Irilut Set To Outclass His Rivals

The Bicester with Whaddon Chase stages the final meeting of the season at the Dunthrop Point-to-Point course near Chipping Norton on Sunday 2nd March 2008. This meeting has 101 runners entered on a 7 race card commencing at 12.00 p.m. The course is in good conditon with the running rails moved on all the bends of the course to provide the runners with new fresh racing ground. For directions to the course please click here. There will also be several stalls a fully licensed bar and various other catering facilities.

Hunt Members

Only 7 runners entered for this opening race and this looks a match between Pro Am and Marble Leader. Marble Leader won well at the Dunthrop course earlier in the season and then finished a decent second in the restricted race behind Jilted Lover at Horseheath, with plenty more improvement likely he should give a very good account of himself. I think on this occasion Marble Leader may find one to good in the form of Pro Am who looks on paper to have the stronger form credentials. Pro Am finished a good second on his seasonal debut behind Mr Tee Pee then ran a decent enough race to finish third behind Teeton Bollinger and Flax Hill at Tweseldown in February. Pro Am should find this opposition much easier and record a first victory of the season.

Selection : Pro Am

Alternative : Marble Leader


Confined Maiden Race 4,5,6 & 7 yo

With hardly any form on offer for this race it is near on impossible to know which of these horses has the best ability. I am sure Ravenstone Lad has plenty more improvement to come following his 6th last time out and is the selection as you should get a good run for your money. Fenny Lane with more experience under his belt should also be able to take a race of this nature. The niggling feeling for me is something with no form will come out of the woodwork and take this race. The selection will be Ravenstone Lad but keep a close eye on the betting market as this should give you a much better guide to the ability of so many of the other unexposed horses.

Selection : Ravenstone Lad

Alternative : Fenny Lane


Ladies Open

A good competitive race looks in store with Bell Rock, Blue Business, Candarli and Step and Run all in the entries. Bell Rock unseated Emily Jarvis at Badbury Rings last Saturday and will be unlikely to make such a quick reappearance after that mishap. Blue Business put up a very good display to finish a decent second behind Oracle Des Mottes at Tweseldown and has a very good chance. Candarli finished 6th at Chaddersley Corbett last time out,but this was not his true running and the sticky ground was probably to blame and he is capable of a much better performance on his day. Lady Baronette has been in decent form and Step and Run who makes his seasonal reappearance after some good Ladies Victories last season also has chances. The pick of the form would be Candarli's unlucky run at Cottenham when flying through the field until getting carried out by the loose horse in the race won by Christy Beamish who recently won a competitive Hunter Chase. Blue Business also has some good form and and is very consistent and should go close. Step and Run should also go well but may need this first run of the season a good race looks in store with Blue Business just the selection.

Selection : Blue Business

Alternative : Candarli


Mens Open

This race looks to hold a fantastic chance for Irilut and the Waley-Cohen team to record another Mens Open victory. The main danger looks to be The Hookie Bookie, although it will be very unlikely he will appear after finishing unplaced on Tuesday in a Leicester Hunter Chase. Longville Lad will probably need this outing after being off the course for the last couple of years, but he would be Irilut's main danger. The other runners are not in the same class as Irilut although they can compete at their own level. Irilut should really win this contest without any fuss and register his place for the Volkswagon Touareg Final later in the season.

Selection : Irilut (Nap)

Alternative : Longville Lad


Confined

Many of the entries for this race are the same as in the previous Mens Open Race, so it seems difficult to know which horses will be declared in each race if they all stood their ground this could be quite a competitive event with Rash Move, Reel Dancer, Simply the One, Sudden Arrival and Tender Tangle all in with chances. If Sudden Arrival was to turn out in this race then he would be the selection but this does look unlikely as he has not been seen out since the early part of the season. Lets hope his problems from last season have not reappeared. If he does not go to post this should give a good chance to Reel Dancer to get back to winning ways following a good second behind Winsley at Tweseldown a few weeks ago. Rash Move also looks a nice youngster but will have to improve his jumping to record another victory on the scoresheet. Simply The One and Tender Tangle should also be in the shake-up although Tender Tangle could well need this first run of the season and it might be best to wait for another day for him.

Selection : Reel Dancer

Alternative : Rash Move


Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate

The most competitive race on the card with many of the runners producing decent runs last time out. Belligerent and Flax Hill seem to have the best form going into this race but with the likes of Master Club Royal, Mister Bertolli and Sweet Shooter all looking to show plenty more improvment, this race has a very open feel to it. Flax Hill was a very decent second behind Teeton Bollinger at Tweseldown on his seasonal reapparance and looks the most likely winner. Belligerent also put in a decent effort finishing a couple of lengths behind Bravery Scotch also comes into this race on a high. Mister Bertolli had some decent form last season and although pulling up on his opening run this season should not be written off just yet. Master Club Royal also produced a good second going down by only a few lengths to Saint Reverin which was also a decent effort. Flax Hill with that Tweseldown run under his belt looks the winner with Belligerent proving his biggest danger.

Selection : Flax Hill (N.B)

Alternative: Belligerent


Open Maiden for 4,5,6 and 7 Year Olds

Many of the runners in this race look to have some sort of chance. Declans Choice, Nicky and Streets of Laredo seem to have the best form on offer but Aitchjayem, Aurazure and Captain Valiant are all youngsters who will be looking to improve on what they have achieved so far. The horse with the safest credentials is Declans Choice who should easily be able to take a race like this following a decent second last time out. Nicky fell last week after being hampered, but his previous second at Chaddersley Corbett was a very decent effort. Street of Laredo also ran an encouraging fourth in a better race at the course earlier in the season and it would be no surprise if he was also their at the finish.

Selection : Nicky

Alternative : Declans Choice

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