Pre Christmas round-up

 I did not have chance to talk about the week before Christmas so will quickly cover that now before we move onto everything that has happened since the big day!

I ventured to Windsor on Sunday 15th for their first jumps meeting in a fair few years. I am not old enough to remember this previously although I am told that the configuration used to be different. The track was in good nick but is very tight and with an awful lot of turning, there aren't too many chances to pass horses before the short home straight which causes it's own problems as the fences in particular come thick and fast. I think this will turn into a real specialists track. I did manage to come out on the right side however, thanks to a win from Starcrossed Lover (4/1) in the maiden hurdle and a double landed on the last two favourites that returned about 7/2. It could easily have been a better day however, as I had backed the strong stayer Helnwein in the Novice's Chase and he didn't handle the track. Had I known what I do now about the course! My biggest bet on the card was Duhallow Tommy (backed each-way at 5/1) in the Novice's Handicap Chase who jumped well from the front but was nabbed close home by the fav. And I suffered a similar fate in the last when I had backed Onewaywest from the Ben Pauling yard who was in last turning in and just given too much to do by Ben Jones and finished with a right rattle to finish a never nearer first. He is a horse to follow for sure. 

My form began to take a bit of a turn for the worse after this. At Wincanton on Tuesday 17th, I had to watch Dunstall Rambler win at 15/2 after I had backed him the last twice before giving up on him and that was followed up with Jeremy Scott winning the handicap hurdle after I had noticed the stable was in form. Both those winners were missed and my only bet of the day, Linda Moon, drifted in the betting and was ridden far too forward in the last before fading into a disappointing 5th. I'm not sure where connections go with her now as she is proving challenging to place. 

Things didn't improve at Newbury on Wednesday. I decided not to take on Roysse in the Maiden Hurdle at 1/2 however, he was dragged through the final hurdle by Ben Jones (that name again) and that left the race at the mercy of King Califet who looked the obvious alternative at 11/2. In the Novice's Handicap Chase I decided to take a chance on £290K purchase Mt Fugi Park for the in form Jonjo O'Neill stable. However, after traveling poorly he was soon beaten and pulled up. This horse showed so much potential early in his career and I'm not sure he will be given too many more chances to repay that huge fee. In the 2 mile Handicap Chase, I thought Primoz looked unexposed and Derek Fox had travelled a long way to ride him but he was also well beaten before falling up the home straight. He now needs to drop in grade and get some confidence. Not a great mid-week venture to Berkshire. 

I looked to Exeter on Thursday to try and get myself back into some form and this proved to be a very frustrating day. I backed Tuxedo Junction each way at 5/1 in the opener and he again travelled strongly but just doesn't have a lot at the finish and came second to the favourite. He is worth noting when going handicapping in a big field on a sound surface. In the 3 mile handicap chase, I really fancied Toss Of A Coin for Paul Nicholls after he finished second on chase debut in what I thought was a good race at Uttoxeter and he was a winning pointer over 3 miles however, he never really travelled and pulled up in the home straight. I had taken 9/2 and he went off 10/3. Go figure. If there is one to take out of the race, it is Sizeable Sam who finished a game third on his second run back after a big absence. 

At Ascot on Friday I finally managed to strike back East India Express struck for Nicky Henderson at a decent SP of 7/1. I was back! I followed that up with Belliano at 4/5 in the Maiden Hurdle before things went a bit south. I quietly fancied The Winslow Boy in the 18 runner Handicap Hurdle but he was towards rear and never got into the race. I won't give up on him as I feel this was a steep learning curve and there's definitely potential there from Tom Symonds' horse. The gutter of the day came in the Howden Noel Novice's Chase (Grade 2) as my biggest bet of the day was on Personal Ambition (took 5/2) and after leading up the home straight and looking set for a nice win, Ben Jones got his mount all wrong going to the last and blundered badly, handing the race to Mark Of Gold. Oh dear, Ben Jones. 

At Ascot on Saturday, things didn't get a whole lot better as Paul Nicholls once again let me down in the first as Just Lucky Sivola found nothing off the bridle in the opener to finish a disappointing 3rd. I strongly fancied Scarface in the next and took 7/2 (each-way) only to watch him struggle to lay a glove on the very, very well backed Kotmask and finish second. I managed to take advantage of Iroko's slip in the Graduation Chase and strike with Jungle Boogie who went off a huge 7/2 after I had taken 11/4 - thank god Coral's still do Best Odds Guaranteed. In the Long Walk, I thought Crambo looked well in the prelims and nibbled at him at 10s to cover my losing bets on the Irish horses. Crambo may struggle to win again this season now but he's won his big pot and The Wallpark is definitely the gelding to take out of the race as he was all at sea early on and finished very strongly to take 4th. He'll be one to take interest in wherever he goes at Cheltenham in March. My two biggest bets came in the next races. I was all over The Changing Man in the Howden Silver Cup and despite Sam Twiston-Davies meeting many fences wrong, Tizzard's star looked set to win up the home straight only to be denied late on by Vicctorino who I had backed to cover my stake. In the final race, I was all over Be Aware at 9/2 (each-way) and Harry Skelton looked to be in the right place for much of the race as the leaders went very fast. Be Aware just could never quite get into the race and although he finished 3rd, he never looked like winning. 

After a frustrating couple of days at Ascot I moved onto the Sunday before Christmas and Fakenham's long distance chase. I fancied Fern Hill at 7/1 for Ben Case's hard. This 9 year old was tackling a new trip and looked like he was coming back into form. He was denied by a short head however and it was the cruel blow before Christmas, especially as I had backed him win only. 

Oh how this game can crush you!

Kempton & Chepstow - Friday 27th December 2024

 After a frustrating betting day, I will be back at Kempton on the second day of their Christmas meeting for the first time in a fair few years. I have been lured back by the sight of Sir Gino and Ballyburn entered up for the Wayward Lad and can't wait to see who will come out on top. 

12:45, Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing 'Introductory' Juvenile Hurdle

Nardaran 5/4

I don't think this is a particularly strong renewal of the race and it is unlikely to be won by as good a horse as Sir Gino but Paul Nicholls' Nardaran looks like he could be a tough nut to crack on hurdles debut. He was purchased for a fair sum after finishing 3rd in a decent French maiden 206 days ago. He's joined top connections and I looked back at his French run and it looks as though he certainly has the scope to make up into a nice hurdler. Hopefully he will get favourite backers off to a good start. 

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13:20, Ladbrokes Play '1-2-Free' On Football Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Royale Margaux 4/1 each-way (3 places)

This is a very open race with Larchmont Lass the current 7/2 favourite in this 8 runner race. I'm going to take a chance on Royale Margaux for Tom Symonds, who has had a decent winter so far. His mare here ran a mighty race over 3 miles at Ascot last month when just run out of it by an improving type. She dropped back to this trip at Cheltenham 13 days ago in a hotter race than this and she finished 4th, looking as though the race wasn't run to suit. She looks the solid option here and this track/trip combo look perfect for her. 

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13:55, Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase

Sir Gino 5/6

What a race in store for us here. Ballyburn has been favourite for every race so far for Willie Mullins but that sequence could be broken here. That is because, as talented as he is, the 6 year old does look as though he's a strong stayer and he may come unstuck on good ground over 2 miles at Kempton against a Fighting Fifth winner. Sir Gino is said horse, and as a 4 year old he will also be receiving 6 pounds from the great Irish horse. He hasn't jumped a fence in public yet but the news is that he jumps like a stag and he should be too speedy for Ballyburn here. 

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14:30, Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase

Edwardstone 7/2

I've always loved Alan King's stable star and at the age of 10 he could be vulnerable to younger legs, especially under top weight. However, I fancy that he's come on enough for his seasonal debut to reverse form with Boothill and looked set to run a good race in the Tingle Creek last time out before falling down the back. He has to give Martator 12 pounds but that horse is stepping up in grade again and may find this a bit too quick for him early on as he can hit the odd flat spot. Edwardstone looks the value. 

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15:08, Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Handicap Chase

Highstakesplayer 9/2 each-way (4 places)

Frero Banbou will have his supporters after winning the Rehearsal Chase last time out. He has been put up 6 pounds for that victory but he was ridden by a 5 pound claimer that day so he is effectively 11 pounds higher here and his record on right handed tracks isn't anywhere near as good as the other way around. I'll take him on with Tom Lacey's Highstakesplayer who is already a dual course and distance winner. He is off the same mark as when finishing second to Chianti Classico at Ascot earlier in the season and can be forgiven a below par run at Newbury last time out. He's back at his favourite course here and looks set for a big run. 

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15:38, Ladbrokes 'Gaffer Of All Accas' Handicap Hurdle

Hansard 11/2

Willmount could make a mockery of his handicap mark but he has failed to complete in his last 2 starts so I'll take a chance on Hansard who makes his first run in 370 days. Gary Moore's string has been in decent form recently and it's interesting that he chooses this race for his classy type to return in. He's well weighted off a mark of 141 which is only 3 pounds higher than the mark he won the Gerry Fielden off last season. If he's fit and ready to go, he's classy enough to defy top weight. 

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Chepstow

12:30, Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle

Castelfort 25/1 each-way (4 places)

This is an uber competitive handicap hurdle but Castelfort did win over course and distance last season (by 12 lengths). Jane Williams' 4 year old has been very highly tried since and struggled but he's been dropped 4 pounds by the handicapper and is dropped markedly in grade. He'll like the ground and at big prices he's worth a punt. 

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14:10, Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Handicap Hurdle

Major Fortune 7/1
Tune In A Box 9/2

The David Pipe trained favourite here, Phantomofthepoints, has often flattered to deceive and off a career high mark I'll take him on. Major Fortune was found out over a shorter trip than this on good ground at Cheltenham last time out. He'd previously been on a right roll and it is interesting that he is now sent back up in trip and on softer ground. I expect a much bigger run from him as well as Tune In A Box for similar reasons. He is finding his feet now this season and looks set to build on the promise he showed at Punchestown in the spring. 

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14:50, Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase

Galia Des Liteaux 6/1 each-way (5 places)

This 8 year old mare will be my only bet in this great race. She races here off the same mark as when a close second in last season's Classic Chase over a similar trip at Warwick last season. A repeat performance will see her go close. It's worth remembering how well she ran in the Grand National as well before tiring in the last couple of furlongs to finish 8th. She brings the best form into this race and has for a while looked like staying trips on soft ground is her bag. Expect a big run. 

Kempton - Thursday 26th December 2024

 I will be making my annual pilgrimage to Kempton Park on Boxing Day to see my 14th King George. My first visit was in 2009 to witness the magnificent Kauto Star hammer Madison Du Berlais by a staggering 30 lengths with future Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander back in 4th. What a way to make my King George debut! Subsequent years put on the Kauto Star and Long Run battles before a changing of the guard with dual champions Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux showing class round Kempton's sharp track but displaying just how different a test this is to the Gold Cup where they both failed to land a blow. Long Run is the last King George victor to follow up in the King George but Might Bite and Bravemansgame both went on to finish runner up in March before losing their form. I remember vividly Thistlecrack wowing the crowd with the ease in which he dispatched the field in 2016 in his Novice Chase season however, probably the most thrilling renewal in my time of standing in that packed grandstand must be Cue Card's nailing of Vautor on the line in 2015. I hope this year's renewal will also leave me with a buzz for days just like that titanic tussle in 2015, it's certainly a race to savour. Anyway, here's my rundown of the big day's races. 

