On this week's What A Shout, host Dave Orton is joined by trainer Henry Daly, Racing Post tipsters Robbie Wilders and Paul Kealy and bet365's Pat Cooney, as they preview the racing from Kempton and Warwick over the weekend.
We've picked out some highlights from this week's edition of What A Shout in association with bet365.
Kealy not convinced by Facile Vega
The show began with Kealy dialling in to expand on why he feels Facile Vega is a horse to take on in the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Willie Mullins’ runner has won on both of his two starts over hurdles, including a Grade One contest at Leopardstown during the Christmas Festival. However, the Racing Post tipster believes he is too short in the betting at 4/5 for the Supreme and he is prepared to take him on.
He said: "He won a Champion Bumper last year which has not produced many winners over hurdles. My argument is, there must be better horses out there than he beat in the Champion Bumper.
"The best horse he has beaten so far is Il Etait Temp, who we know is not a Grade One performer, as he was beaten by miles on several occasions by Vauban as a juvenile.
"It does not look like a particularly strong challenge from Britain in this race. The one I really like is Impaire Et Passe, who is another Mullins horse.
"He is running in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday. That race has been won by Dysart Flyer, Min, Douvan and Vautour. This is Mullins’ go-to race for the Supreme.
"Impaire Et Passe impressed the clock watchers in his victory as Naas last month. He looks like a very fast horse.
"His stablemate is unbeaten and has done nothing wrong, but I just feel there are likely to be better horses out there than Facile Vega."
Daly has no ground concerns for Moon Hunter
The guest trainer on this week's show was Daly and he spoke to the panel about the chances of Moon Hunter in the Grade Two Ballymore Leamington Novices Chase (2.25) at Warwick.
The six-year-old gelding is two out of two over hurdles, including a victory at Doncaster at the back end of December and is 9/1 to prevail.
The ground at Warwick is set to be testing on Saturday afternoon, with the current going described as heavy, but Daly is not concerned about how his horse will handle the conditions.
He said: "We were 50/50 about him featuring in this race, not because of the ground, but due to how fast it has come following his run at Doncaster.
"I am really fascinated to see how he will act on this ground. We haven’t run him on soft/heavy ground before. I think it is likely to benefit him, rather than hinder him.
"He is a big unit and fences are likely to come naturally to him next season."
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Wilders expects another big run from Pic D'Orhy
Paul Nicholls has had an excellent 2022/23 campaign so far and Wilders is expecting more from the Champion Trainer this weekend.
Pic D'Orhy is 11/8 for the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.05) at Kempton and the Racing Post man believes he is the one they all have to beat in the small-runner field.
He said: "I think he is the rising star in the division. We do have him down as a better ground horse, but all his form in France has come on soft and heavy ground. He has also run a good race on something similar at Taunton.
"Kempton will suit him as he is one from one at the course. I thought he was going to be a dark horse for the King George, but he didn’t end up running in that race."
Lord Du Mesnil to outstay rivals predicts Wilders
The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (3.00) is the feature race at Warwick on Saturday, with 14 runners declared for the 3m5f contest.
The market is headed by Mr Incredible and Threeunderthrufive, but Wilder is looking a little further down the betting at Lord Du Mesnil who can be backed at 13/2.
He said: "His best performances have come over long distances and when it is a bog. I don't think there is a better handicapped horse in this race than him, so he represents a cracking each-way bet to me.
"He finished second last time out at Bangor and he also won the Grand National Trial at Haydock off a 3lb higher mark than this."
