A big Saturday of action in Britain and Ireland, with action at Ascot, Haydock, Wincanton and Gowran Park providing pointers to next month’s Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National in April. Find out the key details, market moves and reaction from Saturday’s big races below.
1.50 Ascot
Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (Grade 2), 3m
What happened?
Does He Know ground out a wide-margin success in gruelling conditions for Kim Bailey and David Bass in a race where plenty made mistakes and market principal Corach Rambler unseated Derek Fox five from home.
His Cheltenham entry is in the National Hunt Chase over an extended three miles six furlongs and there is no doubt that Does He Know looked better the further the race went, putting a couple of novicey errors behind him to pull right away from a tired Doyen Breed on the run to the home turn.
The winning time
6m 31.91s – slow by 36.91s compared to RP Standard time, perhaps unsurprising given the attritional conditions which look much tougher going than the official soft description.
From the horse’s mouth
David Bass, jockey of Does He Know: “He’s got a touch of class, this horse. He jumped out and felt great early on, made a couple of fiddly errors coming down the hill second time.
“I pulled him out and gave him light – he was going to the left – and he got back on the bridle. I think his class shone through in the end. This horse isn’t easy, he’s quirky and, with his jumping, you have to try and leave him alone as much as you can.”
Ante-post market moves
Does He Know had his price halved by Paddy Power for the National Hunt Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. He is now 8-1 (from 16) for that race, but could also have the option of the Ultima Handicap Chase, for which he was made an across-the-board favourite at a best priced 8-1 with Coral.
What do our experts reckon?
This race has had little bearing on the Cheltenham Festival since the 2014 winner O’Faolains Boy’s subsequent RSA Chase success, but Does He Know dispelled any doubts over his effectiveness on soft ground, seeing the trip out really well to win going away, despite a couple of hairy leaps. His Cheltenham second to the subsequent dual Grade 2 winner Threeunderthrufive reads well and he is clearly progressing. His Cheltenham entry is in the National Hunt Chase – he’ll also reportedly be put in the Ultima – and he has a good record at that track, but he’ll need to improve again to trouble the likes of Stattler and Run Wild Fred.
Alan Hewison, raceform analyst
1.50 Ascot: full result and replay
2.20 Gowran Park
Red Mills Trial Hurdle (Grade 3), 2m
Teahupoo continued his prolific run of success to book his place in the Unibet Champion Hurdle with a wide-margin defeat of Darasso, with main market rival Quilixios failing to mount a serious challenge.
The five-year-old son of Masked Marvel put the race away with a fine change of gear turning in and two safe leaps were all that was required to score by 11 lengths, with the same margin back from Darasso to Quilixios.
The winning time
4m 14.80s – slow by 34.80s (ground officially heavy)
Ante-post market moves
Teahupoo was cut to 10-1 (from 16) by Coral for the Champion Hurdle, while Paddy Power went 8-1 NRMB from 20-1. Sponsors Unibet are best-price at 12-1 and most firms have him fourth in their lists.
From the horse’s mouth
Gordon Elliott, trainer: “Robbie says he hated the ground but he was able to pick up on the better ground in the straight, he said that he sprinted in the straight. I thought it was a good performance. We said we would come here today and see where we were and we will definitely go for the Champion Hurdle now. He’s a very deceiving horse, he doesn’t do much at home and is very laid back, but I would say he is not a bad horse.”
What do our experts reckon?
Teahupoo had previously accrued an exceptional record in races confined to his own age group but his victory here proved he can mix it with older horses too. He is now 3-0 in meetings with Quilixios and it is clear his ability supersedes that of last season’s top juvenile. Considering his progressive profile and suitability to 2m over a range of different ground conditions, he appeals as the one most likely to give Honeysuckle something to think about in the Champion Hurdle.
Robbie Wilders, tipster
2.20 Gowran Park: full result and replay
2.40 Haydock
William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade 3), 3m4½f
The Galloping Bear rewarded followers of Pricewise and landed a sustained morning gamble at the expense of a brave effort under top weight from Bristol De Mai.
A winner of the Surrey National last time at Lingfield, The Galloping Bear was 7-1 early in the day but went off the 9-2 favourite.
Victory provided a career highlight to date for Somerset trainer Ben Clarke and jockey Ben Jones, in a race where an ability to handle the deep ground was the key and Time To Get Up was the only other finisher.