12:45, Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Range 7/1

This is a great way to start the day, a nice open competitive handicap chase. Fire Flyer jumped well on his first go over fences at Exeter earlier this month and looks sure to improve for the better ground here as well as the step up in trip. This is a much harder race than the one at Exeter however, and he hasn't always been the most reliable. The price has contracted enough in recent days too. Asta La Pasta looks the deserved favourite after a super run in a strong race at Newbury last month when he finished 3rd after coming from a long way back over a shorter trip. This will be more his bag, but he's a big horse who can step at a fence and so Kempton could expose him a little bit. It's difficult to split these two and instead I've opted to take a punt on the top weight, Range. Sam Thomas' 7 year old is lightly raced as this will be only his 10th run and he duly exploited a fair handicap mark of 123 when leading all the way over this sort of trip and ground at Chepstow 34 days ago. It's likely he's been aimed at this since. He was put up 8 pounds for that however, Dylan Johnstone's 3 pound claim helps negate that a bit. He's a proper chaser and can jump at speed. I expect him to attempt to make all again and can put the sword to this field. 

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13:20, Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase

The Jukebox Man 11/10

I don't think I need to go into this race too much other than to say that I have been a big fan of The Jukebox Man for a while and was very taken with his performance at Newbury last month. His form, both hurdles and chase, is the best on show and I don't think he'll have too much issue with his first go on a right handed track. Even money looks fair enough and I expect to see his odds of 10/1 for the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival compact after this. 

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13:55, Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle

No bet

Father Christmas answered many racing fan's wishes this year as we get to see the return of Constitution Hill as he bids for his third Christmas Hurdle. He is taking on a top drawer mare here in the shape of Lossiemouth who looks to be the best Triumph Hurdle winner in many a year and baring a mix up at last year's Dublin Racing Festival, she would surely be unbeaten. Any horse would struggle to give her 7 pounds and a beating but in Nicky Henderson's 7 year old, she isn't taking on just any horse. No matter what happens here and in the future Constitution Hill is the most talented hurdler I have ever seen and probably will ever see. What he did in his Supreme and Champion Hurdle victories, no horse should be capable of doing. He is an all-time great and if he is back to his best then he wins, simple as. However, after illness, injury and wind surgery I just cannot be backing him as I have seen too many champions fail to come back down the years. I really do wish he can do it. It would light up Kempton. 

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14:30, Ladbrokes King George VI Chase

Spillane's Tower 3/1
Grey Dawning 6/1

This is it. The big one. It's a real Christmas cracker this year. Il Est Francais looked like a superstar on this day last year and is just about the same price now as he was 365 days ago. After pulling up with issues on his last run and a no show 3 starts ago, it's difficult to know what to expect however, and so the percentage call is to look elsewhere and take it on the chin if he bounces back here and is the superstar he alludes to. Banbridge comes into this race with 1 win from 1 run at the course and has plenty in his favour (ground, track). The distance remains a concern however, and  it will be a huge effort to win this Grade 1 on his first go at the trip. Bravemansame and L'Homme Presse had this race between them 2 years ago but both find themselves on retrieval missions here and this is a stronger renewal on better ground. Their time looks to have come and gone. The Real Whacker is a likeable horse but will likely struggle again in this company. Envoi Allen could run better than he did in this race previously but he is rising 11 years of age and may find it difficult to fight off the improvers. One of the improvers is Corbett's Cross who looked like a potential Gold Cup horse when bolting up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March. All his best form has been on soft to heavy ground however, and so 3 miles round Kempton on a sound surface will likely find him out. I think it's time for a new era and that is likely to be helped brought about by Spillane's Tower who is just 6 years old and already proven at the top level. He has shown plenty of speed in his career by finishing second in a Grade 2 over 2 mile 3 furlongs and winning a Grade 1 over 2 mile 4 furlongs. He showed his staying ability when soundly winning a Grade 1 over 3 mile 1 furlong at Punchestown in the spring. He bettered all of that novice form when putting in a huge performance in the John Dukan last month when running Fact To File to within a length at the line. He had the Gold Cup winner in behind him that day and he could well be set to claim this on route to a crack at that prize himself in March. The danger could come from Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning who surely would have won the Betfair Chase if it hadn't of been run in such gruelling conditions (or he hadn't made such a mistake at the last fence). He is a Grade 1 winner already having claimed the Turners Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and he is also interestingly a course winner over hurdles. If Haydock hasn't left his mark then he should be running a big race. 

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15:05, Ladbrokes 'Gaffer Of All Accas' Maiden Hurdle

No bet

If Kientezheim is as classy as the market here is suggesting then she should be taking this race on route to better things. Nicky Henderson's mare looked good in 2 victories on the flat in France this year and if she takes to it, she should be winning this. She's odds-on here but it may be more fun to have a little flutter on her at 20/1 for the Mare's Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as if victorious here, that is surely where she will be aimed as her sister Epatante was. 

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15:40, Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Handicap Hurdle

Doddiethegreat 3/1
East India Express 13/8 (saver)

The majority of the field look exposed or out of form. Nicky Henderson's trio don't however. Of his three I will take a punt on Doddiethegreat who is already a course winner and will appreciate coming back to hurdles here after a failed attempt at chasing. He's actually 4 pounds lower now than when 4th in last season's Betfair Hurdle and a repeat performance may well be enough to take this. Favourite East India Express is fancied to run well under a penalty and I will be backing him to cover my stake. 

Ascot - Saturday 21st December 2024

12:40, Thames Materials Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Just Lucky Sivola 11/4

The Nicholls' trained 5 year old is very lightly raced and looks to still be learning on the job. He looks a thorough stayer and has been running well over shorter trips than this which turned into tactical affairs that won't have suited him. He'll improve now that his stamina is drawn out and looks the horse to beat here. 

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13:15, Howden Handicap Chase

Scarface 10/3

Not a lot has gone right for Scarface so far this season but it means that he comes into this off a mark of 130 which is only 2 pounds higher than when victorious in the Sussex Champion Chase in the Spring. This trip is ideal for him and with plenty of likely pace on up front he should have the set up he needs. It's a strong wide open race but he's the play for me. 

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13:50, Howden Graduation Chase

Jungle Boogie 11/4

This is one of the lightest raced 10 year olds you will see. He has obviously had his problems but Henry de Bromhead's charge has run well on all of his career starts including when 6th in the Gold Cup when last seen. This trip and track should be ideal given he won at Tramore in January over a similar distance and will probably be sent to the front and could prove hard to pass. 

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14:25, Howden Long Walk Hurdle

The Wallpark 5/1
Shoot First 11/2

Strong Leader looks set to go off a short priced favourite but I just haven't been convinced about him yet. His price is all about that performance at Aintree in April when he won the Liverpool Hurdle. My worry is that it didn't look a strong renewal of that race and Olly Murphy's stable star has a great record at that course. His form elsewhere wouldn't be strong enough to see him be such a short price here so I'll take him on with 2 improving Irish handicappers. The Wallpark has been bought by J P and is quickly pitched into a Grade 1. He's been improving quickly though over extended trips and it looks as though the bigger the stamina test, the better he will be. He will get that here over the stiff 3 miles at Ascot. Shoot First won a demanding handicap at Haydock last month (race in which Crambo finished 3rd in last year before winning the Long Walk) and is totally unexposed. He could be anything and is worth having in calculations. I'll play them both against the favourite. 

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15:00, Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase

The Changing Man 10/3

Victtorino is hugely respected going for back to back victories in this race but he's a short price considering not a lot has gone right since this day last year. The Changing Man pulled a mile clear with the winner in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last time and should cope with being put up 5 pounds for that as he still races here off 10 stone 8 pounds. With Two For Gold and Trelawne in this, the race should be a proper stamina test which will suit Joe Tizzard's up and coming chaser. He has a big one in him. 

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15:35, Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle

Be Aware 11/2 each-way (4 places)

This horse deserves to break his run of seconds and it could come here in a race the trainer has won twice before. Dan Skelton's 5 year old has come from a long way back to be second at Sandown in March and then again at Cheltenham in a strong renewal of the Greatwood Hurdle. He is improving all the time and the stiff nature of this track should really suit him together with the recent rain. This has been the target since the Greatwood and I expect him to go very close again. 

Ascot - Friday 20th December

 I will be at Ascot for the first day of their December meeting. It looks a good days racing.

12:45, Howden Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

East India Express 10/3

Double Powerful is seeking the 7 timer but this is by a long way the hardest task to date and may finally come unstuck. Champagne Twist is respected and should run well but East India Express looks better handicapped. Nicky Henderson's runner comes into this from a 233 day break but he won on debut last season over this trip at Kempton and the form of that maiden hurdle has worked out well enough to suggest his mark of 123 is exploitable on handicap debut. He came unstuck pitched against classy animals on heavy ground in the spring but back on a more level playing field here I think he should be going close to winning under Freddie Gordon who is claiming 3 pounds. I may have a saver on the favourite to cover my stake. 

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13:20, Howden Maiden Hurdle

Belliano 10/11

The Paul Nicholl's trained winning pointer bumped into the smart The New Lion on debut at Chepstow 52 days ago and should be up to making amends here. 

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13:55, Howden Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Iberico Lord 11/10

The Betfair Hurdle winner has to give lumps of weight away here but there are only 4 runners and this is likely to be a tactical affair that will suit him more than the others. He should be up to giving the weight and can take this on his way to better things. I will probably double him up with Belliano. 

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14:30, Racetech Handicap Hurdle

The Winslow Boy 11/1 each-way (5 places)
Wiseguy 16/1 each-way (5 places)

The Winslow Boy has been given an opening mark of 118 which is no gimme however, he finished behind 2 very good horses on seasonal debut at Worcester and duly followed that up by landing a gamble at Chepstow in very strong fashion. He's a strong stayer with plenty of experience for a novice on handicap debut here and that will see him in good stead for the in form Tom Symonds stable. At the prices, it may also be worth chancing Wiseguy who hasn't been seen to best effect so far this season but was sent off favourite last time out and the bigger field may well suit this strong traveller. 

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15:05, Howden Noel Novices' Chase

Personal Ambition 3/1

Johnny Who looks a strong stayer and this 4 runner race over the trip may not suit so I'll take a chance on Personal Ambition to step up on his run at Newbury last month where he went off way to fast and tired late on. 

