Classic Chase Day at Warwick Racecourse, 11th January 2020

Good morning from a dry and overcast Warwick Racecourse, for their feature meeting of the jumps season, the Classic Chase meeting.

Whilst we are here at Warwick, it must be said that events yesterday are still very much fresh in the mind. The sheer surprise of seeing the stream of water running down in front of the stands at a glorious Huntingdon certainly made yesterday a day to remember, and that is excluding the fact we actually high-tailed it all the way over to Wolverhampton for their evening meeting, of which a report and images will be available to view on the website in the coming days. Massive thank you to them for accommodating us at very short notice.

With no further a do, time to focus on today. The sun is, sadly, not shining on the course today. Overcast, with a slight breeze and a going description of Soft, Good to Soft in places on both courses, it nevertheless promises to be a cracker of a day. On a personal note, the Grade 2 Hampton Novices' Chase at 1:50 kicks off 4 cracking races all in a row. Starting with the 1:50, it is a pleasure for us to see Kim Bailey's TWO FOR GOLD running today, as he won like a good thing at Carlisle in November, seeing off two horses in second and third that have since won themselves. We think, in a good-looking renewal, he could run very well under David Bass. Ardlethen and Highest Sun, for the Skeltons and Tizzard/Power combination respectively, would appear to be his biggest dangers, on paper.

Moving on to the 2:25, the Grade 2 Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle, and this is a race that we hold in quite high regard, because two of our favourites of the last decade, The New One and the sadly-missed Willoughby Court, both won this race on the path to Festival glory, in what was previously known as the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, and is registered as the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle. Another horse we have seen this season already is HARRY SENIOR, and he certainly won like a good thing at Chepstow on Welsh Grand National Day. The Tizzard/Power combination will again be present, with Mossy Fen for the Twiston-Davies combination and Blue for the Skeltons being obvious dangers. Keen On, for Her Majesty The Queen and the trainer and jockey duo of Nicky Henderson and James Bowen, provides an interesting form note. He beat a certain Protektorat, the horse in the vast majority of headlines after Altior this week, by a head at Sandown. As Protektorat has now been awarded the race at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, the form is obviously there, and market support for him should be watched closely.

The 3:00 is the feature race of the day, the McCoys Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 to be run over 3m 5f. Plenty of intriguing runners in this race, including last year's winner Impulsive Star, Ladbrokes Chase 2nd The Conditional and Becher Chase 2nd Kimberlite Candy all in with a very good shout of taking this year's renewal. The Conditional is a horse on the up, and connections have decided to take in this race instead of running in the Hampton Novices' Chase earlier on in the card. His task is made slightly harder now he is near the top of the weights, however he is progressive and could be capable of defying the rise. Another horse risen for his good performance last time out is Kimberlite Candy. Tom Lacey's Becher Chase 2nd proved that stamina was his game when going down to Walk in the Mill by only 2 1/4 lengths, though he was receiving 4lb that day. However, despite all this, the form book sort of goes out the window with our one to look at. It would be a heartwarming moment if LE BREUIL wins this race for Ben Pauling and 7lb claimer Luca Morgan. Ben has not had it great lately; his yard was under-performing at the start of the season, which was put down to a bad batch of hay and an unknown factor. That issue was clearly present on his first run of the season at Wetherby, however in the Becher Chase he was much more like his best, when he was beaten 19L carrying 11st 3lb. He certainly enjoyed his trip around the Aintree fences, and with this race being his final race before the Aintree showpiece, he can put in a bold bid. Luca's taking of 7lb is also very handy indeed, aiding his cause, and with Ben having said, especially at the Owners' Day in August we attended, that they "were not going to shy away from races like the National", this race seems perfect for him. The 2019 National Hunt Chase winner could therefore emulate One For Arthur in 2017, by winning this and then taking Grand National glory on their next run.

The final race in the quartet of crackers is the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, a Class 2 run over 3 miles. Remarkably, Sire du Berlais, last year's Pertemps winner at the Festival, runs in this race having not yet qualified for this year's renewal at the Festival. His staying-on ninth at Leopardstown was not enough for him to get in, as only the top 6 in Pertemps qualifiers qualify for the race. Gordon Elliott sends him and It's All Gueswork over from Ireland in an attempt to get them both qualified, with the latter's owner already knowing what the feeling of Pertemps success feels like, having taken consecutive renewals in 2016 and 2017 with Mall Dini and Presenting Percy. This looks a very open race, with White Moon returning to hurdling after his jumping fell to pieces in the Badger Ales at Wincanton; he had previously fallen at the course at the last when looking the likely winner. Tedham and STONEY MOUNTAIN both featured in a cracking race at Haydock on Betfair Chase Day, with the latter coming from the stars to nick it on the line. He fell at Cheltenham next time out on his chase debut, and despite reverting back to hurdling, he is capable of securing this prize under the guidance of Paddy Brennan.

Right, that's our preview done. Time to prep the cameras and get cracking. Today is one of those days that jumps fans look forward to; let's hope the racing does not disappoint!