Handicappers’ Corner: Three on course for Cheltenham after weekend wins

Handicappers’ Corner
/
Timeform /
13 February 2011 /
Leave a Comment

Tony McCoy: The Champion Jockey was fairly downbeat after Binocular’s success

“Whether you would be rushing out to back him [Binocular] at [4.9] for such a wide-open renewal of the Champion after this display is another matter”

Timeform handicapper Gregg Taylor analyses the performances of three winners from Saturday who are all set to be seen next on the opening day of the Festival…

Binocular (h168) took his tally to two from three for the season but he was far less convincing than he had been in the Christmas Hurdle as he defeated three rivals in the two-mile listed contest at Sandown. The race turned into a virtual exercise gallop for the Champion Hurdler, left with only his stablemate Ruthenoise (h122) to beat from two out, and he needed only to record a bare figure some two stones below his best (139++).

He’s certainly best judged on the form of his Kempton success last month and will no doubt be fully tuned up to be back to that level at Cheltenham, though whether you would be rushing out to back him at [4.9] for such a wide-open renewal of the Champion after this display is another matter.

In contrast, his stable-companion Oscar Whisky (h163p) was impressive in landing the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on the same afternoon by eight lengths from Black Jack Blues (h147). He faced a simple task on the day against a quartet of inferior rivals, but not many of the contenders he’ll face in the Champion Hurdle have created as visually a striking impression as he has for both his victories this season.

The runner-up had the run of the race thanks to the less forceful tactics employed on Barizan and he ran close to the form that had seen him win a course-and-distance handicap earlier in the campaign. It’s also worth pointing out that a time comparison with the earlier two-mile novice won by Sprinter Sacre works out well, especially considering that the pace in this race wasn’t as strong as it might have been, with Black Jack Blues getting to the fourth only a second faster than the leader in the novice.

Medermit (c148) now sits towards the head of the Timeform novice chase ratings following his victory in a good renewal of the two-and-a-half mile Grade 1 novice at Sandown. Alan King’s seven-year-old showed his best form yet despite idling on the run-in, needing to be ridden out in the end after jumping/travelling well. He holds entries in the Golden Miller and the Ryanair, but is reportedly on course to tackle the Arkle, with the drop back to two miles unlikely to pose him any problems.

Captain Chris (c145) finished runner-up for the third successive start over fences but, with his jumping generally more assured than previously, he demonstrated here that he’s nevertheless going to be a serious contender for whichever race he goes for at the Festival. The longer trip of the Golden Miller is likely to benefit him, though the Arkle is apparently the preferred engagement for him at this stage, too.

Mr Gardner (c138p) was quickly stepped up to this level after a facile chasing debut success at Huntingdon and he acquitted himself well in running close to the pick of his hurdles form. He faded after pecking badly two out, whilst a number of those who finished behind him were undone to a greater extent by their jumping.