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15:40, King Edward VII Ascot Membership Open NH Flat Race

Blues Singer 17/2
Tennessee Tango 17/2

I think it's worth taking on the front end in the market given how unexposed every runner is. Blues Singer looked classy on debut at Kempton in March and ran a cracker after a break at this track last month when beaten in a photo finish under a penalty. That looked a good effort and he can step up on that here in a bigger field. Tennessee Tango is a big strapping sort who defeated a well punted favourite at Wincanton back in October. He's not been seen since and has maybe been aimed at this race. He looks potentially smart. 

Wincanton - Monday 17th December 2024

 It will be a quiet build up to the busy festive period for me with plenty of big days ahead and so I have found just the one tomorrow and that comes in the last at Wincanton. 

15:45, 9 Tickets On Saver Saturday - 4th January Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Linda Moon 7/2 each-way (3 places)

Neil King's 5 year old mare finished second to Golden Ace at Taunton last season. It's fair to say she hasn't hit the same heights as Jeremy Scott's stable star but Linda Moon has run very well in defeat since. She finished 4th (behind 2 Irish runners) in a class 2 at Kelso in May before finding her run soon after perhaps too much of a quick turnaround. She's a pound lower here and will hopefully come on for her seasonal debut when beaten less than a length at Taunton in November. That was her first go at further than 2 miles and it looks sure to unlock improvement. She's up another 178 yards in trip today and may find this track more suitable than Taunton. She's got to shoulder top weight but this is easier than some of the races she has been contesting so far and could be set to get off the mark. 

Weekly roundup - Sunday 15th December 2024

 On Sunday 8th, Huntington was the focus in England with a classy running of the Peterborough Chase on show. Protektorat was a farm order but was laboured throughout and needs a much stronger test at this trip to be seen to his best. He's looking hard to place now and although he ran on well to finish a distant second, it's looking unlikely he'll be up to regaining his Ryanair Chase crown in March. Ginny's Destiny is also looking difficult to place now but scarcely has there been an easier winner of this race than Djelo who romped away to win eased down by 6 lengths. Despite being wrong at the weights, the Venetia Williams' band waggon rolled on and her 6 year old relished the soft ground here to gallop his rivals into the ground. Granted softer ground, he could easily be up to mixing it at the top level and I suspect that will come in the Ascot Chase in February ahead of a go at Cheltenham. Meanwhile in Ireland at Cork, Enurgumene returned from a mammoth absence to win another Hilly Way Chase. He took a few liberties at his fences but otherwise looked to still have plenty of his old zip about him and I fancy he'd of beaten Banbridge regardless. Still, it will be a huge order to regain his Champion Chase crown in March at the age of 11 and according to connections he will be kept to soft ground. A clash against Jonbon at Ascot in January looks on the cards now. 

At Lingfield on Monday I quite liked the chances of Pedley Wood in the 3 mile handicap chase but he was declared a non runner on the day. It will be interesting to see where he does run. My only bet on the day ended up coming in the 2 mile handicap where I thought 13/2 about Pyrotechnic was a good price if he could settle better. He did just that and ran well to finish second considering he cut out the running but just couldn't hold off the odds-on favourite and this was going to be the theme of my week. 

Tuesday was going to be a big day. I saw High Treason run well against Masaccio at Newbury and thought a drop in class at Fontwell would see him return to the winners enclosure. I duly took 7/2 and was happy to see Nigel Twiston-Davies' 5 year old was backed down to 9/4. However, he never travelled a yard or jumped with any fluency and finishes a mightily disappointing last of 7 runners. It really is back to the drawing board. Meanwhile at Uttoxeter I thought Katare Dori for Sam Thomas was the bet of the day in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle. This horse has been crying out for a longer trip and softer ground. He had both here however, I am not sure what the riding instructions were to young Dylan Jonhnston as he was always well towards rear and was asked to close way too late when hampered at the last which cost him 3rd place and with it my each way money (backed at 13/2, went off 7/2). I will be keeping this one on side. There is a race in him off this mark. As it turned out my only return on the day came from the enigmatic Fantastikas who finished 3rd in the 3 mile handicap chase at 18/1. He led early but never quite looked like holding on for the win. This was a step back in the right direction though and I wouldn't be surprised if connections can get a win in him at some point over the next few months. My last bet of the day was Don Virginia in the 2 mile handicap hurdle. He is unexposed and represented an in form Jonjo O'Neill stable. There were no excuses though, as the maiden was always in a fair position but found nil up the run in and now will have a real squiggle against his name. 

I moved onto Wednesday downbeat and came out of it downcast because of a not so Cool Party in the Stayer's Series Final at Kempton. Duke Of Oxford as well fancied however, Cool Party had won twice at the track when ridden from the front and struggled to get into the race on his latest go when held up. This time around the Mark Johnston 4 year old was drawn 1 and had the services of Osin Murphy. He was 5/1 and looked a steal each-way 3 places. However, disaster struck within a matter of seconds as he was slow away and had no chance of getting into a forward position. Murphy held this runner up in the rear of the field and although he did pick up, he ran up the back of horses and finished a never nearer 4th. A rare poor effort from the champion jockey and after seeing him backed down to 11/4 joint-fav I was spitting feathers. 

Thursday was always going to be my biggest day of the week. I had plenty of what I thought were good things running. I thought Don't Tell Su was a smashing bet at 7/2 each-way at Warwick. He had never been out of the first 2 over hurdles and his form looked the best on offer. He travelled like the winner through most of the race and kicked for home early but was was just picked off up the run in by the short priced fav. Annoying. But it got much worse. In one of the maiden hurdles at Taunton, Tuxedo Junction looked a stomping bet at 8/1 each-way. He hacked round behind the leaders and looked set to pound up the run in but like at Wincanton last time, he didn't find much for pressure and stayed in third place. Each-way money was returned again but I was beginning to wonder what was happening this week. Not to worry, the 2 main bets were upcoming. Law Of Supply was on a hattrick and looked set to follow up his Ascot victory here in a middling field. He jumped brilliantly and travelled with his usual buoyancy but came off the bridle much further out than is like him and he merely plugged on for 3rd at 4/1. Nicky Henderson won the race and that filled me with hope that the biggest bet of the day, Choccabloc from the same stable would do the business of seasonal return in the handicap hurdle under James Bowen. The Hendo runner here had been butting heads against some proper graded types last season and looked set to push onto better things this time around off a readily exploitable mark. Imagine if you will the expression on my face then when the jockey decided that he'd hold the 3/1 shot up well off the pace in this field off a slow pace. He's a strong stayer and this was never going to suit. He picked up well for pressure but was not seen to effect in a sprint finish and I could not believe that he finished second. What a miserable day...

My run of having my runners find one too good continued at Cheltenham on Friday when the main bet of the day Wreckless Eric had everything in behind apart from the run away rabbit that was Mirabad. Backed each-way at 13/2. Another one I thought to myself. My day got worse as after backing all my old favourites in the Veteran's Chase (who decided not today) I was left thinking that Long Draw looked a fair bet at 5/1 in the last against Doyen Quest. However, the 5s went and quickly too did the 4s. After the week I was having, I couldn't bring myself to step in at 3/1 and of course had to duly look on dumb-founded as Olly Murphy's 5 year old ran out a ready winner. 

After a work's Christmas Party on Friday night, I was in no condition to place many bets on Saturday but did have Stage Star running for me at 10/1 (ante-post) but the ground had dried out too much for him and he couldn't get into a nice rhythm up front. He is another Nicholls runner looking hard to place but Venetia Williams certainly knows how to place her horses as Gemirande ran out such a game winner. He could yet go in again and will certainly cope over further. Madara was hammered into 11/4 but couldn't get past the gallant winner. He could prove frustrating. 

I finally managed to break my duck at Windsor on Sunday however. I am too young to remember jumps racing at the track and was very much looking forward to this new experience. Windsor did a great job at promoting the day and was duly rewarded with a bumper crowd. The track is incredibly sharp however and not suited to proper staying national hunt types. Trainers will learn from this as it is a hard track to make ground on. Anyway, after avoiding getting involved in the first couple of races I thought Starcrossed Lovers was a cracking bet at 4/1 in the maiden hurdle against an odds-on Henderson favourite who looked like he'd find this track too sharp compared to heavy ground at Auteuil. Starcrossed Lovers was given a cool ride to win well. My biggest bet of the day was Duhallow Tommy at 13/2 in the handicap chase. He ran a cracker to finish 2nd behind the short priced Hasthing. I managed to make a profit in the each-way return there and fortunately ended the day with a double with Hasthing at 11/8 and Loverdose going in the last at 9/4 (free bet). My main bet in the last was Onewaywest for the Ben Pauling stable. This was the 5 year old's first run in 355 days however, last season he finished runner-up to subsequent Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sun and fell on his last start when running well. A mark of 109 was so exploitable I had a decent bet each-way at 15/2. What happened? Well, as I said earlier this is a hard track to make ground up on but that did not stop Ben Jones to had his mount in dead last for most of the race before asking for an effort just before the second last. He weaved his way through runners but the favourite had flown. He finished a never near second. Go figure....

Cheltenham - Friday 13th November 2024

 Cheltenham's December meeting is now upon us and is scarcely seems possible we're here already. This will be run on the New Course, which is slightly more stamina sapping and the Friday card is showing off some really top quality animals. Perhaps not a punting card all the way through but there are 2 races that an angle can be found in. 

13:15, Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle

Wreckless Eric 11/2 each-way (4 places)
Balboa 50/1 each-way (4 places)

There are questions to be answered here. Was Valgrand's performance here in October a bolt in the blue and is he up to shouldering 12 stone in this competitive handicap? Is Willmount ready to go after a year off since pulling up in the Challow Hurdle last December? Is To Chase A Dream's form at Carlisle good enough? This is a real cracker of a race. It looks set to be run at a searching tempo with Valgrand dropping down in distance and I'm sure Harry Skelton will want to make the most of him. Weight stops trains though and this is a big task and with Willmount having a few too many questions to answer and To Chase A Dream moving away from Carlisle I'll take a chance on Wreckless Eric. Jonjo O'Neill's progressive young 4 year old hasn't done much wrong in his life so far, bar falling when in contention at Wincanton on seasonal debut. He came from a long way back to win over the Old Course last month and although he's 8 pounds higher here, this stiffer track and big field should play to his strengths. It's likely he still has room to manoeuvre from his mark. It bigger prices I'll take a chance on Balboa at 50/1. He is off the same mark as when 2nd in a big field at Chepstow in October and ran OK in a conditions race last time. He will be more at home back in a handicap and at looks a bet at 10/1 for a place. 

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13:50, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase

Java Point 7/1 each-way (3 places)

Is Chianti Classico a Gold Cup horse? Well if he wins this from a mark of 157 then he will certainly have to be talked about as one. Now it's probably likely that he will take this on his way to better things as there's only 7 to beat but it's a mammoth task he faces and 6/4 is a bit tight for my liking. Instead I'll have an each-way poke on Java Point. Henry Oliver's horses are running well and his 9 year old here will be racing off just 10 stone 2 pounds. He'll be getting 26 pounds from the favourite and loves it round this park of Gloucestershire. 

