Robbie Power looks ahead to the weekend's racing BoyleSports National Hunt Ambassador Robbie Power casts his eye over the weekend's high class jumping action at both home and abroad. Saturday Exultation (Jessica Harrington), 1.15 Down Royal Exultation is a nice horse. He shows plenty at home and will be interesting to start over hurdles. He's a horse I thought could have won a bumper but Jessie's decided to go straight over hurdles with him. It looks a pretty hot Maiden hurdle, there's a lot of good horses in there. I’m hoping he can run a nice race and finish in the first five or six. Polished Steel (Jessica Harrington), 1.50 Down Royal Polished Steel was a good winner of a handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, disappointed after that at Listowel, but has had a good break since. This race has been a target. The only worry I'd have for him is the rain that's fallen. If Down Royal gets very, very soft it will hinder his chance. However, he's a tough front runner and has done plenty of work so provided the ground isn't too soft, I think he'll give a good showing. The Champion Chase, 2.25 Down Royal There’s only five runners but it’s a fascinating race. Snow Falcon is a very good horse in his own right. He was a good winner of the Champion Chase in Gowran Park a couple of weeks ago. He has a run under his belt, which at this time of the year can be a big advantage. Road To Respect won this race last year but I’d be very surprised if the winner comes outside of Clan des Obeaux or Delta Work. The latter is stepping up from Novice company into the big boys’ league, while the former was a good winner of the King George last year so he faces a tough rival on his first start. Based on the way Paul Nicholls’ horses have been taking their runs, I’d have a slight preference for Delta Work. Nevertheless, Clan des Obeaux is a very stiff opponent — especially going right-handed — so it’ll be a fascinating race to watch. Charlie Hall Chase, 3.40 Wetherby The way the race pans out will be pretty straightforward. I think Top Ville Ben will definitely make the running. He’s a very good horse going left-handed and was third, just behind Lostintranslation, last year at Aintree. He’ll set a good tempo and it’ll be a strongly-run race — there’ll be no hiding place. La Bague Au Roi is a very, very good filly and obviously gets the mares’ allowance, which is a big pull for her. In my mind, she is a better filly in the Autumn than she is in the Spring. She bypassed Cheltenham to go to Aintree, where she was beaten, but I think she’ll take plenty of beating at this time of year. The race will be run to suit her with a strong gallop guaranteed with Top Ville Ben. Her biggest danger could be Colin Tizzard’s Elegant Escape. There’s plenty of rain forecast, he’s a dour stayer and the strong gallop will suit him. Since he came back, this is the race they’ve been training him for. He’s fit going there and if it turns into a slog, which it could well do, Elegant Escape could be the one to pick up the pieces. SUNDAY: Faustinovick (Colin Tizzard), 12.45 Carlisle I’m looking forward to Carlisle on Sunday. Faustinovick has a good level of form, he’s had two runs. He was second to Gordon Elliott’s Andy Dufresne in a point to point and then he was second in a bumper in Newbury. He’s got a high level of form, and he’s a horse I’m really excited about. I think he could be a very decent novice hurdler this season. Lostintranslation (Colin Tizzard), 2.30 Carlisle He was an outstanding novice last season and showed how good he could be. Starting off over 2miles 4furlongs, just the four runners, it’s no gimme. Lostintranslation has to give weight all round but I’ve got two very good rides in Carlisle, I’d be hopeful the two of them could win, but I’d be disappointed if at least one of them doesn’t win. Check out BoyleSport's special offers for the weekend's racing here.
