Great Britain & Ireland Preview: Spot Plays for Saturday
This weekend sees Graded jumping races at Cheltenham in England and in Ireland at Naas on Saturday. Flat racing on the British turf takes a back step for the next few months. There are a couple of Listed races in Lingfield, where all races are subject to TwinSpires’ Rest of the World Bet Back offer.
Cheltenham, Race 1 is Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle (G2), 2 1/16 miles, 3yo hurdlers. #2 Blueking D’Oroux has run in black-type hurdle company in France and was bought by clients of trainer Paul Nicholls. Medyaf has won twice over hurdles, both times fairly comfortably.
There are five hurdlers in the Fishery Lane Hurdle (G3), 2 miles, 4yo hurdler. #3 Brazil won the Fred Winter ( G3) at Cheltenham last year. My preference is for #1 Fil Dor.
Banbridge won his steeplechasing debut at Gowran Park Oct. 1. Spot plays for Saturday's Arkle Trophy Trial Chase (G2) at Cheltenham.
Gentleman De Mee is the favorite in Poplar square chaser (G3) at Naas. Coeur Sublime is a contender. Spot Plays bets $20 on Coeur Sublim.
Summerghand won the Ayr Gold Cup and finished second in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot. He has drawn barrier five in a six-furlong race on the Lingfield Polytrack. The biggest danger looks to be Irish visitor #4 Logo Hunter, who finished 2nd to Manaccan in Mercury Stake on Dundalk Poly Track Oct. 21.
Lingfield, Race 7, 10:10 a.m. ET: Churchill Stakes (Listed), 1 1/4 miles, 3-year-olds and up. Bolshoi Ballet, Missed The Cut, Algiers, Harrovian, Forest of Dean, and Spot Plays are the horses to watch.