Taunton & Warwick - Thursday 12th November 2024

 These 2 courses are putting on just about as good mid week racing as you will see at this time of year. Plenty of runners and some potentially classy sorts are on show. 

Warwick
14:25, Out The Daw Handicap Hurdle

Don't Tell Su 7/2

There are a few retrieval missions in here, not least Montecam for Nicky Henderson who fell when sent to Punchestown in the spring and put in a meagre performance on chase debut at Kempton a month ago. Ballybegg is another one who had a chasing career cut short. Itsnoteasy is hard to trust on the back of a terrible seasonal debut last time out and Moon Over Mexico looks hard to assess on his first run for 301 days. Mr Hope Street will go off a short price favourite for the Skelton's under a penalty but I prefer Don't Tell Su to step up on his gallant seasonal debut at Sandown last month when he finished 2nd to the progressive Act Of Authority. The stable's form is better now and that was a strong race at the Esher track. The handicapper has left him untouched and I expect he will prove better than a mark of 117 soon. 

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Taunton
13:35, Jetset Holidays Novices' Hurdle

Tuxedo Junction 9/1 each-way (3 places)

Alexei looked good on debut but that was only a 4 runner race and he now has to shoulder a penalty in a stronger contest. Byzantium has finished 2nd on both his starts (favourite on both occasions) but it's worrying how much he tired late on last time. At the prices I'm happy to have a go with Tuxedo Junction against the front 2 in the market. He was a decent flat handicapper for James Fashawe before joining David Pipe to embark on a hurdling career. He stepped up on his debut over obstacles at Chepstow to run a great race at Wincanton a month ago. He was again too free and that cost him late on but it was a decent race and he set very fast fractions. If he can settle a bit better today then he has every chance. Either way, I like this horse and will be following him when he steps into handicap company after this. 

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14:05, Kirker Holidays Novices' Handicap Chase

Law Of Supply 7/2

Florencethemachine is progressive but is a short enough price on the back of winning a 3 runner race on firm ground at Exeter last time out. De Tellers Fortune represents the Nicky Henderson stable but he is a real unknown on chase debut after a break. Law Of Supply on the other hand comes into this having slammed plenty of rivals in big field chases at Worcester and Ascot on differing ground conditions. He jumps well and is a strong traveller. He's up another 7 pounds in the weights but is likeable and progressive. He has a big chance of landing the hattrick. 

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14:40, Classic Collection Holidays Handicap Hurdle

Choccabloc 3/1

I really like this horse. Bar when finishing 5th in a tough Grade 2 at Cheltenham, he has never been outside of the first 3. He ran a cracker at Ayr on his final start of the season against a decent one of Willie Mullins' and an opening mark of 128 should be within reach. When you look at the horses he has been finishing amongst in his short career so far, he should be shaping up into a graded horse this season. 

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15:50, Twixmas Meeting 30th December Handicap Hurdle

Ugo Bingo 7/1 each-way (5 places)

Anthony Charlton's 5 year old always shaped as though he wouldn't come into his own until stepped up in trip and that duly proved the case last time out when winning for the first time. He's up another 5 furlongs in trip again here but he finished strongly enough last time to suggest that this is in reach and with Callum Pritchard claiming 7 pounds off him, he's weighted to go close. 

Kempton - Wednesday 11th December 2024

 It's a quiet midweek in December with Hereford and Hexham putting on the jumps action. They are tricky meetings so I'll focus instead on the Stayers Series Final at Kempton. 

Kempton
19:40. Unibet London Stayers' Series Final

Cool Party 5/1 each-way (3 places)

Last year's winner Duke Of Oxford will be a warm order to repeat but I'll chance fellow 4 year old Cool Party from the Charlie Johnston stable. He had won 2 course and distance handicaps from the front this Autumn before disappointing last time out when held up. He's back here today for shrewd connections under the steering of Oisin Murphy. He's been berthed in stall 1 and I expect him to go back to front running ways. He's improving and still on a workable mark. I expect him to go close. 

Uttoxeter & Fontwell - Tuesday 10th December 2024

 There is a mid-week treat for us at Uttoxeter today. The 13:42 is only a 5 runner novice's handicap chase but it delivers a clash between on the up novice Jagwar and the classy chasing debutant Jinko Blue from the Nicky Henderson stable. It should be a very informative race but away from that there are a few punting angles to be found in the midlands on this blustery Tuesday and one down on the south coast at Fontwell too.

Uttoxeter

12:12, Signs 2000 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Katate Dori 13/2 each-way (3 places)

This is a really competitive handicap hurdle to start the day at the home of the Midlands National. I'm On The Way is on a real streak having won 4 of his last 5 races and is sure to have his supporters. There isn't much not to like from Neil Mulholland's 7 year old but after bossing class 5 fields against opponents rated in the 80s and 90s he will now be taking on horses rated between 110 and 122. He's 16 pounds higher in the weights than when winning at Ffos Las in October. So this will be harder for all that he is rapidly improving. Kruger Park is respected from the Paul Nicholls yard but is short enough in the market considering he has been well beaten on his 2 starts to date over this trip. I've decided to go against the 2 market leaders and chance Sam Thomas' unexposed 6 year old Katate Dori. He is 2 pounds lower in the weights than when 3rd at Wincanton in April. He had Irish Hill in front of him that day (won again since) and Getalead in behind (won 3 times since). He needs to bounce back from a moderate run at Ascot 38 days ago but like Wincanton, that race was run on pretty quick ground and by the looks of his action, he will be much more at home on this softer surface. He has clearly always been well thought of as he was sent off favourite for a Cheltenham bumper on debut (4th) and followed that up by finishing 2nd in his second bumper when splitting the classy pair of Bowenspark and Massacio. Over hurdles he's been learning his trade against either classy opposition or on ground which was too lively for him. He races here off a mark of 110 which should be exploitable for the shrewd connections and with Dylan Johnston claiming 3 pounds, he is getting weight from most of the field which should count for a lot over 3 miles on soft ground here. Hopefully the step up in trip, with a first time visor on this sort of ground will help him break his hurdles duck. 

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14:12, 4 Oaks Group Handicap Chase

Fantastikas 11/1 each-way (3 places)

This is a pretty strong race for mid week and it's interesting that Not Long Left is currently the 2/1 favourite for the Venetia Williams team after a huge 562 day absence. Autonomous Cloud will be popular back at a course he loves too but at the prices I will take a leap of faith with the enigmatic Fantastikas for the Twiston-Davies team. In 2022 he was sent off the 8/1 for the Ultima of a mark of 144. He has tumbled down the weights since then to a mark of 119 after many poor shows. It hasn't all been terrible over the past 2 years though as last December he did finish a close 2nd in a 3 mile handicap chase at Ludlow. The 1st and 3rd that day have both won a few races since then. He has only been seen twice since, first when finding 3miles 4furlongs on heavy ground at Haydock too much (3rd of 6) and last time when pulling up at Wincanton on seasonal debut. It's possible he desperately needed that run and right handed on good ground was never going to be his bag. Soft ground round Uttoxeter should be up his street and off a mark of 119 if he is ever going to bounce back, this is surely got to be it. He's worth chancing a little bit at the current prices.

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14:42, Homeserve Handicap Hurdle

Don Virginia 10/3 each-way (3 places)

Strictly Tango bumped into a subsequent winner when second last time out at Carlisle and looks set to go close again. He has looked a shade vulnerable in his races though and likes to get on with things up front and there's a good chance that The Grafter will take him on for the lead. This is also going to be the softest ground he's encountered to date. I think Don Virginia will prove much better than a mark of 107 in time. He is a lightly raced 4 year old from the Jonjo O'Neill stable and has been running well on good ground this season. I think he'll improve for getting back on softer ground as the only time he's really encountered it was on debut back in February when he was a good second to the very classy (still unbeaten) Kel Du Large. He's been learning all the time but this isn't the strongest race and I think he'll put his experience to good use here. 

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Fontwell

13:30, BetGoodwin Free Bet Nose Losers Handicap Chase

High Treason 7/2 each-way (3 places)

Just the one bet for me at Fontwell today and that comes in the shape of High Treason for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Toby McCain-Mitchell who will be claiming a helpful 7 pounds. This unexposed 5 year old had his chasing debut in a tough handicap at Newbury which was won by Masaccio. This is much, much easier and he's now back at a course at which he defeated subsequent Gerry Fielden winner Navajo Indy at last season over hurdles. I thought he shaped nicely at Newbury and he can take this on his way to better things this season. 

Weekly roundup - Sunday 8th December 2024

 Carlisle on Sunday managed to attract Irish Grade 1 winner Caldwell Potter to the North to start his chasing career for his new connections. He was due to run at Newbury on the Friday but connections came here for the easier starting point and it looked the wise option. He has a tendency to jump a bit to his left so may find improvement when sent round that way and his jumping wasn't the most economical but he will improve. He was incredibly fresh and I thought he was a quite impressive winner considering it was his first run in such a long time. He may be better when running over further but there is no rush for that at the moment. Connections stated afterwards that he has a preference for soft ground so I'm not sure if he's an Arkle horse or not but either way I expect him to take high rank amongst the Novice Chasers this side of the Irish Sea. 

Talking of the Irish, it was a fantastic card at Fairyhouse on Sunday featuring 2 Grade 1's but one of the most interesting stories of the day was Triumph Hurdle favourite Willy De Houelle making his debut for Willie Mullins in the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle. He helped set a furious pace and ran with enthusiasm before being picked off late on by 33/1 shot Naturally Nimble. I think this may turn out to be a good race and the winner can certainly improve again now but all the talk was about what went wrong for the favourite. It's worth noting that this was his first run of the season and although many fingers were burnt here (sent off at odds of 1/4), perhaps being pushed out to as big as 25/1 for the Triumph Hurdle was over the top. He is clearly well thought of and can still make a name for himself this season now he has the freshness taken out of him. The Royal Bond Novice's Hurdle has been won by some of the best Irish racehorses of all time such as Istabraq (1996), Moscow Flyer (1999), Hardy Eustace (2002) and Hurricane Fly (2008). Even in recent years in has been captured by Cheltenham Festival winners Jezki (2012), Nichols Canyon (2014), Envoi Allen (2019) and Marine Nationale (2022). Now, it looked beforehand that there probably wasn't a future Champion Hurdle winner in the field and that thought was hammered home when 12/1 shot Tounsivator pounded late to down the odds-on Romeo Coolio. It was amazing that this was run at such a crawl for a Grade 1 and it definitely didn't suit the favourite. I'm not saying this form was rubbish as I'm sure plenty will win more races but I don't expect the seasons' top Novice to emerge from this. I thought the 3rd placed Sea Of Sands is the one to keep onside off, especially when he steps up in trip. The Drinmore was also run at a steady temp and was duly won by 22/1 shot Croke Park. I still think Firefox will prove the best of these, especially when thrust into a bigger field but there doesn't appear to be an obvious route for him now this season. Perhaps he will be dropped back in trip and sent down an Arkle path. The big race of the day was the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. It was billed as a big clash between Stayer's Hurdle winner Teahupoo and Mare's Hurdle winner Lossiemouth. The battle didn't really emerge as the race was run at too slow a pace for Gordon Elliott's stable star and he was subsequently picked off by the mare. I'm not sure we learnt a lot from this but Lossiemouth is definitely a mare going places and will hopefully lay her Champion Hurdle credentials on the line at Kempton on Boxing Day. 

