jumping at 4 courses today

the N.H. season really gets under way today with jumping from 4 tracks, including some high class racing at Wetherby, Ascot and Down Royal. The Grade One JNWine Champion Chase at 15.25 CET at the last named track is the best race of the day, but the late withdrawal of the likely favourite Sizing Europe has weakened the race, which we now think will lie between last year´s winner Quito de la Roque (Colm Murphy/ Davy Russell) and English raider Kauto Stone (Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob). Kauto Stone has a long way to go before he can match the achievements of his brother Kauto Star, who won here in 2010 and whose retirement was announced this week, but we hope that he can score here.
At Wetherby, the Charlie Hall Chase over 3 miles 1 furlong at 16.25 is the top event and even with only 6 runners is a fascinating affair. Time for Rupert (Paul Webber/ Denis O´Regan) started favourite last year but could only finish second. Paul Nicholls has runners all over so it is certainly significant that Ruby Walsh is here to partner last year´s top novice stayer Silviniaco Conti, who will probably start hot favourite. Midnight Chase (Neil Mulholland/ Dougie Costello) is known as a Cheltenham specialist. but has also run well here and could be better value at the likely price. German-bred Fair Along (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) won the West Yorkshire Hurdle in 2009 and 2010 and finished runner-up last year to Restless Harry (Robin Dickin/ Henry Oliver); they meet again at 15.50, when Smad Place (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) and Tidal Bay (Nicholls/ Walsh) add spice to another hot little race.
At Ascot, Chiberta KIng (Andrew Balding/ Sam Twiston-Davies) is a very interesting hurdling newcomer at 15.00; he was group class on the flat and faces strong opposition on his debut from ex-French Taquin du Seuil (Jonjo O´Neill/ Barry Geraghty) and Wetak, as well as My Tent or Yours (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy). Best race here is the valuable 3 mile handicap chase at 16.10; Paul Nicholls saddles the two top-weights here, but we think the winner will come from lower down the weights and fancy Ace High (Vic Dartnall/ Andrew Glassonbury), whose trainer and jockey won this last year. The handicap hurdle at 15.35 looks really tough; Cape Express (Henderson/ Geraghty) is tremendously improved and has won his last 4 races, but Nampour (Colin Tizzard/ Tom O´Brien), fourth to him last week at Aintree, now meets him on much better terms and can possibly reverse the form.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ulysse Collonges - Heez A Cracker - Exotic Man
2. Race: Dawn Twister - Falcarragh - Lordofthehouse
3. Race: Brady - Fill The Power - Our Island
4. Race: Une Artiste - Baby Shine - Alasi
5. Race: Smad Place - Tidal Bay - Cape Tribulation
6. Race: Silviniaco Conti - Time For Rupert - Planet Of Sound
7. Race: Simonside - Willow`S Saviour - River Dragon