Sunday Big Races Preview - 05/12/21

The Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon over 2m4f is the feature race of the afternoon in the UK on Sunday and we think Allmankind will be tough to beat if backing up his Old Roan win.

Allmankind was a superb novice hurdler, coming from the flat and winning some superb races, including the Grade One Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow and also placing in the Triumph Hurdle at the festival.

Sent chasing last term, he became a real crowd favourite, going of from the front as usual, winging his fences and gritting out victories.

He raced five times over fences last term, winning four of them including the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown and also the Grade Two Champion Novice Chase at Ayr.

Back for another season he had a pipe opener at Chepstow over hurdles when running well into third and off the back of that last time out he was seen winning the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

He has improved for the step up to 2m4f and having proved he can mix it with the best in this division, he looks the one to beat.

The feature race of the afternoon on Sunday comes from Punchestown in the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase over 2m 4 1/2f and we are siding with the Cheltenham festival superstar Allaho.

A tricky betting proposition with the likes of Envoi Allen, Fakir D'Oudairies and Kemboy all taking each other on, but we feel Allaho is the class angle.

The gelding was arguably the most impressive winner of the entire 2021 Cheltenham festival when landing the Grade One Ryanair Chase, making all from the front in eye catching fashion.

The build up of pace set by Rachel Blackmore on board that day had each and every rival slowly crumbling away and the manner by which he took every fence made it a coming of age performance.

Having been a smart hurdler, finishing third in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle back in 2019, he was sent chasing the next season and took some time to really find his form, but his narrow third in the Grade One RSA Novices' Chase was a big step forward

It wasn't until last season that he properly matured and was a horse to take notice of, finishing a good fourth in the three mile Savills Chase at Christmas and off the back of that was finally dropped back to his preferred 2m4f.

He went to Thurles in January where he saw off stablemate Elimay with ease to land the Grade Two Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase.

This set him up perfectly for the 2021 Cheltenham festival where he gave the performance of the season to win the event by a clear 12 lengths.

Allaho was last seen at the Punchestown festival when stepping down to two miles against stablemate Chacun Pour Soi and although running a big race had to settle for second, not having enough speed for the trip.

Having now proven that 2m4f is his best trip, he could be tough to pass from the front.

A very interesting contest at the weekend is the Grade Two Mares Novice Chase over 2m 1/2f and the stand out pick looks top be Riviere D'etel in his bid for a hat-trick.

Having been a moderate hurdler only winning one of her events, she has stepped up to fences this season and looks a completely different animal.

She made her chase/seasonal debut at Fairyhouse in October seeing off the talented Jeremys Flame by 11 lengths.

The mare then backed that up in a big way last time out when going on to beat another talented runner in Cape Gentleman by 21 lengths in a Grade Two over course and distance.

Right handed tracks is exactly what she needs and having more chase experience than a lot of her market rivals could be the difference here.

The final big race of the afternoon also comes from Cork with the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase looking like a perfect first stepping stone to better things to the highly talented Energumene.

Energumene has been very lightly raced for his age, being seen twice in bumpers when looking like a nice prospect and only once over hurdles, when again looking like a very likeable type after bolting up by 19 lengths at Gowran.

Mullins decided to send him chasing last season again at Gowran Park and he went on to hose up in a Beginners Chase over 2m4f by 18 lengths.

When analysing the sectional time of that race the numbers were very smart and it was interesting to see him drop down to, two miles next time out.

He then headed to Naas in a tough Novice Chase against Captain Guinness and stablemate Blackbow and went on to jump the field into submission.

The gelding took his form to the next level next time out when obliterating a good field by 10 lengths eased down in the Grade One Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Having missed the Arkle at the Cheltenham festival through a slight setback, he was last seen in the Grade One Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown festival and again bolted up with ease.

He is a superb athlete and should not be beat.