The crucial trial races – significant prizes in their own rights – feature among the cards at Newbury and Ascot.
Here’s a look at the two Premier Racing meetings in February.
Newbury
William Hill Super Saturday, Saturday 7 February
Summary
Europe’s most valuable handicap hurdle and some of the most important Cheltenham trials top the bill on a superb day’s racing at Newbury.
A good sprinkling of the sport’s biggest stars are expected to put their credentials on the line during the seven-race card, with more than £400,000 in prize money up for grabs.
Feature Race
The £155,000 William Hill Hurdle is one of the most prestigious handicap hurdles of the season.
The hugely-competitive contest – worth more than any race of its type – has been won by some of the sport’s top hurdlers.
Make A Stand bolted up in the race 29 years ago before going on to win the Champion Hurdle a month later. My Tent Or Yours – runner-up in three Champion Hurdles – is another significant former winner. His victory in 2013 is one of Nicky Henderson’s record seven William Hill Hurdle wins.
Surprisingly, Henderson will not get the opportunity to add to his tally in this year’s contest as he does not have any entries.
Dan Skelton – chasing his first Champion Trainers’ crown – holds a strong hand. Unexposed Let It Rain tops his list of possibles.
Smart novice Un Sens A La Vie and French import All In You are others likely to make the line-up.
It promises to be a cracking race.
Supporting Races
There will be crucial Cheltenham Festival clues in the William Hill Denman Chase and the William Hill Game Spirit Chase.
Gold Cup hopefuls Jango Baie and Haiti Couleurs are likely to clash in the Grade 2 Denman Chase.
The race has proved to be the best British trial for Cheltenham’s top prize in recent years. Kauto Star, Coneygree and Native River – as well as Denman himself – won this race enroute to Gold Cup glory.
The Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase has been won by some of the very best two-milers. Champion Chasers Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Altior are all on the roll of honour.
Ticket Details
Grandstand tickets are priced at £29, with Premier Enclosure tickets costing £45.
Premier Plus tickets, which include access to a private lounge complete with reserved table, cost £84.
For full details go to www.newburyracecourse.co.uk
Ascot
Betfair Ascot Chase Raceday, Saturday 14 February
Summary
The final Grade 1 prize before the Cheltenham Festival takes place on Ascot’s Premier Racing February fixture.
The Betfair Ascot Chase is one of several races on the card that have had a significant influence on races at jump racing’s biggest meeting the following month.
Feature Race
The Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase has witnessed some thrilling races down the years and is the only open, top-level chase of the season run over the mid-distance away from the spring Festivals.
The 2m5f contest – first run in 1995 – has been won by some of jump racing’s best-loved horses, One Man, Monet’s Garden, Kauto Star and Cue Card all feature on the roll of honour.
Paul Nicholls has won the race a record six times. His Pic D’Orhy has won the last two runnings.
This year’s £175,000 race is likely to be hotly contested.
Supporting Races
One of the key trials for some of the Cheltenham Festival’s novice chases is on the Ascot Chase undercard.
The Grade 2 Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Reynoldstown Chase is often used as a stepping stone to the staying novice chases the following month.
It has been dominated by the Tizzards in recent years. Joe has trained the winner twice in the last three years, to match his father Colin’s victories in 2019 and 2020.
It is likely to feature some of the best young staying chasers in the country.
Ticket Details
Tickets for the Queen Anne Enclosure are priced at £24 if bought in advance. Groups of seven or more can take advantage of a generous discount, cutting the price of a ticket to just £15.
King Edward VII Enclosure tickets cost £39 if bought in advance.
For full details go to www.ascot.com
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