Horse racing tips: Monday picks and Trials Day fallout

All eyes were on Cheltenham this weekend for Trials Day, but did we learn anything we didn’t already know? I think probably not, though the meeting did perhaps harden a few opinions. 

The Greenall and Guerriero partnership landed a fine one-two in the opening Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase. Billytherealbigred jumped immaculately under James Reveley and very nearly kept his unbeaten record over fences intact. However, stablemate Jagwar proved to be the more powerful up the hill and ultimately drew away for a comfortable success. The handicapper will have his say on both performances, but the pair have legitimate claims if returning for the Festival - particularly if Jagwar was to be upped in trip. 

However, the training partnership will be hoping that the handicapper’s re-assessment doesn’t extend as far as Iroko. His jockey, Jonjo O’Neill Jr, was asked by the stewards to explain the nature of his ride, when the pair could only finish a staying-on fourth in the £100,000 Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase. The stewards noted his explanation that a lack of confidence - after a fall on his latest start - compromised his effort. I’m not sure I would have been so accepting. He was often found in a pocket without much room, which seems at odds with the requirement to build his confidence. Iroko is far better than this result and might show that once the Grand National weights have been announced. 

Sean Bowen gave the winner Moon D’Orange a sublime ride. Unable to go the frenetic early gallop, the Welshman didn’t panic and allowed his mount to build into the race slowly. A well-timed challenge looked sure to see him swoop to an easy win, only for a final-fence blunder to require a renewed effort up the hill to snatch victory by just a short head. 

Last week, I suggested that after the superb British debut by Lulamba that East India Dock was a juvenile that shouldn’t be forgotten. He duly made short work of landing the Triumph Hurdle Trial under Sam Twiston-Davies. He hurdles exceptionally well and appears to travel better in his races now facing obstacles. Furthermore, he has an abundance of stamina as a two-mile winner on the Flat. Lulamba is undeniably classy, but East India Dock will certainly give him a race.

On Lulamba, is he worth a crack at the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle? There is still time for the Dublin Racing Festival to unearth some talented juvenile and novice hurdlers and I know that four-year-olds have a pitiful record in the Festival opener, while owners the Donnellys have ante-post favourite Salvator Mundi to boot. But this year’s Supreme looks exceptionally weak and Lulamba would get a hefty weight allowance. Surely it’s worthy of consideration? 

The star of the show though was undoubtedly Constitution Hill. He sauntered round in the Unibet Hurdle to land the odds at 1/12, the only hairy moment coming at the last when Nico de Boinville expected a ‘wow’ leap while his partner opted for a more measured ‘pop’ - the result being a less than graceful ‘clatter’. Happily, they survived and providing there are no lumps and bumps in the next 24 hours it’s a case of job done. 

Trainer Nicky Henderson is clearly enjoying this mission of redemption after a miserable time last spring and sent a firing shot to all when announcing that De Boinville suggested Constitution Hill had barely put in any effort and would require a good piece of work early next week. I’d take that with a pinch of salt, but they are clearly thrilled with his wellbeing and were justified in their decision to bring him here for one extra run rather than heading straight to the Festival. 

Conversely, the Twiston-Davies team might be wishing they’d kept Potters Charm at home. 

After his win in the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, they appeared to be clear that their star would be freshened up and head straight to the Festival. A rethink saw him contest the closing Grade Two Ais Novice Hurdle, but he was found to be lacking against the progressive Sixmilebridge and looked to have a hard race in defeat into the bargain. It will be a big job now to get him fresh and well for what will be his sixth run of the season for the the Cheltenham Festival in March. 

However, we shouldn't detract from the performance of the winner. Beaten on his stable debut in a messy race at Stratford over two miles, he’s improved rapidly in his three runs since and won them all. He's entitled now to head to the Festival.

Whichever way you look at it, the handicapper has given him a real chance off an opening mark of just 127. 

Leave Of Absence is a lightly-raced eight-year-old and there is of course a chance that he might ‘bounce’ after producing a strong effort when runner-up last time on his first start for 758 days. He has been given plenty of time to get over that, though, and missed an intended engagement three weeks ago on account of quick ground. 

While it would be foolish to take his second on chase debut to Iberico Lord at face value - given the winner has not looked a natural over fences - this opening rating still looks interesting and that is underscored by his hurdles form, which reads well. On his second start over timber he beat Blow Your Wad (now rated 145), Rambo T (now rated 134) and Holetown Hero (now rated 128). Prior to that, he had finished just three lengths behind the now 137-rated Lookaway. 

Lord Of Absence jumped soundly on his chase debut at Kempton Park and gets similar conditions here. He could show himself to be a very well handicapped horse indeed. 

A maiden hurdle winner here over a furlong further last year, I think this is a well-handicapped horse for trainer Gavin Cromwell. 

Fenway Park was travelling nicely at Leopardstown over Christmas when blundering two flights from home and that knocked him of contention, and while it’s impossible to say how he would have fared he was certainly running a race of promise. I take the view that connections feel they can land this novice contest without damaging Fenway Park's current handicap mark. 

Goraibhmaithagat looked good when winning on his hurdling debut, but that form is yet to be boosted and he goes up in trip here while also conceding 3lb to Fenway Park. Experience can count for a lot in novice contests and I’m hoping that will prove to be the case here. 

Trained by John O’Shea, this five-year old has been lurking in my tracker since putting up a good display at this course behind Insurrection last April. 

Masai Mara was duly relatively well-backed for his next start in a valuable novices’ handicap at Sandown but he blotted his copybook by whipping around as the tape dropped. He had a few moderate runs back on the Flat through the summer and returned to this track last month when finishing third under fairly tender handling. 

The form of his Catterick win - when beating 110-rated Golden Maverick by an effortless seven lengths - suggests that this mark is well within range and I'd add that I’m sure we’re yet to see the best of this son of Roaring Lion given his 87 rating on the Flat. 

Conditions will suit here and Nick Scholfield looks a good booking.