 furlongs see six runners go to post. Twinjets has had the tendency to jump to his left. It has not stopped him from winning in his last two starts but has to be a slight concern now running in his first handicap over hurdles. Heaven Smart has his chances if his jumping can improve again from his last run, which was on heavy ground at Lingfield before Christmas. I SHUT THAT D’OR looks very interesting since being stepped up in trip. He was a surprise winner last time out at Wincanton and can strike again now Joe Tizzard with Harry Kimber taking off 3 lbs.

1.45pm- The Paul Nicholls trained DOLOS has won three previous renewals of this race in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Today he runs off 3lbs higher than his victory in this race last year but the 10-year-old is still feared even carrying top weight today. Dolos proved no match for Editeur Du Gite and Nube Negra in the Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas but today’s assignment now back in a handicap chase is a less daunting task and should show a good account of himself today. Haddex Des Obeaux was a romp away winner in a handicap at Warwick last month on heavy ground and a 10lb rise in the weights could still leave him ahead of the handicapper. Shakem Up’Arry is also feared after running a credible 5th on soft ground at Cheltenham and is a consistent horse overall. He steps back to 2 miles today and should run well off a mark of 139.

2.20pm- The Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase will have five runners going to post. Gordon Elliott brings over an exciting Novice Chaser in GERRI COLOMBE (NAP). The Irish raider was an impressive winner on soft/heavy ground at Limerick on Boxing Day in a Grade 1 race and beat a couple of nice types that day. Gerri Colombe looks the one they will all have to beat but will face a stiff challenge from Monmiral and Balco Coastal. The later was an easy winner at Kempton on Boxing Day but takes a step up in class here today. Monmiral probably ran into a good one last time out at Cheltenham, in the Dipper Novices’ Chase and was no match for the talented Jonbon at Warwick over 2 miles but jumps soundly in general and is likely to give Gerri Colombe a good test Preference however is for Gerri Colombe to continue his unbeaten streak.

2.55pm- A competitive renewal here of the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle ran over 3 miles. Flight Deck has a tougher ask off top weight today going up 7lbs in the weights for his win over Christmas at Chepstow but still possibly well in off a revised mark of 144. Slight preference however is for the David Pipe trained REMASTERED who was an unlucky 2nd in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and followed up that good performance with an impressive win over fences Kempton over the Christmas period. He switches back to hurdling today and can follow up on from his 4 lengths Pertemps Qualifier win at Aintree in November.

3.30pm- 14 go to post for the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase ran over 3 miles. Bangers And Cash is going for a hat-trick of wins for Ben Pauling and could be still well treated now running off 132. Movethechains struggled to make an impression in the Welsh Grand National but may be more suited to this shorter trip. Laskalin was a nice winner on good to soft ground at Ludlow in November after a wind op on seasonal reappearance. He ran a credible third at Newbury last time out, but a few in that race have since disappointed in their next runs. EVA’S OSKAR (NB) stayed on well at Cheltenham in December and showed good form in his seasonal reappearance in the November Meeting at the same venue. Tip and ground should be no issue for Eva’s Oskar and is the tentative choice in this wide-open handicap

4.03pm- A small runner field for the Bumper It’s hard to look past the Paul Nicholls trained WRAPPEDUPINMAY after his 24-length win in a bumper at Exeter. Cool Style may be the best of the newcomers for the Ian Williams yard, but it will be a tough task to beat the selection. The other Paul Nicholls trained Inthewaterside is likely to improve from his winning debut run but looks the 2nd string horse of the two Nicholls horses.