My betting week started at Plumpton on Monday due to the abandonment of Ffos Las's card. I had one bet on the card and that came in the 2 mile 4 furlong handicap hurdle. There were 11 runners and I fancied Through The Ages to make the most of dropping in grade back at a course he had won at. I took the 7/2 on offer in the morning and was pleased to see he was backed down to 11/4 favourite by the off. I saw Batwoman as the biggest danger and decided to have a saver bet on him to cover my stake. Unfortunately, Baltray fell heavily at the 10th flight and brought Through The Ages to a complete standstill just as he was making headway to challenge. Caolin Quinn had no choice but to pull the 5 year old up and the race was won in the end by Bertie B at 5/1 who held off the late challenge of Batwoman. Not the ideal start to the week. 

On Tuesday I focussed on Southwell. My first bet was in the opening Novices' Handicap Chase. I've been a big fan of Ben Pauling's Awaythelad and he looked well handicapped here to take advantage of his chasing experience gained at Lingfield on seasonal debut. He jumped and travelled well but he's a strong stayer and the race just wasn't run to suit him in the end on a flat track. He was done for pace up the run in to finish a disappointing 4th. This was probably a half decent little race however and he should be kept onside when running on a stiffer track and softer ground. The race was won impressively by Theformismighty for the Skelton's and he looked like he could go on to take higher rank this season. A very strong traveller who could have a big win in him at some point this season. 

My only other bet on the card was in the last race. A low level handicap hurdle, I sided to Kingoftheswingerz to improve on his seasonal debut when 2nd at Ffos Las. Harriet Dickin's runner couldn't though as he fell back into old ways and weakened up the run in. It was telling that I had taken 7/1 and he drifted to as big at 16/1. The race was won by 20/1 shot Miss Applejack who had her connections duly pulled into the Steward's room afterwards to try and explain the improvement in form. 

By Wednesday things were looking a bit bleak. And the place to find bleakness in mid winter always seems to be Haydock but it hosted a decent day of racing and I focussed on the Grade 1 track to attempt to find a ray of sunshine. The light was found however, as I focused in on the Veteran's Handicap Chase. All bar one were making their seasonal debut's and would likely come on for it on what was very soft ground. Venatia William's horses love it when the mud is flying and she ran her likeable Cloudy Glen. He was incredibly handicapped on past form and his trainer always has her horses primed for the occasion from a lay-off. I duly took the 15/8 on offer and he was duly sent off the 11/8 favourite. Charlie Deutsch had come here instead of going to Ludlow (where Venetia Williams ran 3) and it duly paid off as Cloudy Glen ran out a powerful winner. It proved an even better result as I had put the old timer in a double with White Rhino in the Novice's Handicap Chase earlier on the card. When I put the bet on White Rhino was 7/4 favourite. He drifted out to 7/2 and powered clear. Amazingly Haydock in December was where the clouds hard parted and I could see the sun again!

Now back in front for the week, I moved onto Thursday full of optimism. Wincanton's card looked fiendish for all that I fancied Caeruleum in the long distance handicap chase. The Robert Walford stable is in form and the horse looked crying out for this sort of test. I tried to get 5/1 or even 4/1 but the price had collapsed and I chose to leave him alone, as we was still a maiden after all.... he bolted up at 15 lengths at 2/1. Typical. Instead I had my one bet of the day in a 3 mile handicap chase at Market Rasen. The race was dominated in the market by Cokytho and Kelce. I thought Cokytho was inconsistent and worth taking on and Kelce was a short priced favourite off the back of 2 seconds. Ben Case sent Felton Bellevue to Market Rasen which was the scene of 2 victories. He looked to be working his way into form and when he drifted to 4/1 I had a decent each-way bet on the 9 year old in this 8 runner field. Cokytho duly ran poorly and although Harry Bannister kept Felton Bellevue in touch with front running Kelce throughout the race when all others had cried enough, he couldn't get to the favourite and finished a gallant second. Not the worst bet I've ever placed but he still never looked quite like winning which was frustrating. 

We moved onto Sandown's 2 day December meeting. The Friday card was littered with small fields and I decided not to get too involved. City of London let me down in the first but I managed to strike with Mount Tempest (6/4) and Hoe Joly Smoke (9/4) who I had also put in a Skelton double. My 2 biggest bets on the card we Quebecois and Resplendent Grey. Both ran great races to finish 2nd and should both win plenty more races this season, especially Resplendent Grey who looks like he'll love being smuggled into a big field handicap on better ground. This course didn't really suit him. I'd managed to come out of Sandown's card just about in front but the biggest roar of the day came from watching the marathon 3 mile 6 furlong handicap chase down at Exeter. I originally hadn't had a bet in the race as I fancied Leissieres Express but the form of the Jeremy Scott stable had put me off. I did however see that his runners earlier in the card had run very well, so with signs positive I stepped in and took 13/2 about his strong staying 7 year old. He's a giant boy and does nothing but gallop and stay. He's not flash and he's not quick but he will plough on through and after being dead last of the 11 runners for about 3 miles he was expertly guided by Lorcan Williams to weave through tired horses in front of him and outbattle the Robert Walford trained Art Decco to prevail. This provided Jeremy Scott his first winner in quite a few months so it may be worth following the stable over the next few weeks. 

Saturday was the big day and after surviving a 7.30am inspection, off I set up to Esher. I have always got the train to Sandown due to the proximity of the station to the course and amazingly considering the apocalyptic weather the trains ran on time and I arrived without any issue (more to come on travel later). I fancied Juby Ball from the Evan Williams stable in the first but he was declared a non-runner perhaps due to travel disruption and it left me without a bet in the race. I was not a big fan of Hartingdon and saw that the Venetia Williams trained runner was drifting. The race looked at the mercy of Honky Tonk Highway so I decided to put her in a treble with the other 2 odds-on favourites on the card (paid about 4/1). Honky Tonk Highway duly went away and did the business well after being given an aggressive ride by the jockey and she looks set to keep on improving. My biggest bet of the day came in the Mare's Handicap Hurdle. I had predicted that Larchmont Lass isn't the most consistent and worth taking on. I went for Good Look Charm each-way at 8/1 (4 places). There were plenty of non-runners which reduced the field to 8 and each-way terms now only 3 places. I was never worried however, as Anthony Honeyball's mare is a strong stayer at this trip and loves the ground. She powered up the run in to win well from the gallant Cast's Tasha with the 6/4 favourite back in 3rd. Chad Bament is well worth his 10 pound claim having come from the pointing circuit and expect to see his name more over the rest of the season. No matter what happened I couldn't lose on the day, let alone the week. And that looked good as my 2 bets in the next were poor (Authorized Art and Grozni both pulled up). I'm not sure where connections go with these horses now as they are proving frustrating. I the end Henri The Second was backed down to 11/4 favourite and ran out the most impressive winner of the day, scoring by a widening 18 lengths. He clearly loves the combination of 3 miles on soft ground and a chasing career looks to be put on hold. Expect him to keep improving and he could yet land another big pot when faced with similar conditions. I had backed Willmount in the next handicap hurdle but he was declared a non runner. That left me with just a bet on last year's winner Spirit D'aunou but hit with a 45p deduction. The market spoke heavily in favour of the Skelton's Kickerbockerglory and I decided to cover my stake on their runner by nibbling a bit of the 13/8. He duly ran out an impressive winner from Namean Lion who was burdened by 12 stone on terrible ground. Kerry Lee's horses haven't hit form yet but this was a great seasonal starting point for her stable star. The winner will likely be hit by the handicapper now and won't find many hurdles worth that amount of money contested by only 6 runners so life will be harder now. As for Spirit D'aunou, well he was off the bridle from a long way out and never really travelled a yard. Something looks amiss and Gary Moore has his work cut out for him now. L'eau Du Sud was a strong winner of the Henry VIII after doing the Irish horses for speed late on. None of the 4 jumped that well though and Touch Me Not may have made the winner fight harder has he not clouted the open ditch down the back. Down Memory Lane didn't jump with any fluency from flag fall and is much better than this. He looks a picture and has loads of scope. I hadn't had a bet in the Henry VIII but I did do the Jonbon-Edwardstone exacta which looked on before Alan King's previous winner departed at the last of the Railway Fences (he was none the worse). Jonbon won commandingly to cement his status and the leading 2 mile chaser in the land. He jumped well on the whole and it will take a very good one to defeat him in the Champion Chase so long as the ground doesn't get as deep as it has had done for the past few years on that Wednesday in March. I thought JPR ran well and can win more races this season if kept away from Jonbon (perhaps the Desert Orchid). The exacta had gone down but the 4/1 treble was landed with the minimum of fuss and I had the impression from the crowd that I was not the only punter who landed a multiple that windy afternoon. I was well ahead for the day but still managed to leave even happier when the gallant Mr Vango ploughed through the Surrey mud like a tractor to win the London Grand National for Sarah Bradstock and Tingle Creek winner Nico De Boinville. I thought that this race was tailor made for this warrior and he ran out a strong winner after jumping boldly. He is being aimed at the Welsh National next and with conditions expected to be soggy, he should run very well indeed. The day had gone well from a punting point of view but due to a downed tree on the railway line after Basingstoke, I found myself stuck on Hook station with no way of getting home. But, as luck would have it, after looking at potential buses back to Basingstoke the 2 hourly stagecoach service was due in just 5 minutes! It didn't take too long to find the bus stop and after a brief wait in the wind and rain, the bus in question appeared over the railway bridge and I was back where I needed to be in under 15 minutes. By this point in the afternoon the day was as dark and gloomy as it seemed after a bleak start to my punting week. But those glorious headlights of the the number 13 bus lifted my spirits just brightly as the Yellow and Green of those famous Trevor Hemmings silks did on the back of Cloudy Glen. 

Ante-Post, December Gold Cup (14/12/2024)

Cheltenham, December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (14/12/2024)

Stage Star 10/1 each-way (4 places)

 The December Gold Cup at Cheltenham in mid-December started off life as the Massey Ferguson (to which many will still call the race) in 1963 and is still one of the most competitive handicaps of the season. It has been run under many guises over the years and claimed by some titans of the sport such the all-time great Flyingbolt (1965), dual King-George hero Pendil (1973), the imperious Combs Ditch (1985), Lexus Chase winner/Gold Cup runner-up Exotic Dancer (2006) and in more recent times the King George and Ryanair hero Frodon (2016). It continues to attract popular horses as well as potential future stars and this year looks like being another fascinating contest. 

