Unfortunately, the weather claimed yet another meeting over this winter, and Hereford was the latest meeting to be cancelled. That left Cairnzy with one runner on Monday, with Fantastikas running a decent race for the majority of the way around Plumpton, but when it mattered the most he couldn't go with the fresher horses.
Rizzel's tips
Bampton Star 6/1 EW- Chepstow 3.17
The top weight, The Scorpion King, was the horse who beat Haut Folin when I tipped that horse up last time out at Ffos Las. I strongly fancied Haut Folin that day, so he has to be respected in his attempts of landing the hat-trick, but he has gone up 9lbs for that recent win and with further rain, I think he's going to struggle off a heavyweight.
There are a few interesting runners in this race that you could bet against the top weight, whether that is Shot Boi who will have to return to form but is on an attractive mark, or the Venetia Williams angle, but I ended up with Bampton Star who I saw run a nice race on return on New Year's Day.
Given it was Bampton Star's first run in 256 days, I thought it was a great return to the track to finish 3rd/10 in a race which was won by a horse well ahead of the handicapper. He had a 7lb claimer on board him at Exeter, which would point to him needing the run, and how he was positioned throughout, that echoes my opinion. He made up some good ground and looked like a potential challenger, but was eventually tired and the winner just kept rolling.
With Lorcan Williams back in the saddle, and with that run under his belt, I hope that he can progress some more like he did last year when he managed to two races over fences. He gets on well when racing on soft ground and I think in a race where the field is exposed, barring the top weight, I thought he could go under the radar.
Princes Des Fichaux 8/1 EW – Newcastle 3.30
I can understand why Jack's Parrot is the market favourite going into this staying chase as he put in a good performance to finish second at Haydock last time out, but I wanted to give Princes Des Fichaux a chance at bigger odds now he is back at Newcastle.
Last year Princes Des Fichaux was a runner-up in this race off a 4lb lower mark, which makes you think why would you back him when he couldn't win it when he was handicapped better? He then went on to finish second in the Eider Chase, on heavy ground off a 4lb higher mark, so it shows that he is can win off this type of mark. It could be a race too early to back him, as they might try and go for the Eider Chase, as chances are that they'll get in the race whether they are high enough in the ratings or not due to the field size not normally filling out, but with the yard being in the form they're in, and the booking of Sam Twiston-Davies catching the eye, I'm happy to take a chance.
Sam Twiston-Davies is having his first ride for the trainer, and normally that would be a negative as Danny McMenamin is at the course and he is the regular rider for this horse, but Sam Twiston-Davies is the only jockey to win on this horse from when he was trained by Sam Thomas a few years ago, so it appears like a shrewd booking by getting the guy who has the win on this horse. In my opinion, other than the top weight, the rest of the field doesn't appeal too much and I have it as a straight shootout between the two, as long as they are fully trying with my horse and he is tuned up with his fitness.
