Festival handicaps could be on the agenda for Sempo

The quality of racing took a considerable hit last week as the weather caused many meetings to be cancelled, but a horse I’ve been keeping my eye on for a while ran at Punchestown on Sunday and I’m convinced the best is yet to come.

Sempo jumped much better in the 2m novice chase won by Farmix and closed pleasingly after the final fence to finish third. Having unseated at the first twice in his first three starts over fences – admittedly he was badly impeded by Asterion Forlonge in January – this was much more like it and he appears to be coming to the boil nicely over fences.

Don’t forget he was seventh in Envoi Allen’s Champion Bumper, beaten under eight lengths, and showed solid form over hurdles last year too, including when second to Cobbler’s Way at Leopardstown after Christmas, recording a peak RPR of 145.

I was adamant he’d run a big race in the Coral Cup afterwards but connections plumped for the Albert Bartlett instead and he didn’t disgrace himself, travelling well and failing to see it out up the hill to be sixth.

He’ll need to complete again in order to obtain a handicap mark but he hasn’t achieved much over fences to suggest it would be particularly high and would be in with a good chance were he to run in either the Plate or the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.

His trainer Joseph O’Brien has a keen eye when it comes to the handicaps at the meeting having plundered the Boodles (Band Of Outlaws) and Martin Pipe (Early Doors) in 2019. He has had a slightly quiet season so far but I have a suspicion it could mean some of his horses will look well handicapped come the spring.

Bailey still a trainer to watch
At the start of the jumps season I wrote a piece in these pages about the strength in depth in Kim Bailey’s yard and the trainer remains in excellent form following the wins of Two For Gold and Kyntara – who I’m sure you’ll be hearing much more about – at Warwick on Monday.

As well as Imperial Aura in the Ryanair (a race in which some of the ante-post market leaders have dented their chances recently), the handler has First Flow for the Champion Chase as well as Gold Cup possible Vinndication.

Before Imperial Aura’s win in the sadly now defunct Northern Trust, Bailey’s last festival success came with Darna in the 2015 Plate – and he could have an excellent chance in the race again this year.
Now sponsored by Paddy Power, the race could be ideal for his Espoir De Romay, who has it as an option as well as the Marsh and Brown Advisory (formerly the RSA).

I also think he has a good chance in the Ultima, a race he came close to winning last year when Vinndication ran a belting race to be fourth under top weight. Happygolucky may not be as tall but he shares several things in common with Vinndication in that he is at home on soft ground and a very strong stayer.

He hasn’t been seen since winning a 3m1½f novice chase at Cheltenham in December and is something of a dark horse but is a superb jumper and has previous festival form as he was fourth in last year’s Martin Pipe.

Happygolucky is owned by Lady Dulverton, as is Newtide. He has entries at Ascot and Haydock this weekend and may also be a candidate for the long-distance handicap chase on day one of the festival.

Keep the faith with past picks

A fortnight ago I tipped Port Of Mars and The Ferry Master in this column. Wetherby’s chases were abandoned, meaning the former was unable to take part in the Towton Novices’ Chase while the latter was a last-minute non-runner at Musselburgh prior to an attritional Edinburgh National.

Both have entries this weekend, and while I’ll be waiting for the final fields to take shape (and the weather to play ball!) they both look to have solid chances once again. Port Of Mars could run in a novice chase at Kelso on Friday but also has the Grade 2 Reynoldstown and the Listed Swinley Handicap Chase on Saturday as options.

The Ferry Master’s sole entry is over 2m4f at Haydock and the drop in trip is no bad thing given his style of racing and how testing Haydock looks likely to be.

Another horse I’ve had in my tracker for a while who could run this weekend is the Stuart Edmunds-trained Hometown Boy, who has an entry in the 2.48 at Wincanton. He was pulled out of numerous races at the start of the season, including the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, but I think he is potentially very well handicapped off a mark of 130 given the strength of his novice form with McFabulous.

Read more from Maddy Playle:

Wedge and Frost comments show where racing must progress

The veterans' series is a monumental success - and it is vital it stays as it is

No allowance needed: why a 25-1 shot should be added to your ante-post portfolio

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Arkle dark horse has what it takes to tackle red-hot Shishkin

If racing is to develop it's vital it listens to those who speak out on race

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