Ross Millar: weekend review and Monday tips

With racing curtailed by the cold snap over the last week, I was looking forward to the Saturday cards from Warwick and Kempton more than usual.

Unfortunately, despite tremendous efforts from clerk of the course Nessie Chanter and her team, Warwick marginally failed to beat the freeze. Thankfully, Kempton faired better and did go ahead.

Regrettably, however, it was a tough afternoon of viewing with three horses; Peso, Wertpol and Kalif Du Berlais paying the ultimate price. Kalif Du Berlais would have been the most high profile of these three, but talent is irrelevant in such a situation and all three will have left large, painful holes in the lives of their connections, most notably that of the stable lad or lass who had cared for them daily.

The departure of Kalif Du Berlais took much of the gloss off the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase , which went the way of Edwardstone. As a twelve-year old, he’s in the eve of his career and this was his first win in over two years, this victory completing a double on the day for train Alan King.

It could well be that retirement now beckons for this likeable son of Kayf Tara, though he travelled through the race with tremendous zest so maybe that would be depriving him of a life he clearly relishes.

In contrast, juvenile hurdle winner Precious Man is in the infancy of his career. He was impressive and showed plenty of gears as he sauntered to victory in a manner befitting of his 4-11 odds.

He looks to have an exciting career ahead of him, when interviewed post-race Dan Skelton suggested that his spring target will likely be at Aintree where the emphasis on speed would play more to his strengths, adding that he felt the son of Almanzour is the fastest juvenile he's had since Allmankind.

The feature handicap of the day the Coral Lanzarote Hurdle looked tremendously competitive on paper but in reality was turned into a procession by the rejuvenated Iberico Lord sent off at 22-1 he was always travelling well and swept to the lead on the home turn under James Bowen, before staying on powerfully in the closing stages.

The handicap will have his say, but this new trip looks to have unleashed plenty more ability and he'll be competitive in spring handicaps.

On Sunday the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle yielded just three runners, resulting in a tactical heat, particularly when odds-on favourite Road Exile attempted to make all the running under Jack Kennedy at a sedate pace.

The resulting dash off the home turn played to the strengths of Royal Ascot winner Sober, with Paul Townend utilising his speed to run out a cosy winner.

Maybe though, it’s a performance with more to like. Bar a sloppy jump at the first, he jumped soundly and he did show gears that you perhaps wouldn’t expect from a 2m5½f Flat winner.

Equally, he’s bound to step forward from his first start after a 200-day break. Could he step forward and become Mullins's Supreme contender? It’s a spot that is currently open for the taking.

This daughter of Soldier Of Fortune was winless in five starts in France, but struck at the first time of asking in a point-point at Great Threthew, winning easily for current connections.

Switched to rules early last year, she has largely struggled off an opening mark of 110. Her latest run at Leicester over 2m6f on good ground showed more promise, with steady headway into a never-nearer sixth, and this slower ground and step up to 3m1f coupled with a career low mark of 91 make her of interest.

Jockey Rian Corcoran has impressed me this season and is excellent value for 7lb against fellow conditional riders.

A really competitive race for a Monday afternoon. This can go the way of the Tom Symonds-trained The Winslow Boy. He shaped well on his chase debut and seasonal return at Chepstow where he jumped soundly bar a mistake at the last

That mistake compounded the distance he was beaten and he hails from a yard that consistently train horses to improve for a run.

He was impressive when winning at Chepstow on his second start last season, when beating the 114-rated Byzantium by nine lengths, and can hopefully replicate that here.

Nick Scholfield has already made a strong start to his training career with a Listed winner to his name in the first few months. 

Bollin Thou is some way below that level, but was a winner on his latest start over 2m7f at Uttoxeter, staying on powerfully under a typically dynamic Sean Bowen. With the winning partnership kept intact, the 7lb rise in the handicap can be offset by the likely benefit of an extra two furlongs.