Kilcrea can end drought with help of soft ground (From The Northern Echo)

Kilcrea can end drought with help of soft ground

9:42am Saturday 27th February 2010 in

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KILCREA CASTLE can end his lengthy barren stretch in style with victory in Kempton’s Racing Post Chase.

The eight-year-old was a classy performer in Ireland, being placed in Graded company three times, but he has not managed to get his head in front since December 2008.

However, he has still been running well, prompting connections to try a change of scenery and the switch seems to have freshened him up judged on his excellent effort on his British bow.

Beaten just over two lengths by The Sawyer at Ascot, Kilcrea Castle looked a likely victor until the lack of a run just told.

The winner has since gone on to score again at Cheltenham and finish third in Grade One company, which demonstrates the strength of the form.

Kilcrea Castle should strip much fitter this time and is a horse who will certainly handle the soft ground given that he was a winner on heavy in Ireland.

Punjabi should put himself back in the Champion Hurdle mix with victory in what is effectively a consolation event for last weekend’s Kingwell Hurdle, which was lost to the weather.

The reigning champion has been out of luck in two starts this term but he is a horse that needs his racing and victory in the Racing Post iPhone App HBLB Champion Hurdle Trial will put him spot on for Cheltenham.

There is plenty of good allweather action on offer at Lingfield too, with all eyes on Dubai World Cup hopeful Gitano Hernando in the Betdaq The Betting Exchange Winter Derby Trial Stakes.

A Grade One winner in America last year, Gitano Hernando is head and shoulders above the rest on form but he will have to shoulder an extra 6lb as he returns from a lengthy lay-off.

Trainer Marco Botti has already stated he will improve for the run, so taking that into account, preference is for Suits Me at more generous odds. Fit from a recent second in a decent handicap at Lingfield, Tom Tate’s charge was also placed twice at Listed level last year.

Obviously if Gitano Hernando is at full force he will take all the beating, but Suits Me is worth a shot in this tenfurlong heat.

Jaconet signed off last term with a Listed win at Lingfield and can repeat the trick on her return in the betdaq.co.uk Cleves Stakes.

Souffleur bounced back to form in style at Haydock last weekend and can follow up in tomorrow’s totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

Trainer Peter Bowen’s patience has been quickly rewarded as the seven-year-old returned to the track only in November after 12 months on the sidelines.

As Souffleur took his racing well in the past, running twice in eight days should not be a problem to him.

Certainly his latest success when he powered home by a length and three-quarters from Kayf Aramis suggests he is better than ever.

Take The Breeze has faced particularly stiff tasks on his last two starts but he looks to have a golden opportunity of regaining the winning thread in the totesport.com Supporting Racehorse Sanctuary Novices’ Chase.