Leicester Serves Up Grade 1 Feast
Friday's seven-race card at Leicester reads like an Aintree warm-up, with four Grade 1 contests headlined by the £250,000 JCB Melling Chase. The Good to Soft going, with Good patches on the hurdles track, should suit the better horses who can handle testing conditions without it becoming a slog.
I've been coming to Leicester for the best part of twenty years, and this type of ground often separates the wheat from the chaff. The course drains well, but when it's riding on the slower side like today, you need horses with proven stamina reserves and the class to quicken when it matters.
Feature Focus: The JCB Melling Chase (15:30)
The £250k Melling Chase draws a compact but quality field of seven, with Heart Wood heading the weights on a mark of 168. Henry de Bromhead's eight-year-old has been knocking on the door at this level and gets the services of Darragh O'Keeffe, who's riding with real confidence this season.
However, my eye is drawn to Grey Dawning for the Skelton team. The nine-year-old is a Leicester specialist with a [D] next to his name, and Harry Skelton knows exactly how to get him home on this track. His rating of 165 puts him right in the mix, and this Good to Soft ground is bang on his preferred conditions.
Solness represents the Irish challenge for Joseph O'Brien. The eight-year-old's rating of 166 makes him theoretically the second-best horse in the race, and J.J. Slevin's booking suggests connections are serious about this prize. The ground won't inconvenience him, and he's shown a liking for right-handed tracks.
Handicap Highlight: The Topham Chase (16:05)
Thirty runners line up for the £150k Topham Handicap, and this is where the going conditions will really bite. Il Est Francais heads the weights on 160, but in a race like this, I'm looking for horses who've proven they can handle the track and trip.
Gentleman de Mee ticks every box for Willie Mullins. The ten-year-old has both course and distance form marked against his name, and Mark Walsh's booking is significant. His rating of 158 gives him every chance from near the top of the handicap, and Mullins' runners have been in tremendous form lately.
Further down the weights, Boombawn for Dan Skelton appeals at 146. Another with the crucial [C,D] combination, Tristan Durrell takes the ride on a horse who's shown he can handle these conditions. At nine years old, he's at the perfect age for a race like this.
Novice Standouts Across The Grades
The Mildmay Novices' Chase (14:20) sees Gold Dancer attempt to give Willie Mullins another Grade 1 winner. P. Townend takes the ride on the seven-year-old rated 153, and you'd be brave to oppose the champion trainer's runners in novice company.
Doyen Quest provides the main opposition for Dan Skelton. The eight-year-old's [D] form gives him a significant edge, and Harry Skelton has been riding with real confidence. His rating of 144 puts him in the hunt, and the Skelton team have been going great guns this season.
In the Top Novices' Hurdle (14:55), Sober Glory looks the class act for Philip Hobbs. Ben Jones takes the ride on the six-year-old rated 153, and his distance form suggests he'll handle the Good to Soft conditions. Baron Noir for Alan King provides the main danger, with Tom Bellamy an inspired booking.
Opening Handicap Puzzle
The William Hill Handicap Hurdle (13:45) kicks off proceedings with a competitive field of 22. Favour And Fortune heads the market for Alan King, with Tom Bellamy taking the ride on the eight-year-old rated 140.
However, Olly Murphy's team looks strongly represented with four runners. Rambo T, Indeevar Bleu, and Fingle Bridge all carry distance form, while Act of Authority completes the quartet. Sean Bowen chooses Indeevar Bleu, which could be significant given his options in the race.
Joyeuse for Nicky Henderson deserves respect with Nico de Boinville in the saddle. The seven-year-old's rating of 137 puts him right in the mix, and Henderson's horses have been running well on this type of ground recently.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
Looking at the Leicester racecard as a whole, I'm drawn to horses with proven course form and the class to handle testing conditions. Grey Dawning in the Melling Chase appeals as the value play in the feature, while Gentleman de Mee looks overpriced in the Topham given his course credentials.
For smaller stakes, keep an eye on the Skelton team throughout the afternoon. They've got runners with course form in several races, and both Harry and Tristan Durrell know how to get horses home at Leicester when the ground is riding on the slower side.
The Good to Soft conditions should favour the more established performers over the up-and-coming types, making this an afternoon where experience and proven ability should triumph over potential.
