Despite losing the Classic Chase to wintry weather last month, Warwick races has its Kingmaker card set for Saturday, 8 February. That Grade 2 novice chase over two miles is the last Arkle trial before the Cheltenham Festival.
It features top-level winner L’Eau Du Sud, who has the small mercy of avoiding Sir Gino before the major meeting. He represents West Midlands local trainer Dan Skelton. The chief supporting race on the Kingmaker Chase card is the Warwick Mares’ Hurdle, meanwhile.
This Listed contest includes Irish raider Gala Marceau, last seen chasing home Lossiemouth at the Punchestown Festival. With a veterans’ middle-distance handicap chase featuring old favourites also taking place, there’s something for everyone.
Warwick is a proper National Hunt course and those wagering on horse racing betting sites should know the action over the smaller obstacles happens on the inner hurdles track at this meeting. We have our experts to thank for going through the card in search of value and these are the horses to follow in their view…
Warwick Races Preview for Kingmaker Chase Day
12:55 – 2m Class 3 Juvenile Maiden Hurdle
Not a particularly high standard required to win this opener. LUCKY BERE has 5lb claimer Callum Pritchard aboard here and finished a good second around Kempton last time out. Kayley Woollacott’s son of Seahenge had subsequent course and distance runner-up Midnight Rumble well behind him in sixth place that day.
On a form line through Alan King’s horse, Lucky Bere should also have the beating of Harry Derham inmate Aviemore. Alice Stephens takes over on that one and 3lb off with her claim. Of the others, Ocean Quest outran massive odds of 150/1 when fourth to Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba. His jumping must improve.
Nigel Twiston-Davies books 5lb conditional Jamie Brace for the ride on Ocean Quest. Team Skelton give the unraced Shareyourbiscuits his racecourse bow here, but the yard had no joy when training his half-sister Smurfette.
1:30 – 2m Class 4 Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
Low grade for a Saturday card at Warwick races, but ZAMBEZI FIX looks well-treated on his December Handicap Hurdle third at Sandown. This represents a marked step down in class for Bernard Llewellyn’s 10-year-old. Zambezi Fix wasn’t far behind dual subsequent scorer and now 151-rated Nemean Lion that day from 1lb out of the handicap.
Tasked with a far easier assignment like this, he should cash in on inferior company. This is also more the level of Mel Rowley runner Maxcel, who lacks a recent outing but should appreciate the drying ground. He’s not fully exposed over hurdles just yet either after eight career starts in this sphere.
The two declared in Sir Alex Ferguson’s silks, Jackpot D’Athou and Sao Carlos could also have more to offer in handicaps of this relatively modest nature. Celtic Art is a tricky horse to catch right, but Jeremy Scott’s charge is better off with Zambezi Fix from their Lingfield encounter in November 2023.
2:05 – 2m Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase
Team Skelton must defy a penalty with L’Eau Du Sud and also run Riskintheground at Warwick races here, but he hasn’t scaled anything like the heights of the stable first string. Rubaud lacks the experience of that pair and fell when well-beaten at the last around Kempton in the famous match between Sir Gino and Ballyburn.
Paul Nicholls has a decent horse on his hands, but he needed gentler introduction to fences than the Wayward Lad and now faces an in-form rival, so that isn’t ideal by any means. Tedley has even more to find with the favourite. This looks entirely at the mercy of L’Eau Du Sud as he tunes up for the Arkle after landing the official trial so stylishly in the autumn.
2:40 – Listed 2m 5f Warwick Mares’ Hurdle
Connections of GALA MARCEAU have an ideal opening for her down in grade and upped in trip. This Willie Mullins mount has often been bumping heads with stable companion and contemporary Lossiemouth. Gala Marceau has nothing of that one’s ability to worry about for her reappearance at Warwick races now.
A repeat of the pick of the form behind Lossiemouth wins this hands down. You Wear It Well reverts to hurdles from fences, but still carries a penalty and concedes 4lb all-round. It makes life tough for Jamie Snowden’s charge. Another local in West Balboa is the only runner within a stone of the 140+ females.
Other than this being a home game for her, the Skeltons’ mare needs improvement against two younger rivals. The remainder are simply duking it out for minor honours. It was disappointing that Dameofthecotswolds didn’t stay an easy 3m around Windsor last time out. On ratings, Royale Margaux and Sunday Solider just aren’t Listed calibre.
3:15 – 2m 4f Class 2 Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (0-150)
Topweight and online bookies‘ favourite Fugitif also has an entry in the Denman Chase. That complicates matters. The trip is a question mark for some, notably Le Milos and Editeur Du Guite, who admittedly has dropped through the handicap like a stone plunging into water. This could boil down to who is most well-treated at Warwick races.
Not a selection with much confidence, but SMARTY WILD is 5lb below his last winning mark for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White. He didn’t see out 3m around Market Rasen when third last time out, but his sole victory over fences came at this trip. Shakem Up’Arry is often in good form at this time of year, but has a last time out fall to get over.
Ben Pauling’s runner has Pritchard taking 5lb off to offset the fact he’s still 4lb higher than when landing the Plate at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. The others don’t make much appeal with a couple pulled-up last time and on the comeback trail. Straw Fan Jack has an alternative engagement at Kempton on Friday.
3:48 – 2m 5f Class 2 Handicap Hurdle
Nothing to worry about here.
Panic Attack cruises to the Lets Bet Personal With Fitzdares Mares’ Handicap Chase 🥇#ITVRacing | @WindsorRaces | @harryskelton89 | @DSkeltonRacing pic.twitter.com/WuOGasvZHh
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 17, 2025
Panic Attack shaped like further would suit when third to recent Taunton scorer Tour Ovalie at Newbury and conceding almost a stone to her. Irish Hill is a consistent handicapper, meanwhile, and Jay Tidball can use his full 5lb claim here after a close third in a conditional jockeys’ race around at Ascot the last day. A 4lb rise (effectively 2lb) isn’t insurmountable.
Act Of Authority goes well under Lewis Saunders, meanwhile, and his Aintree fourth suddenly looks a good piece of form. That’s because the winner and third home have both scored in staying handicaps since. Olly Murphy books his stable conditional Saunders again, who takes 7lb off with his claim.
Huntingdon Pertemps Qualifier second Shanagh Bob isn’t out of this either. Nicky Henderson’s normal jockeys are at Newbury, so Jonny Burke takes the ride on this horse in the Shishkin silks down in trip. Last time out winner Colours On Canvas gets an honourable mention, but has more on his plate now.