There are currently 27 entered for the big race on Saturday and it's easy to rule a few out. Ginny's Destiny and Minella Drama run in the Peterborough Chase today instead and Marsh Wren has been ruled out by her trainer. Springwell Bay may take up his entry in the Novice's Chase on Friday and Genois, Issa'r Dairy and Kotmask will all be out of handicap so may be diverted elsewhere. That takes the field down to 20 and it's difficult to know if all of the Irish entries will hold their ground (James Du Berlais, Visionarian, Pinkerton and Seddon). Richmond Lake was due to run in the race he won last year at Aintree this weekend but with that meeting abandoned he could take up his entry here for all that he was very poor on his only course visit to date. So it's difficult to get really into this race but the ante-post market seems to have found Madara for Dan Skelton's yard after he ran such a fine race when fourth in the Paddy Power, running on late. He won a few fans that day but it still has to been seen if this 5 year old is up to winning such a competitive race as he'll need to race a lot more handily than last time if he's to come out on top. He doesn't make huge appeal at the prices. Neither really does last year's winner Fugitif due to the fact that he arrives here off a 1 pound lower mark than when victorious 12 months ago. It's worth noting that there were only 12 runners that day and the market leaders all either fell or ran below form that day. The race couldn't have worked out any better for him either with Il Ridoto setting such a furious pace and vulnerable up the hill. This looks a better race and he may not get away with being off the bridle a mile from home this time around. Il Ridoto himself should run his usual gallant race after his popular success last month but he's now up to a career high mark of 149 and history tells us he probably won't be up the shouldering that in such a big race. Ga Law is back at his favourite course and his handicap form over this trip reads 3rd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd. He's 8 pounds better off with Il Ridoto than last month and will find the likely softer ground much more to his liking. He should go closer this time but the handicapper is making life hard for him as he is also now off a career high mark of 156. At the prices from this far out I'm keen to side with last season's Paddy Power hero Stage Star. Sure he will have to shoulder 12 stone but Frodon defied top weight for the stable 8 years ago and less we forget that this 8 year old is the only Grade 1 winner in the field. He's actually now only 5 pounds higher than when victorious in the Paddy Power and it's hard to say he still wouldn't have won that with that amount of weight added to his back. He's been dropped 4 pounds by the handicapper over the past 12 months and the comeback run at Aintree in October wasn't bad at all considering the course doesn't suit as well as Cheltenham and the stable was struggling at the time. He has a fantastic record fresh and has been readied for this by the master trainer since that run 2 months ago. We shouldn't forget that he was sent off 11/10 favourite to defy a 4 pound higher mark over course and distance in January and given that there doesn't appear to be any handicap blots below him in the weights, he looks the value in the race at the current 10/1 on offer. 

Sandown - Saturday 7th December 2024

 Fingers are crossed that racing at Sandown survives the 7.30am inspection due to high winds and we get to see 2 Grade 1 chases headlined by the Tingle Creek. Always a fantastic days racing this. I'll be in attendance and will run down the races. 

12:08, Betfair Exchange Claremont Novices' Hurdle

Juby Ball 9/2

This is only the second running of the opening 2 mile novices' hurdle and I can't help but feel it's not attracting the level of horse that Sandown were hoping for. There were only 3 runners last year and 6 this time but there doesn't look to be any future stars in the field albeit I'm sure they will all go on to win more races. Honky Tonk Highway looks set to go off a short priced favourite after running a gallant race in defeat at Warwick on hurdles debut 16 days ago. She was only downed by a potentially smart one of Nicky Henderson's that day and will be hard to beat. Epinephrine makes her first start in the UK having joined the Venetia Williams stable for £100,000 and it is hard to know what to expect but she shaped well on her only start in France. Hartington is respected but the race at Newbury which he won rather fell into his lap and his form probably isn't good enough for this. Juby Ball however, finished 2nd in a hot bumper at this course in February after impressing on debut at Ffos Las before that. He has been off since but is clearly thought highly of to make his hurdles debut in such a strong race. He looked like a horse to follow last year and with proven efficiency on soft ground, he'll be the one I go for against the favourite and may play him in an exacta with the favourite as well. 

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12:40, Betfair Supports Racing With Pride Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Good Luck Charm 8/1 (each-way 4 places)

This is always a competitive race, with 13 going to post this year. 7 of the last 10 winners have been rated 115 or above. Pretending did win this off 103 last year but it's worth noting that only 5 ran so perhaps it is wise to focus on those at the top of the handicap. Ring O Roses starts off life in the UK for Henrietta Knight but she wasn't exactly progressive when racing in Ireland and this is a stiff ask on stable debut. Dollar Collar quickly reverts to hurdles after a poor effort on chase debut last time out and isn't without a chance as she is pretty lightly raced. A mark of 119 isn't overly generous however. There are a few at the bottom of the weights who are progressing but they now find themselves of high marks against tougher opposition. The likely favourite is Larchmont Lass who won well at Wincanton last time and did win a Listed bumper at this course in 2023. There's a good chance she'll kick on now as she didn't convince with her consistency last season. I'll take a chance instead on Good Luck Charm from the Anthony Honeyball yard. She won on debut last season (race at Wincanton that Larchmont Lass won in November) off an 8 pound lower mark but it's fair to say she's shaped like she can go close off a mark this high as she finished 4th in the Lanzarote off a 2 pound higher mark than today and she had some classy geldings in front of her that day (Impose Toi just ahead). She also finished a game 4th in a 3 mile premier handicap at this course in February. She'll be ridden by 10 pound claimer Chad Bament here so she'll be receiving weight from most of the field and she looks the value in the race. I might play her in an exacta with Larchmont Lass as well. 

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13:15 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Authorized Art 14/1 (each-way 3 places)
Grozni 18/1 (each-way 3 places)

I'm not a big fan of the Pertempts races throughout the season, I find it difficult to work out who is plotting what with their horses and this is no different. It's 4/1 the field. There are questions to be asked about all of these. West To The Bridge is 11 rising 12 and finds winning difficult for all he is well handicapped on past form and this trip/ground combo is more to his liking that what he has been facing in recent times. Henri The Second has been nothing short of disappointing since he won a Grade 2 here 2 years ago and now finds himself on a retrieval mission. Dubrovnik Harry is still lightly raced for an 8 year old and has finished 3rd on both his runs at this course. He's handicapped fairly but still only has a sole win in a maiden hurdle to his name. Operation Manna won this race last year but now finds himself 5 pounds higher in the weights and Tom Lacey's stable isn't quite firing on all cylinders yet. So, I'll take a chance on the 2 biggest priced horses in the race. Authorized Art finished 4th in a Kerry National over fences off a mark of 151 in September 2023 and if he could find that sort of form here, a hurdles mark of 139 looks exploitable. He has the services of Freddie Mitchell claiming 5 pounds off his back here and ran an encouraging race on stable debut at Kempton in October over an inadequate 2 miles. He didn't enjoy the Grand Sefton challenge last time out. Grozni likewise has a chance based on his past Irish form for Charles Byrnes. He finished 2nd in a huge field handicap at the Dublin Racing festival in 2023 and has been chasing for most of his career since. This is his first run back over hurdles since joining James Owen and is probably overpriced in a puzzling race. 

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13:50, Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase

L'eau Du Sud 5/6

There are only 4 runners in this year's edition of the novice Grade 1 but it is a real fascinating affair with Gordon Elliott sending over 2 classy individuals. Soul Icon will most likely make the running but could be taken on early by Touch Me Not who has won a Grade 2 last time out by making all. Why would you change a winning formula. The form of that Grade 2 is suspect however and Down Memory Lane looks the classier of the Irish pair after a commanding victory on his first chase run at Navan 21 days ago from King of Kingsfield. He looks like he could be better over further in time however and with only 4 runners it is unlikely that this race will turn into a war of attrition. I was blown away with L'eau Du Sud in the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham last month and I can see Harry Skelton making his move after the second last to do this lot for speed and reward favourite backers. 

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14:25, Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle

Willmount 11/4
Spirit D'aunou 9/1

This is a good race albeit only 9 runners is somewhat disappointing. Namean Lion races here off a mark of 150 which puts a couple of rivals out of the handicap proper. It will be a monster effort to defy that mark on seasonal debut at Sandown on winter ground mind. Harry Skelton rides Knickerbockerglory for the first time since 2022 and this 8 year old goes well fresh. He's only 2 pounds above his highest winning mark but he often finds himself a sitting duck when running freely from the front and can he concede 2 pounds to Willmount? Nicky Hendersons runner hasn't been seen since pulling up in last year's Challow Hurdle but he was sent off favourite that day and looked very classy the time before. A mark of 130 surely underestimates him and the stable could have easily pitched him into a graded race but come here instead to try an exploit the handicap mark. At the prices I'll also have a play on last year's winner Spirit D'anou. He's only 4 pounds higher a year on and this is his ideal set of circumstances. 

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15:00, Betfair Tingle Creek Chase

Jonbon - Edwardstone exacta

Jonbon finds himself favourite again for this famous race a year on but there are 4 more opponents this time around, with raiders from across the Irish Sea to add into the mix. Still, he is the standout in this division at the moment and I don't really see anything in here which should be able to defeat him if he's on point. Quilixios is a new rival but his level of form doesn't look good enough to be seriously troubling the odds on favourite. JPR One is respected off the back of a classy performance in the Haldon Gold Cup. It's worth noting however, that he was a disappointing favourite in the Henry VIII on this day last year and the ground could be going against him again. Boothill ran a cracker in the Schloer last month but I expect Edwardstone to reverse placings with him back at this course and he could well be the one to chase Jonbon home again in the Tingle Creek. 

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15:35, Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Mr Vango 4/1
Certainly Red 8/1 (each-way 4 places)

This is an on par renewal of the London National and it looks set to be another slog. Montgommery has been well found in the market and could still be on the improve but I'll stick with Mr Vango to continue his progression. He won by a mile at Exeter last year before running admirably at the Cheltenham Festival. He was backed down to favouritism in the Scottish National at the end of the season before pulling up. He'll be more at home on softer ground here and connections have decided to come here for his seasonal debut which could be telling. Certainly Red isn't hiding anything from the handicapper but is record round Sandown is eye-catching and he should go well. 

Sandown - Friday 6th December 2024

 I will be at Sandown Park on Friday for a most informative days action. It is always a pleasure to see National Hunt racing in Esher, with it's iconic Railway Fences and Pond Fence, Sandown is one of the most enjoyable tracks in the country. The racecourse was opened in 1875 after being a site of a priory as far back as 1349 and it has the distinction of being host to the very first televised racing on the BBC in 1948. I'll run down the races in order. 

