The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Tedham, (1425 Haydock), 2pts win 6/1:
He ran a nice comeback in a good Cheltenham handicap last time. Was a length behind Breaking Waves and these look the two here to concentrate on. Jonjo will have left something to work on with Tedham and he looks the more likely of the two stepping up to 3 miles.
Cyrname, (1405 Ascot), 6/4: this is effectively a match race and one the racing world has been waiting for. The mighty Altior is unbeaten over obstacles in 19 straight wins. He is clearly the best horse, but, his least impressive hurdle win was when clambouring home here as a novice, and his only other appearance here in January saw a wayward effort with some wild and crooked jumping. Cyrname is not as good a horse even though he is officially rated marginally the better. But in contrast his two runs here this year were head and shoulders his best. The young horse at his favourite track can beat the older legend at his least favourite track.
Bristol De Mai, (1500 Haydock), 5/4: has proven as unbeatable at Haydock as he is beatable everywhere else including winning the last two running runnings of this race. Looks the right favourite for this cracking contest but would be a near certainty if the forecast rain turns things properly soft. Frodon is an honest trier but the big danger is the superb Lostintranslation who looks a real star in the making, but he’ll need to be a Gold Cup winner to beat Bristol here on soft ground.
Capeland, (1520 Ascot), 4/1: the presence of fellow pacesetter Knocknanuss is enough to just put us off course specialist Speredek. Instead it’s the horse who was forced through the wing of the last fence here a few weeks ago, Capeland, that should win. The handicapper wanted to put him up 4lbs but trainer Nicholls appealed mostly on sentiment that it would be harsh given he was both hampered and disqualified last time. The handicapper has relented, but the cold analysis is that he would have gone close to winning and the 4lb hike was entirely merited. That means he’s effectively well in and fair value.
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