HORSE RACING: Jockeys will play it safe ahead of Cheltenham (From Swindon Advertiser)

HORSE RACING: Jockeys will play it safe ahead of Cheltenham

9:10am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

TOP jump jockeys will be looking for some safe rides this weekend with the Cheltenham Festival just a few days away.

This afternoon’s feature race at Sandown is the Paddy Power Imperial Cup that holds a £75,000 bonus should the winner go on to win a race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paul Nicholls bids to win the big Saturday prize with Pepe Simo but faces some stiff opposition from several handy hurdlers at the bottom of the handicap.

Gary Moore’s Numide, ridden by son Jamie could be handy while champion jockey AP McCoy will get down to 10stone 3lb to ride Qaspal for trainer Philip Hobbs.

Northern trainer J. Howard Johnson travels South with Caravel, who could go well, but the columns tentative selection is Aather, the mount of Timmy Murphy.

Other likely winners on the card could be Nikos Extra and Lifestyle.

Further jump meetings are scheduled for Chepstow and Ayr with an all weather meeting at Wolverhampton.

Champion jockey Ryan Moore returns to action at the Midlands track after a stint in Dubai and would look to have a good chance on Dunlight and Fanunalter.

Hayley Turner could ride Burghley to victory for Michael Bell and leading all weather jockey Joe Fanning could send backers home happy by winning the last race on Omaruru.

Warwick, Towcester and Market Rasen are the venues for tomorrow’s racing with a good to soft ground forecast at all three courses.

Warwick’s seven-race card gets underway with a Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle that could be won by Blinded Bythelight.

Later in the afternoon Richard Johnson could add another winner to his tally by riding Caluso Crystal to victory for trainer Philip Hobbs.

Towcester has been picking up the plaudits for not charging racegoers an entrance fee and as a result has been attracting big attendances.

They begin with a Novices’ Chase where jockey Paddy Brennan will look to have a good chance on Distiller for Cotswold trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Barbury Castle-trainer Jim Old has Mrs Faulty entered in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and if going to post will appear to have a good chance.

At Market Rasen, Deep Reflection good go well in the first race on the card.

Stanton Fitzwarren trainer Jonathan de Giles was in the winner’s enclosure at Lingfield earlier in the week after saddling Prince Namid 10-1 to win the six furlong Claimer ridden by Luke Morris.

Trained by David Nicholls last year, winning owner Tom Gould, explaining the move to Wiltshire, said: “Jonathan’s brother Edward is a friend of mine, they have got the facilities at Stanton and they can do the job, as you can see.”