Horse Racing: Blazing Khal the Best of Three Saturday Fancies
ITV4 is broadcasting seven races from Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday. At the Cotswold circuit, the Racing Post Gold Cup Handicap Chase features many popular old-campaigners and is sure to provide a thrilling spectacle. However, with an eye trained on the Cheltenham Festival, the weekend’s headline selection comes in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle due off at 2.25 pm.
Blazing Khal jumped ahead at the final flight and galloped clear of Gelino Bello when the pair last met at Cheltenham. ©GettyImages
Blazing Khal Fancied to Scorch up Cheltenham’s Hill Once Again
Four weeks ago, over two miles five furlongs here at Cheltenham, Blazing Khal, Gelino Bello and Current Mood finished 1-2-3 in a valuable Grade 2 novices’ hurdle. At 2/1, the Paul Nicholls’ trained Gelino Bello was the punter’s pick but he had no answer to Blazing Khal’s strong finishing kick. Current Mood was well beaten off in third.
At the weekend Gelino Bello will now receive five pounds in weight from Blazing Khal. Under normal circumstances that would be enough to make amends for a two-and-a-half length defeat. However, Saturday’s contest is over three miles and the additional three furlongs would very much appear to be in Blazing Khal’s favor.
When the trio last met, Blazing Khal was towards the rear and flat-footed as the pace quickened when the field turned for home. The Irish-trained horse looked beaten two jumps from home but led at the final flight and surged clear up the finishing hill as his rivals faltered.
Now chasing a four-timer, Blazing Khal looks sure to benefit from the extra distance. A field of six runners should ensure the contest is run at an even pace. As a consequence, only the potential of a serious jumping error will concern his supporters.
Smart Juvenile Porticello Travelling North
Trainer Gary Moore may best be associated with lowly Fontwell, Plumpton and Brighton – tracks that are on his West Sussex doorstep – but when he has a good horse, he is not afraid to travel with it.
Moore has a good horse, Porticello, and he sent him to Wetherby to win comfortably on debut for his yard in late October. Having previously landed a valuable unraced (over obstacles) race at Auteuil, France, on his racecourse debut in April, this three-year-old would not have been a cheap purchase.
On Saturday, at Doncaster, Porticello can take a second step toward repaying his new connections with victory in the bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle due off at 2.40 pm.
This is a hot race. Carrying Grade 2 status, it has attracted horses representing many top yards and previous winners. However, Porticello gave weight and a decisive beating to his rivals on his British debut.
While that form is yet to be tested, he looked very smart, and it will surely take a very good horse to beat this fledgling colt during his early hurdling career.
Roger Varian’s Eydon Gets the Vote in Newcastle Novice
Newmarket trainer Roger Varian has had an outstanding 2021. Overall 21 percent of the runners he has sent out from his Newmarket base have won. However, his figures on all-weather tracks are even more impressive.
48 percent of his older horses (aged four and over) have won on artificial surfaces. 27 percent of the two-year-olds he has run on all-weather tracks have also scored. Suffice to say his runners at Newcastle must always be given the utmost respect.
On Saturday that means Eydon stands out in the 4.00 pm contest. A grandson of Frankel on the dam’s side of his family tree, Eydon has the services of Jack Mitchell in the saddle.
The rider has had an outstanding 2021 surpassing £1 million in earnings for the first time. A winner of 112 races from 684 rides, a £1 stake placed on all of Mitchell’s mounts at their SP (starting price) would have yielded a £77.11 profit.
Saturday Selections
| Blazing Khal | 2.25 pm Cheltenham |
|---|---|
| Porticello | 2.40 pm Doncaster |
| Eydon | 4.00 pm Wolverhampton |
Recommended Bet Type: Three doubles and a treble using the top odds found at the best horse racing betting sites.
