Greatwood Gold Cup: More to come from Kyle

Trained by Ed Walker, Beastfromtheeast made few headlines in his six starts on the Flat, failing to get his head in front and running to just a modest level when second at Southwell in February 2014. Fast forward the clock four years, however, and the polar vortex of the same name is making far more noise in racing circles, with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures currently the scourge of National Hunt trainers across the country.

We already know that there will be no jumps action in the UK until Friday at the earliest, while Saturday’s feature meetings at Doncaster and Newbury are also in jeopardy. Racing at the latter track is probably odds-on to get the chop, too, but should the first jolly of the day get beat, attentions will soon turn to the Greatwood Gold Cup, that event seemingly far more competitive than the uneven battle with the weather.

More Newbury magic for Murphy?

Bookmakers are currently going as big as 8/1-the field for one of the last big prizes before the Cheltenham Festival, with Mercian Prince among those challenging for favouritism. He is having a cracking season, having improved again to follow up his Kempton victory from 7 lb higher in the weights at Wetherby last time, all out to hold on from Pain Au Chocolat.

A further 3 lb rise means that he is right at his handicap limit here, but he is straightforward and likeable, and should go well again at a venue that was good to his trainer earlier this month, with Kalashnikov giving Amy Murphy the biggest win of her training career to date in the Betfair Hurdle.

The novice Kalashnikov is victorious in the Betfair Hurdle at @NewburyRacing! Watch LIVE on @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/AHBrMJoREv

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) February 10, 2018

Remiluc was fifth in the Betfair Hurdle, acquitting himself well having been ridden far more aggressively than the first three, and could attempt to take advantage of a 17 lb lower chase mark here. Admittedly, he is yet to convince in three starts over the larger obstacles, but subsequent events have shown how difficult a task he had on the most recent of those, beaten nine lengths by the now 161p-rated Saint Calvados over two miles here.  

There is unlikely to be anything of that rival’s calibre in opposition on Saturday, and it would be no surprise to see him step up on his previous exploits in this sphere, representing the in-form Chris Gordon yard (three winners and two seconds from last 10 runners).

Nicholls looking for number nine

Paul Nicholls has dominated this race over the years, with eight victories to his name since its inception in 2004. Warriors Tale looks the best of his four entries for the latest renewal, following a career best when second in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last time.

He curled up in the closing stages on that occasion, so should be suited by the return to two and a half miles – he goes particularly at this track, too, with two wins and three seconds from six starts. Bought by Trevor Hemmings with a crack at the Grand National in mind, he also holds entries at Doncaster and Kelso on Saturday.

A brilliant finish from Wakanda to win the Sky Bet Chase at @DoncasterRaces! Watch LIVE on @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/R3WxHFwpmn

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 27, 2018

Sametegal was Nicholls’ most recent winner of this race in 2016 and cannot be discounted from 2 lb lower this time round. The nine-year-old was off the track for 20 months after that victory, but he ran consistently well in his first three starts of the campaign and seemingly failed to stay three miles when well below form at Sandown last time.

The quartet from Ditcheat is completed by the novice Adrien du Pont and Marracudja, who won well at Musselburgh earlier this month but has stamina to prove over this longer trip.

Lough to be Fry-ing high

The Robin Dickin-trained Thomas Crapper is another previous winner of this race – from 4 lb lower 12 months ago – but he has a bit to prove after a low-key return to action at Warwick three weeks ago, and one that makes more appeal is the second from that contest, Kylemore Lough.

He went like the best horse at the weights that day, but possibly did too much chasing the front-runner and got run down late, best not to crab his finishing effort given the circumstances. Lining up from the same mark here, he is 2 lb clear of the field on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and deserves another chance to resume winning ways on just his fourth start for Harry Fry – he was a Grade 1-winning novice in his prime for Kerry Lee.

Others to mention include Creep Desbois, who is open to more improvement after just three starts over fences (good nose second at Leicester last time) and Ballotin, who returned to form when second at Ascot in November and is still lightly-raced for the Philip Hobbs yard.

Conclusion

Kylemore Lough had a hard enough race when second at Warwick three weeks ago, but that represented by far his most encouraging effort since joining Harry Fry (traded as low as 1.04 on the Betfair exchange in-running) and he looks sure to go well from the same mark here, especially given a more conservative ride.

Recommended Bet:

Back Kylemore Lough to win the Greatwood Gold Cup at 12/1