This year’s race-day looks set to be as exciting as ever with a number of different Countryside themed events taking place before and during racing. This includes a demonstration from working gun dogs. The dogs, along with ferrets and a hawk will be in the paddock between 11.10 -11.30 and on the members lawn between 12.10 -12.30. Other displays during the day will be Denius Parson is an architectural chainsaw sculptor based locally in Painswick, Gloucestershire. He creates bespoke sculptures and wooden buildings from wood, including tree trunks and large prices of beautifully patterned wood. Based in the Guinness Village between 11.30 and 12.15 Denius will be showcasing this unique art form.
Another four legged breed will be racing on the day. As well as the six horse races, a pack of trail hounds will race on the course before the first race. Hound trailing is a race between hounds along an artificially laid scent trail. Popular in northern England and Scotland, hound trailing originated in the 18th century as a means of various hunt masters testing their fox hounds against each other in match races.
It is a longstanding Countryside Day tradition that after the second race, a number of hunts from the south west and midlands will be on course, along with the Cotswold hounds. Racegoers are welcome to join the packs on the racecourse, ground conditions permitting.
That all sounds great and the country folk will love it, maybe the townies will be less excited and will stay in the bars. For us it's the kick off for the NH season with the first BIG meeting now that the flat has closed till spring.
Going: Good to soft; cross country: good-good to firm in places
12:40 Markel Insurance Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
(Class 3, 3m 1f, 11 runners)
Our opening event is for Amateur riders but in this case it includes a Gold Cup winning jockey in the very experienced and capable Sam Waley-Cohen who rides THE YOUNG MASTER [WON 9/2]. Patrick Mullins is another who has plenty of experience in Ireland and at the Festivals so his ride SKY PIRATE is also selected against the field.
Result
1 (4) The Young Master 9/2 [Mr S Waley-Cohen]
2 (6) Station Master 7/2 Fav
3 (1) Walk In The Mill 25/1
13:15 Fairlight Books Novices' Handicap Hurdle
(Class 3, 2m 87y, 20 runners)
A big field is always likely here and 20 runners line up for the 2m hurdle. We side with a pair of good priced types against the field here starting with useful flat horse JACBEQUICK who won last time out and David Pipe knows how to play the handicapping game.
MY BROTHER [2nd 7/1] lurks at the foot of the handicap and is interesting at 16/1 too has improved on each appearance for this yard.
Result
1 (14) Red Hot Chilly 33/1 [P J Brennan]
2 (20) My Brother 7/1
3 (3) Voodoo Doll 18/1
4 (19) Guido Reni 50/1
13:50 Betvictor Handicap Chase
(Class 2, 1m 7f 199y, 7 runners)
Our two against the field in this competitve chase are the market outsiders, ROCK ON ROCKY might need the rain but still capable, and PEPPAY LE PUGH too is improving.
Result
1 (2) Bun Doran 9/4 Fav [P J Brennan]
2 (6) Movie Legend 6/1
14:25 Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase
(Class 2, 2m 4f 44y, 7 runners)
The novices take on the two and half mile chase course here now and COUNT MERIBAL [WON 4/1] from the Twisten-Davies yard has already won a contest and that experience will be crucial here. LE BREUIL won a match last time, albeit by a long way and should be suited by the small field too.
Result
1 (1) Count Meribel 4/1 [M D Grant]
2 (4) Le Breuil 8/1
15:00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
(Class 2, 3m 6f 37y, 7 runners)
TIGER ROLL won the Grand National and this might be a prep race to keep him going until that meeting next year, looks opposable at the price though. The 13yo BLESS THE WINGS is a course and distance winner here and might be the value in a small field.
Result
1 (3) Josies Orders 2/1 Fav [M P Walsh]
2 (7) Fact Of The Matter 7/1
15:35 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle)
(Class 1, 2m 5f, 9 runners)
The finale is a Grade 2 hurdle contest where PERCY VEER should go well but has to give 5lb to all. KAPGARRY and CAPTAIN PEACOCK both look interesting at decent prices and these are my selections for today.
Result
1 (3) Coolanly 7/2 [P J Brennan]
2 (8) Pym 9/4 Fav
3 (1) Percy Veer 25/1
Updates for Saturday and Sunday will follow.
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