Competitive handicaps

With Cheltenham now only 10 days away, there are no races today for the top performers, but there are some very competitive handicaps, especially at Newbury and Doncaster.

At the Berkshire course we think that ´Venetia Williams could have a good day. She runs two in the veterans handicap chase at 15.15 CET and we prefer Relax (the choice of stable jockey Aidan Coleman), who now seems quite nicely handicapped. We also like Benny´s Mist at 16.25, but are worried here about ex-German Seventh Sky (Charlie Mann/ Barry Geraghty), a brother to Samum and co, who has been in great form this season but is up quite a bit in the weights. King of Glory at 17.35 is another Williams/ Coleman runner with good prospects. Another stable coming into form is Alan King´s and we like his First Mohican (Denis O´regan) at 15.50; this smart flat handicapper has been a disappointment over hurdles but is surely capable of winning here.

At Doncaster the handicap chase over 3 1/4 miles at 16.45 is the main event and to us the top two in the weights stand out- Mon Parrain (Paul Nicholls/ Sean Bowen) and Night in Milan (Keith and James Revely); the latter won this last year and although 10 lbs higher now, can go in again. AP McCoy is here and can win the first 2 races on Fort Worth at 14.25 and Festive Affair at 15.00, both for Jonjo O´Neill, while the trainer - who is red hot now-. can also take the 16.10 with Kelvingrove (Maurice Lineham).

The main feature in Ireland, on Leopardstown´s last jumping fixture of the season, is also a handicap chase at 16.50. Colbert Station (Ted and Ruby Walsh) likes it here and has come down in the weights, so he is the choice in another very tricky affair.