12:48, Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair 'Introductory' Juvenile Hurdle

City Of London 7/2

I had the benefit of being at Wincanton 55 days ago to witness Hot Fuss make his hurdles debut against the classy East India Dock. He is small in stature (ex-flat horse, by Coventry winner Calyx) but managed to give the now Triumph Hurdle favourite a good race after they had both set furious fractions throughout. He could be worth taking on however, as at Wincanton he did weaken after the last and that was on very good ground. He races at a much stiffer track here and on much softer ground, so may be vulnerable considering his only win on the flat came over 7 furlongs and he finished 3rd of 7 on his only start beyond 10 furlongs. He undoubtedly has the form but I'll side with the once raced City of London from the Kerry Lee stable. He is stoutly bred being by Nathanial and out of a Selkirk mare. He ran a huge race on his very first run at Chepstow last month when downed late on by the favourite My Noble Lord who I don't think gave his true running at Cheltenham last month. I expect him to come on bundles for that run and serve it up to the short priced favourite. See The Green is respected but will find it difficult now shouldering a 5 pound penalty for winning a 5 runner maiden hurdle at Ludlow. Marhaba Million and Galactic Charm both make their hurdles debut and could run well, albeit this is a tough little race, whilst Small Fry is expected to improve for his first hurdles run at Fontwell last time out when a disapointing 3rd as the odds-on favourite. They should be monitored in the betting. 

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13:23, Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase

Mount Tempest 7/4

There are only 5 runners here but plenty like to get on with it and so this could turn into a real test at the short trip. Calgary Tiger will probably try and make the running as usual but is still above his highest winning mark and consistency is proving his downfall. Invincible Nao will also be pressing the pace and is capable on his day but looks the worse handicapped of these as he's now 10 pounds higher than when winning at Fakenham last season and this trip is short of his best. Mint Gold is still 3 pounds above his highest winning mark over fences. He has won twice in this sphere but both at Musselburgh and this is a difficult track to venture south to. Intimate will most likely go off favourite for the in-form Venetia Williams stable but this is his chase debut and although he is potentially well handicapped off a mark of 113 I'm going to side with Mount Tempest. Dan Skelton's 7 year old won this race last year and it's likely that he has been primed for a repeat. He is only 3 pounds higher than when winning by 8 lengths at Wetherby in January and his course form reads 1st, 3rd. He had a good pipe opener in a tough race at Bangor 22 days ago (Jagwar and Lowry's Bar ahead of him) and should go close to doubling up in this race. 

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13:58, Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle

Quebecois 2/1

This race has a really classy roll of honour with some proper top-notchers claiming it in the way to future glory down the years: Neptune Collonges (2005), Fingal Bay (2011), Taquin De Seuil (2012), Messire Des Obeaux (2016), On The Blind Side (2017). There are 6 runners declared for this year's renewal and it looks a very hot one. It's not clear who will go off favourite but at the time of writing it is just about Kingston Pride. Nicky Henderson's 5 year old shaped nicely in bumpers before outclassing the field on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter last time out. He did have to be kept up to his work a little bit though and his hurdling technique left a bit to be desired. He has yet to run on soft ground and at the prices can be taken on. Bill Joyce was thought enough of to be sent off just 7/1 for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and was put away for the season after being well beaten in that. He bounced back to win easily on his first go over hurdles at Carlisle 33 days ago and now has 4 wins from 5 runs. He is respected, as is Admiral Stewart who looks to have bundles of stamina and a real likeness for soft ground after impressing at Ffos Las last time out from a decent horse; but I think the Paul Nicholls trained Quebecois could be something a bit special. He has only been seen twice since bolting up on rules debut in a bumper at Exeter in December of last year. One was in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when finding it too hot to handle but he oozed class when hacking up at Chepstow on hurdles debut 38 days ago. He barely came off the bridle that day but came home 8 lengths clear and hurdled with fluency. He looks to have plenty of stamina and is a big hardy horse who should be best suited to this stiff Sandown test.

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14:33, Betfair Esher Novices' Chase

Resplendent Grey 6/4

I was a big fan of Handstands last season as I thought he looked a potential top notcher in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon. He bombed out at Cheltenham since and was beaten when falling on chase debut at Wincanton last month. That was a weaker race than this but his jumping didn't impress and he'll be tested to the max here. Cadell could run well after winning easily last time out but the form is nowhere near as strong as Resplendent Grey's. Olly Murphy's 6 year old could have easily won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month if he had jumped the last 2 fences better and is the way to go here. He always looked a horse with potential over hurdles but has really improved over fences and has a strong attitude. He should be winning this at the expense of chase debutants Saint Davy and Welcome To Cartries who have been pitched into the deep end on chase debuts. 

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15:03, Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase

Hoe Joly Smoke 9/4

This is a decent handicap chase but a few look in the grip of the handicapper. On the evidence of 2 chase runs, Beachcomber looks marked about right on 128 and will have to give weight away all round. Tea Clipper continues to tumble down the weights but it is 3 years since his last win and 3 miles on soft ground round Sandown might not be the key to breaking that sequence. Jupiter Du Gite has a decent record round Sandown but is 7 pounds higher than his only chase win and pins are hoped on a step up in trip. Passing Well is the stamp of a 3 mile chaser but I just don't think he puts it all in and is struggling to fulfil his potential in this sphere. Jupiter Allen's win at Exeter last time out looks like strong form and he is respected as a lightly raced 5 year old but consistency is not his strong point and it is taken on trust that he will be in the same form. Moroder has been disappointing recently and can only be watched and King's Threshold has gone the wrong way since winning at Ascot in March on good ground. Bali Boly is interesting as a previous course and distance winner with good form but this is hard off a 377 day absence and I'll be going with Dan Skelton's Hoe Joly Smoke. He finished 2nd to Resplendent Grey on chase debut in October and hasn't been seen since with connections perhaps waiting for softer ground. His hurdles form reads well in this context and a mark of 120 should be readily exploitable. 

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15:35, Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices' Handicap Hurdle

I Wish You 4/1

I trappy little handicap to end the day and it's almost impossible to work out who's going to be the furthest ahead of their mark. I Wish You defeated a subsequent winner from the Olly Murphy stable when getting off the mark over hurdles at Carlisle 50 days ago. He's had plenty of experience on soft ground and stamina sapping courses so will be probably be the best equipped to handle this challenge. 

Market Rasen - Thursday 5th December 2024

Thursday looks incredibly challenging. Wincanton hosts a trappy card and Leicester's fixture is going to be run on very heavy ground. Market Rasen is probably putting on just about the lowest grade racing of the 3 National Hunt courses but probably the most interesting from a punting view. 

Market Rasen
14:15, Discover What's Trending At Rhino.Bet Casino Handicap Chase

Felton Bellevue 3/1

Kelce will probably go off favourite for this. He's finished 2nd on both chase starts since joining Neil Mulholland but it was disappointing he couldn't kick on to win last time out and now finds himself 4 pounds higher. Cokytho will have a good chance but is now 6 pounds higher than when defeating only 3 other finishers last time out. So from a handicapping view, perhaps the best option is Felton Bellevue as he now finds himself back on his last winning mark (94) after two runs this season under his belt. His form from 2 career runs at this course reads 1st, 2nd and he will be more at home on this softer ground (ran on 'good' last time, has a decent record on soft/heavy). His seasonal debut at Worcester in October was a cracking effort and he is now a pound lower. He finished 4th of 14 that day but it was a hot race with the winner, Law of Supply, following up at Ascot since as well as the 3rd and 5th that day coming out and winning on their next runs, even the 7th has won since. 

Haydock - Wednesday 4th December 2024

 After a frustrating start to the week we move onto hump day. Ludlow's card is trappy and doesn't look particularly appealing from a punting view and Haydock although more competitive, will be run on heavy ground. I'll focus in on the Veteran's Chase there. 

14:45, trustatrader.com Veteran's Handicap Chase

Cloudy Glen 2/1

We all love these races and it will good to see The Two Amigo's back in action after 627 days off the track. The whole field will be having their seasonal debuts apart from Good Boy Bobby who is finding winning a bit tough these days. Empire Steel is well respected and could go close but he's off 12 stone on heavy ground. Preference is for Cloudy Glen. Venetia Williams has 3 runners at Ludlow but Charlie Deutsch comes here for this ride and I expect it will be a telling one. The stable has had their horses in fine fettle and Cloudy Glen is now 4 pounds lower than when 2nd at Cheltenham on his seasonal debut last year.

Southwell - Tuesday 3rd December 2024

 Not a the hottest way to start the week with the selection at Plumpton on Monday failing to finish (improving through the field when terribly hampered by a faller and brough to a standstill) but that's behind us now and we move on to Southwell's trappy Tuesday card. 

12:15, Golf and Gallop Package Handicap Chase

Awaythelad 4/1

Theformismighty is very lightly raced for a 7 year old and was an expensive recruit from the pointing field. He looks set to go off favourite and holds every chance but I narrowly prefer the chances off Awaythelad at a slightly bigger price. Ben Pauling's horse showed promise early in his career without winning but improved to bag 2 novice events in January before his form tailed off on his last couple of starts (albeit he pulled up in a big field handicap at Sandown). He's always looked a chaser and will come on for his chase debut at Lingfield 3 weeks ago. I'm sure he's better than a mark of 117. 

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15:15, Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Hurdle

Kingoftheswingerz 7/1 each-way (5 places)

The final race on the card is a poor affair but has managed to attract a bumper field of 16. Well Done Dani is at least consistent (at a low level) and that alone will be enough to see him sent of favourite. Skiffle Man has done practically nothing in 3 runs so far but is priced up at around 4/1 simply because he comes from the Dan Skelton yard. Let's Sail Away doesn't look like one who puts it all in and races here off 12 stone and Glimpse Of Glory has been thoroughly disappointing this year. Kingoftheswingerz ran OK in a couple of poor hurdles last season before failing to find any form when sent handicapping in the spring. He returned fresh from a wind op to run a career best at Ffos Las 23 days ago when finishing a running on second of 15. That's just about as good form as you will find in this race and he's kept to a flat track here. If he can come on again for that, he should be going close and most bookmakers are paying 5 places here. 

Plumpton - Monday 2nd December 2024

 After such a blockbuster weekend of action, we come back down to earth with a very sedate days racing with Ffos Las (subject to inspection) and Plumpton putting on the action. There is just one race at Plumpton I'm keen to take a view on. 

Plumpton
13:50, Joos Solar Handicap Hurdle

Through The Ages 7/2
Batwoman 11/4 (saver)

Batwoman looks to have a very strong chance to follow up her recent Fontwell win but Through The Ages is stepping down in grade here and it will probably tell. He races here off a mark of 108 having been up to 119 back in January. He's been contesting hot races and struggling but it was much more like it last time and the stable is going well. He has won at this course in the past and will hopefully capitalise on racing against easier competition today. 

