Warwick Saturday Preview - 12/02/22

The race that kicks us off at Warwick on Saturday is the 2m5f Novices' Hurdle and Earth Lord for Philip Hobbs looks the one to beat in the field.

The six year old this term has turned into the hurdler they thought he would having shown glimpses of form last term, but has now won two of his three events this season.

Making his seasonal debut at Wincanton in November in a Novices' Hurdle over todays trip, he went on to bolt up by close to eight lengths.

He then went to Ascot and although winning in a different way he made it 2/2 for the season, giving 11lb to the eventual second.

Looking to land the hat-trick last time out at Kempton in the Listed Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle he could only go on to finish seventh of 19.

He was not disgraced in that run and this easier, smaller fielded event should see him get back on track.

The first big race of the day is the Listed Warwick Mares' Hurdle over 2m5f and the Cheltenham festival winner Indefatigable should get back to winning ways.

A very consistent type for the Paul Webber yard that has given this trainer some of his best days in the sport and this event gives her a big chance to get back in the winners enclosure.

Landing the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at huge odds back in 2020, she has since gone on to perform well in same sex races but also against the boys.

This term she made her seasonal debut on the flat at Pontefract over 12f when winning a Maiden Stakes ahead of the talented juvenile Doctor Parnassus.

That run set her up perfectly for the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby when seeing off Proschema, Paisley Park and Thomas Darby with ease.

Looking to land the hat-trick she ran no sort of race in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle, but bounced back to form last time out at Cheltenham when a nose second to Martello Sky in a same sex handicap.

She is by far the best horse in this race on ratings and being a course and distance winner, she looks a good bet.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Grade Two Kingmaker Novices' Chase over two miles and Edwardstone for Alan King looks the bet.

The gelding has been exceptional since going over fences this term, having a slight hiccup on debut when being bought down at Warwick when travelling well, but next time out put things right over the same C&D when taking a decent two mile Novices' Chase.

Stepped up to Grade One company next time out he went on to improve once more to land the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown, seeing off his closes rivals War Lord and Third Time Lucki by 16 lengths.

With the second and third since franking that form line, Edwardstone went to Kempton and also boosted it by making it a hat-trick of wins when landing the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.

Now he takes on Third Time Luck for a second time and although they will be a lot closer together come the finish.

A very interesting runner comes in the 2m4f Handicap Chase with Robbie Power coming over to Warwick for one ride on Dinny Lacey and we are siding with him.

The eight year old gelding had not shown much form before bouncing back last time out when third at Limerick on heavy ground behind two smart horses at Christmas in a good handicap chase.

Up 6lb for this race he looks to still have enough in hand and if improving for the better ground could be a contender at an each way price.

Trainer J Motherway has only ever had three runners in England since 2003, with two coming at Cheltenham and one at Aintree, so now having a runner at Warwick really makes things interesting.

One to watch.

The penultimate selection on the Warwick card is the 3m2f Handicap Hurdle and In Rem for Jane Williams is a winning machine that we hope can make it a five timer.

Running four times this term the gelding got off the mark at Ffos Las by close to six lengths and then backed that up at Exeter over a slightly shorter trip off 8lb higher.

Now on a mark of 97, he went to Wincanton and again battered a field by seven lengths over three miles and over course and distance last time out, now on a mark of 110, he again won well.

Although he is now 33lb higher than his first winning mark in November, he seems to still be progressing and with no doubts about the ground and stamina, he looks the value.

The final selection of the afternoon is the two mile bumper and the horse that takes the eye is the Dan Skelton trained Riskintheground.

The €48,000 son of Presenting made a stellar debut at Chepstow back in November when a good second to a talented bumper horse for Fergal O'Brien.

Looking to back that run up he went up in class at Ascot into a Listed event and finished a fair fifth behind some very smart horses.

That looks the best form in this race and although not getting off the mark as of yet, this race presents a huge opportunity to do so, offering some of the best form.