Overview: Grade 1 Feast at Leicester
Thursday's seven-race card at Leicester serves up a proper feast of top-class National Hunt action. Four Grade 1 contests headline the afternoon, topped by the £250k Racing Welfare Bowl over three miles. The going remains good to soft – perfect conditions for this quality field.
I've walked the track this morning and the ground is riding beautifully. There's enough give to suit the stamina types in the longer races, while still providing a fair test for speed. The forecast suggests conditions will remain stable throughout the afternoon.
The Feature: Racing Welfare Bowl (2:55)
The day's centrepiece brings together five seasoned campaigners over three miles and a furlong. Jango Baie tops the weights on 167 and arrives here in tremendous heart for the Henderson yard. Harry Skelton partners Protektorat, who's shown his best form over this trip and boasts both course and distance winning form.
However, I'm drawn to Impaire Et Passe for Willie Mullins. The eight-year-old has been campaigned sparingly this season and drops back from his Cheltenham effort. Paul Townend's booking catches the eye, and this horse has always thrived on good ground with cut.
The Dark Horse
Spillane's Tower represents excellent each-way value at likely odds. Mark Walsh knows this horse inside out, and the form figures don't tell the full story of his ability over this extended trip.
Juvenile Hurdle Showdown (1:45)
The Boodles Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle brings together ten promising four-year-olds, with Maestro Conti and Minella Study sharing top billing on 143. Both have shown smart form this season, but the ground conditions favour different horses.
Sean Bowen takes the ride on Ammes, who shaped with real promise on his last start. The James Owen-trained gelding has distance-winning form and should relish today's conditions. Meanwhile, Winston Junior brings solid credentials and Harry Cobden's booking suggests connections are confident.
Don't overlook the Irish raiders either. Selma de Vary for Mullins has been working well at home, according to stable sources, and Paul Townend rarely makes the trip without a live chance.
Novice Chase Quality (2:20)
The William Hill Manifesto Novices' Chase looks a cracker on paper. Lulamba heads the weights for Nicky Henderson and has been impressive in his chasing career to date. The five-year-old handles cut in the ground and Nico de Boinville's partnership has clicked from day one.
Koktail Divin brings the highest rating at 150 and represents the in-form Henry de Bromhead stable. This horse has distance-winning form and the step up in trip should suit. Jax Junior is an interesting runner for Lucy Wadham – Tom Cannon's booking suggests they're expecting a big run.
Going Conditions Key
The good to soft ground plays into the hands of the stamina horses here. Blueking d'Oroux has shown his best form on similar conditions and Paul Nicholls has timed this run perfectly.
Aintree Hurdle Preview (4:05)
Seven runners go to post for the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle, with The New Lion heading the market. Harry Skelton partners Dan Skelton's star, who's been in tremendous form this season. The seven-year-old has the class and stamina for this test.
Brighterdaysahead brings course and distance form to the table and represents the powerful Elliott-Kennedy combination. This horse thrives on soft ground and should be right there at the business end.
Don't write off El Fabiolo either. The nine-year-old may be getting on, but Willie Mullins knows how to place his horses and Paul Townend's presence suggests this isn't just a pipe-opener.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
Looking at the Leicester racecard, several horses stand out for different reasons. In the feature race, Impaire Et Passe offers the best value at likely odds, while Maestro Conti looks the one to beat in the juvenile hurdle.
The novice chase hinges on ground conditions, where Lulamba should have the class edge. In the Aintree Hurdle, The New Lion sets the standard but Brighterdaysahead could outrun his odds.
For the hunters' chase, it's worth keeping an eye on Its On The Line – Danny McMenamin has been riding with confidence lately and this horse has both course and distance form. The handicap chase looks competitive, but Inthepocket has been working well and drops down from his last run.
The mares' bumper concludes proceedings and while ratings are sparse, Seven Stars for Alan King catches the eye – this yard knows how to place their horses and Tom Cannon's booking is significant.