The winning time
8m 10.2s - slow by 47.20s (ground officially heavy)
Ante-post market moves
The Galloping Bear has no fancy entries as of yet but Unibet inserted him as their 10-1 joint favourite for the Scottish National. Bristol De Mai has no graded entries at Cheltenham and is not in the National either.
What do our experts reckon?
An attritional contest that won’t have any bearing on the Grand National as none of the three finishers are even entered in the Aintree showpiece. Nevertheless, this was another dour staying performance from The Galloping Bear, who reeled in the admirable Bristol De Mai in the closing stages to make it four wins from as many starts over regulation fences. The winner looks just the type for the Midlands National if that race doesn’t come too soon, but it sounds like he’ll be aimed at the Irish National instead and it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on there.
Richard Young, raceform analyst
Report | full result and replay
3.20 Wincanton
Wincanton Matchbook Betting Exchange Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m
Goshen showed guts as well as class to repel the returning Adagio and defend his title in the Kingwell.
Tom Scudamore and Adagio tracked the winner into the straight and looked like taking his measure between the final two flights but Goshen battled back well to score by a length and three quarters.
Goshen came here in good form off the back of a 15 length success in the Listed Contenders Hurdle at Sandown and Josh Moore made a winning debut on a horse usually ridden by brother Jamie, who was at Haydock to ride Triumph Hurdle hope Porticello
The winning time
3m 51.03s (slow by 28.03s)
Market Moves
Adagio was having his first run since undergoing wind surgery in September and was cut to 12-1 NRMB from 16-1 by Paddy Power for the Champion Hurdle.
What do our experts reckon?
On the figures, Goshen was the best of these and he displayed a good attitude. He’s not heading to Cheltenham, but Adagio might. That horse, who was receiving 3lb, ran a mighty race after 97 days off, just not quite seeing it out after nudging ahead. His connections will no doubt be delighted, but having a chance in the Champion Hurdle (if going there) relies on him confirming his superiority over Zanahiyr from the 2021 Triumph. Zanahiyr has at least finished within hailing distance of Honeysuckle this campaign.
David Toft, raceform analyst
3.20 Wincanton: full result and replay
3.38 Ascot
Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1), 2m5f
If Fakir D’Oudairies was sent to Ascot in search of an easier Grade 1 target after repeatedly running into Allaho back in Ireland, then connections were rewarded as last season’s Melling Chase winner fought off the persistent attentions of Two For Gold.
Mark Walsh appeared to be travelling much the best down the side of the course and seemed determined not to get to the front too early, after a serious mistake put leader Dashel Drasher back on his heels four from home.
Turning in it looked like a matter of when not if but Fakir D’Oudairies was far from fluent two out and Walsh had to gather him up to renew his challenge running to the last before going on to score by a length and three quarters, while Fanion D’Estruval made relentless late progress to finish the same margin behind Two For Gold in third.
The winning time
5m 44.06s – slow by 32.06s (official going soft, heavy in places)
Market Moves
Coral trimmed Fakir D’Oudairies to 10-1 (from 14) for the Ryanair Chase, while Paddy Power went 7-1 NRMB (from 12). The winner has twice run into Allaho this season and come off worse and last year’s dominant Ryanair hero remains a general 10-11 chance to double up.
From the horse’s mouth
Mark Walsh, jockey of Fakir D’Oudairies: “They went a proper gallop on the ground and he didn’t travel early. He only got his jumping going by here [the grandstand] and he jumped his way into third going out of Swinley Bottom. He made a mess of the second last but he was very tough – there’s a strong headwind there – to stick his neck out and battle all the way up the hill. It’s the horses that get you out of trouble.”
What do our experts reckon?
A cracking contest but conditions again took a toll, with the field having gone a good gallop considering the ground, and only four finished, with the last of them walking across the line. Class just about won the day, Fakir D’Oudairies toughing it out having travelled best into the straight. So where to next? Well, having been beaten 12, 8 and 12 lengths by Allaho in three previous attempts, perhaps skipping this year’s Ryanair would be a wise move, especially as he had such a hard race here, and instead taking aim at the Melling Chase, a race he dominated in 2021.
Mark Brown, raceform analyst
Read these next:
‘This is for him’ – Walsh dedicates battling Fakir D’Oudairies win to his uncle
The Galloping Bear upsets Bristol De Mai to give Ben Clarke biggest career win
