Grade 2 Runners for HWR
30-01-2016
It is Cheltenham trials day today and a huge weekend for HWR with two Grade 2 runners. Duke of Medina runs in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham, whilst Arzal makes the trip to Doncaster for the Grade 2 Lightening Novices Chase. ENTRIES: DUKEOFMEDINA steps up in grade to contest the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham today at - 12.40 . He ran an absolute blinder at Kempton over the festive period to just get caught in the dying strides by the Alan King trained Gibralfaro. That horse has won again since and is now 2nd favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. Duke gave 6lb to him that day and now deserves to take his chance in a better race. Although there are only 5 rivals it is a very competitive race and it will need a career best from the Duke, but all he’s done is surprise us this year and who knows he could easily surprise us again. The Alan King trained Who Dares Wins looks the one to beat!! ARZAL takes his chance in the Grade 2 Lightening Novices Chase at Doncaster at - 1.00 . He was very impressive when demolishing a competitive field at Newbury in November, before finishing 3rd in the Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas. He has 4 1/2 lengths to find with Vaniteux on that form, but there is certainly a chance that he could turn it around. The return to a left handed galloping track should really suit Arzal, and the absence on Ar Mad means he may find it easier to lead. We are under no illusion that this is a very competitive Lightening and Arzal will need a career best to win it, but he goes there in excellent form and we cannot wait to run him. FRIZZO holds entries at Leicester and Ludlow next week, he missed his Wetherby engagement with a stone bruise but has made a quick recovery and is ready to run again. At this stage the Ludlow race looks the likely target as the entries look weaker and the ground looks better. Hopefully they won’t get too much rain and Frizz can get back on the track. He is in good form and is on a workable handicap mark. PINKPLAY is entered in the Mares Novices Hurdle at Lingfield on Tuesday, she has been ready to run for a while and missed 2 engagements due to water logging. Unfortunately Lingfield looks unlikely to go ahead which is frustrating. She is in good form and ready to run but we've just had to wait. REPORT: BIGMARTRE finished fourth when stepped up in Grade 2 compamy at Haydock on Saturday. He had been very impressive over course and distance when making the running the last day. Unfortunately on this occasion there was more pace on and he wasn't able to dictate terms from the front. He did settle for Gavin and jumped fluently throughout, but as the screw turned coming into the home straight Bigm was unable to pick up like we know he can. Gavin felt he ran a bit flat and is twice the horse he rode at Fontwell, so he is having a small break before returning for a run or 2 in the spring. He is still only 5 years old and has been doing lot of growing, hurdling is very much a stepping stone for his chasing career but we feel there is another big hurdle win in him before the end of the season!! FEATURE: If you haven't already had a chance to see the At The Races feature with Luke Harvey, you can view it from the link below; ATTHERACESFEATURE Until next week;