Dichoh strongly fancied for Kempton Handicap

West country trainer, Colin Tizzard holds a trump ‘Card’ for the Cheltenham Festival; does he play it early or have courage to wait? Colin knows that Cue Card is a ‘penalty-kick’ for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which opens the four-day(s) bonanza. Unfortunately, at this stage, there is a ‘goalie.’ Also, the immensely impressive, five-year-old King’s Theatre gelding has an entry for the Champion Hurdle (both races over two miles) which looks well within his considerable capabilities, judged on an unchallenged, eight lengths success over the Prestbury Park course last November. Subsequently, Cue Card was defeated by Menorah, over the same course and distance a month later but Colin has now stated that bad weather caused his string to lose ground, fitness-wise.

I’m glad this has been mentioned because Cue Card was absolutely cruising before ‘running out of gas’ when the field approached the closing stages. Betfair ‘in-running’ was showing 1-3, which illustrates what the rest of this country thought. Menorah isn’t a danger therefore, in my book. By the same token, neither are stable-companions, Binocular and Oscar Whisky, judged on their time-handicap efforts last weekend. Cue Card would have won their races, unchallenged. Of all dangers, Zaidpour has to be the problem. He’s in the ‘Supreme’ and the racing family Tizzard, doubtless, realises his outing at Leopardstown this weekend will help to decide which ‘Card’ needs to be played. Let’s put it this way. Zaidpour, moderately-ridden when losing his unbeaten jumping record last time out, would go close in the Champion Hurdle. Of that I’m totally convinced!

Zaidpour should obviously prove a ‘professional special’ this weekend, and then...! Dichoh makes strong appeal for division one of the ‘aged’ handicap, over a mile of Kempton polytrack tonight, for one very good reason. George Baker rides. When ‘the long fella’ partners top-weights it’s always of interest because his superb balance and ability to naturally offset a welter burden, by perching right on to the withers, is reminiscent of Lester Piggott. GB has obviously modeled his technique on the great man.
On my time-handicap, Dichoh has an outstanding opportunity, has good recent form and though a case can be made out for several others, expect this consistent eight-year-old to go one better. We landed a real ‘beaut’ when David Barron-trained Ezra Church romped home at Southwell (Tuesday, 5/1!) and stable-companion Ingleby Arch is fancied to retrieve recent losses in the six-runner claiming Stakes over six furlongs.

SELECTIONS

RACE 3 (#8) NOBLE ATTITUDE (nap e.w.)
RACE 15 (#2) TWO KISSES
RACE 17 (#4) INGLEBY ARCH
RACE 42 (#2) DICHOH (e.w.)