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ROUND UP OF LAST WEEK’S RACING
After such an easy victory at Taunton I can understand why connections decided to go for a bigger prize at Ascot just two days later, but QOZAK clearly did not run his race. Given a break, he should bounce back and that run is best ignored.

RED HARBOUR ran well at Ascot when finishing second in a novice hurdle. He has now been allotted a decent handicap mark of 122, which I am sure will be exploited by his top trainer.

BENSALEM was in the process of running a big race at Haydock behind Diamond Harry, only to fall three out. Assuming he is non the worse for the fall, he is capable of winning a decent race on testing ground.

WEEKEND PREVIEW

FRIDAY
Paul Nicholls should have a big day at Newbury and one of our ten to follow is set to run. TATANIANO has his prep race for the Arkle Chase and faces only two opponents. He has to give weight to both but looks a class above them and should win easily. He has impressed on both starts so far over fences, jumping well, and he looks an exciting recruit to the chasing game. He should be able to make all the running in this contest and the track should also suit, so it would be a huge shock if he was to lose his unbeaten record over fences.

AITEEN THIRTYTHREE runs in the 3.15 at Newbury today and is a strong fancy to win. He made all and showed a good attitude to win his sole start in bumpers last season and although he could only finish third on his hurdling debut, it was clear to me that he badly needed the run. He was well fancied for that race at Chepstow, which was a Grade Two contest and in this much lower grade, he will be very difficult to beat, especially with Paul Nicholls having his string in such good form.  

SATURDAY
There is a cracking card at Cheltenham on Saturday and one of our `on the up’ horses has been declared to run. INCHIDALY ROCK takes on the big boys in the Argento Chase at 2.35pm and although he is only a novice he could shake up the big guns and run a huge race. The thing about him is that he jumps and stays and with the conditions being testing, he could just grind the others in to submission. He is a very good horse and stamina is a very important attribute in this and I can see him getting most of the field off the bridle turning into the straight and staying up the hill strongly. On form Madison du Berlais is the main danger, but he has never looked as good at Cheltenham and I think he needs a flat track to bring out the best in him, so is worth taking on. Carruthers is a horse that I have a lot of time for, but again he has yet to show his true form when running at Cheltenham. This small field however could play to his strengths and I respect his chances, but it is Inchidaly Rock for me.

SUNDAY
On Sunday SOMERSBY has his final run before Cheltenham in the 3.05 at Hereford and although Den of Iniquity is a fair opponent, he should win well and go into the Arkle unbeaten over fences.