Weekly roundup - Sunday 1st December 2024

Punchestown last Sunday was the battleground for the race of season so far with the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1, 2m 3f 150y) now brought forward in the calendar and duly well supported by the top Irish connections. Blue Lord was a non-runner on the day but this still left Willie Mullins with a strong hand as he fielded 4 of the 8 contenders. The race was run on pretty soft ground and at a decent tempo so the suspicion was that it would favour those with more stamina reserves despite the trip being short of pretty much every runner's best. From a betting point of view I thought it was pretty interesting. Galopin Des Champs, as imperious as he is, has been defeated in last year's renewal by Fastorslow and has shown that this track is not his favourite. I could see little reason as to why he should be winning this at the age of 8. Fastorslow was always going to be the favourite for the race but it was worth bearing in mind that in the race last year he only defeated Appreciate It by a length who was rated 152 at the time. This was a much stronger race. That left us with Fact To File. I had backed against him at Cheltenham as I didn't think we'd seen enough of him to justify his short price but I was left flabbergasted by how well he won the Brown Advisory. He looked a proper superstar of the future. The trip again looked short of his best but he had downed Gaelic Warrior over about this trip earlier in the year and was freely available at 9/2 in the morning. With 8 runners this looked as solid a bet as you will find in the each-way market and I got duly involved. The race went pretty much as expected apart from a few sloppy jumps down the back straight from Fact To File but Mark Walsh was patient on the 7 year old and swinging for home he had Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow covered. He led at the last and found plenty for a horse having his first run of the season to fend of the late challenge of dual Grade 1 winner Spillane's Tower. You can't hide from the fact that Fastorslow was disappointing, especially given market confidence, and it's difficult to know where connections go from here. If they are serious about having another go at the Gold Cup in March then he has to put in a better performance before March so I can see why connections are mulling over a tilt at the King George as this would be not only an easier task than the Savills but also a task better suited to his strengths. We can only watch this space but the suspicion is that any chance he had of winning the Gold Cup is now behind him. Not so for Spillane's Tower who continues to improve with every run and picked up from where he left off last season. He's an out and out 3 miler so this was a huge effort for me. I'll expect him to lock heads with a few of these at Leopardstown over the next couple of months and it will tell us more about his Gold Cup chances but he is only 6 and looks sure to be making his presence felt at the top table for the foreseeable future. Galopin Des Champs put in a great run for his season debut and still looks to have it all to give throughout the season. The dual Gold Cup winner is all about stamina and it will be interesting to see if Mullins will throw him against Fact To File again before Cheltenham, I suspect maybe not. He still looks to hold every chance of emulating Arkle and Best Mate come March. Fact To File though is undoubtably looking like racing's new poster boy and it will take a big effort for anyone to down him before Cheltenham is my suspicion. He continues to improve and his strong running style always catches the eye. I'd love to see him at Kempton on Boxing Day as I feel the race is perfect for him and he could put up a huge performance. Wherever he goes now, he looks every inch the current Gold Cup favourite. 

It was a quiet day in England but Uttoxeter put on an informative card albeit on pretty sodden ground. Kelya Wood looked the horse to take out of the fixture. She was an impressive 10 length winner of the mares' novices' hurdle from a Nicky Henderson runner who was sent off the 11/10 favourite. Kelya Wood made all and was very professional considering this was her first run under rules having fallen in her only point. This 4 year old filly is one to keep onside. There was also a strong running of the 3 miles novice's handicap chase. Rocovango showed a willing attitude to fend of Toss Of A Coin. Rocovango represented the strong Olly Murphy - Sean Bowen combo but this was his 3rd run of the season and I'll take the Nicholls' trained runner up as one for the future. He's a winning pointer and jumped nicely on his first run over fences for current connections. He's still a lightly raced 6 year old and will be winning races this season. As for the 11/10 favourite Shanagh Bob, well he never really travelled a yard and now is in serious danger of going the wrong way. His early promise is now feeling like a distant memory and I'll be avoiding for the time being. 

On Monday we had a really strong card at Kempton to keep us warm. The 2 mile novice hurdle looked an informative one and I took a chance on Thistle Be The One. He had put up some really good performances from the front in a couple of bumpers and was backed down from 11/2 the night before to go off 3/1 second favourite. He didn't get to the front however and looked unhappy from a long way out. He jumped OK but it was disappointing how little he found for pressure and is maybe one for handicapping later down the line whilst he adjusts to his new profession. The winner, Miami Magic, looked very good however. He's a speedy type and followed up his impressive win at Fakenham here. 2 miles round a flat track look his game so I wouldn't be surprised if connections came back to Kempton on Boxing Day for the 2 mile novice hurdle on that card. He doesn't look like a horse to be running on deep winter ground but is clearly exciting for Stuart Edmunds. The clash between Gidleigh Park and Iberico Lord didn't happen with Harry Fry's exciting 6 year old pulling up early. We hope that the issue isn't that serious that we won't see him again this season although I wonder if chasing may be postponed to next season now. Iberico Lord won well in the end but he was left with an easy task and we will learn more next time he runs. My money had gone down on Thistle Be The One but I managed to strike back when Es Perfecto won the 2 and half mile handicap chase on the card in convincing fashion. Alan King's stable continues in good form and this lightly raced 9 year old was running off a very exploitable mark when you considered that the 2 horse who finished in front of him at Kempton on Boxing Day last year are now rated in the mid 140s. Es Perfecto was running here off 121. He went off the 11/4 favourite. The Edgar Wallace took on Bourbali for the lead (as I had predicted in my write up) and it set the race up perfectly for the winner. Bourbali could still land a pot this season off his mark but needs things to fall right. Doddiethegreat made his chase debut in this race but his jumping lacked fluency and needs to have learned a lot for this outing. 

I put up one horse at Sedgefield on Tuesday and that was Bathgate for the Phil Kirby team in the 2 mile handicap hurdle. He has been such a strong traveller in races over further without getting home. The drop back in trip here looked a good move I thought a mark of 93 was plenty fair enough considering he was only 2 pounds higher than when beaten on the line at Ayr earlier the in the year and when beaten at Kelso he was taking on Double Powerful who has since won at Cheltenham off a mark of 114. This trip and ground combo looked perfect and at 5/1 he looked a smashing each-way bet given his consistency. He travelled well, came under pressure coming for home but over this trip was able to see it out well and had the race won when his nearest pursuers came to grief at the last. 

At Southwell on Monday I had put up The Blueberry One in a 2 and a half mile handicap hurdle. He was due to make his handicap debut but was declared a non runner on the day. I saw him at Newbury last season in a bumper and he is a big strapping sort who will improve for racing so keep an eye out. Broughshane won the race in the end for the Jonjo O'Neill team by 2 lengths from the odds on favourite Solar System. They pulled 25 lengths clear of the 3rd and Broughshane is now running over the correct trip having found 3 miles too much earlier in the season. He could yet follow up. I selected Illucidate in the 2 miles novices' handicap hurdle on the card and he did run (sent off 18/1). I thought given his lightly raced profile he was worth a punt at the odds. He travelled well but was still a bit awkward at a few hurdles and was beaten before the final flight. He finished 6th of 13 runners. That was his first run of the season and he should come on for it. He's inching towards a good handicap mark and maybe a step up in trip is in order. 

After 3 winners in 2 days, I moved onto Wednesday full of optimism. With Airtothethrone a non runner at Hereford I was left with only one bet on on the day and that came in the shape of Marsh Wren in the Bud Booth Mares' Chase at Market Rasen. Fantastic Lady was well fancied as a previous winner of the race but faced opponents today who were vastly superior to those the Henderson mare defeated 2 years ago and she was conceding weight all round. Apple Away was sent off favourite but I couldn't see why people were backing her at prohibitive odds considering she hasn't kicked on over fences and this was potentially too short a trip. She also had to give 2 pounds away to Marsh Wren who was rated 4 pounds higher. Stuart Edmunds' horses were running well and the Marsh Wren's record when fresh was fantastic. She was freely available at 7/2 in the morning and I took plenty of that. She was well backed to go off at 11/4 and the result was never in doubt. She ran out a convincing winner and looks set to take of beating in the mares' chases to come throughout the winter. 

After being in such hot form it was only a matter of time before I had cold water poured over me at that came on Thursday. Lingfield's card was run on heavy ground but that didn't put me off backing the Tim Vaughan trained Airtothethrone in the 3 mile handicap chase on the card. He jumped well and travelled strongly but weakened badly when push came to shove up the home straight. I had backed him each-way and it looked as though he would get placed at least coming down the hill but finished a well beaten 4th. It's now approaching 2 years since his last win and should be up to winning a race off this mark. He's becoming frustrating (if not already so) and it will be interesting to see how he is campaigned now. It was perhaps a stronger race than on paper as the top 2 in the betting pulled clear to battle out the finish. Aworkinprogress won his 3rd race on the bounce from Vision De Maine who was also trying to win his 3rd in a row. So perhaps one for the tracker is the 3rd placed horse Camulus. This was only his 3rd run since joining Venetia Williams. He hasn't managed to win a race in his career yet but signs were better here. 

At Taunton I had backed Vivid Pink the night before at 6/1 however, as soon as I woke up and saw she had drifted to 14s I knew my fate. She didn't travel a yard before being pulled up before 2 out. She showed real promise early in her career but is now going backwards and it must be disappointing for connections. Ugo Bingo won the race at 18/1 and it may be worth following him as the season goes on. He's very lightly raced and had been running on in his races over shorter trips. This step up in distance really helped him and I think he could go further yet. 

I was at Newbury on Friday and Saturday (a paid up member) and you couldn't have asked for 2 days of better racing for this time of year. I really liked Personal Ambition in the 2 mile novices' handicap chase on the Friday. He looks well handicapped and a sound jumper however, Ben Jones decided to take on Myretown for the lead down the back straight and they cut each others throats. I couldn't even get the each-way part of the bet back in the end as he faded to 4th up the run in but I'll definitely be keeping Ben Pauling's 5 year old on side. Myretown jumped very well on chase debut and should find a winable race back up north before tacking better races later in the season, he drifted from 10/1 to 28/1 on the off but still managed to hold on for 5th (of 10) despite over racing. Kalif Du Berlais was a good winner however, and is sure to kick on now over fences. He was short enough in the betting though (SP of 10/11) so nothing was missed. The horse to take out of the race really was Asta La Pasta. Harry Skelton kept him miles back from the pace in rear of the field for most of the race. He crept into it up the straight but was too far back to land a blow on the front 2. A future Grand Annual winner? My biggest bet of the day was on The Jukebox Man in the John Francome Novices' Chase. I had backed him at 33/1 in the Albert Bartlett and finally managed to make amends. I saw him a few times last season and everything about him screamed chaser. He brought the best form into the race and kicked on down the back straight. His jumping was outlandish at times and imperious at others. He put his opponents to the sword and looks to be one of the best novices in England at the moment. Connections will be thinking about the Festival. My main bet in the 2 and a half mile handicap chase was Scarface who ran a cracker despite giving up ground at the start. He finished a running on second but I had backed him win only along with Sir Psycho (also ran with credit and but handicapper may have him). I wouldn't be sure about Scarface mixing it in the really big handicaps over the winter on bad ground. But there's still a race in him off this mark. Le Patron was a Grade 1 winner in a handicap and it showed. He jumped like a stag and really put distance between himself at the field after the last. He was given impossible tasks in strong Grade 1s at the backend of last season and has now re-gained his mojo. I suspect connections will be targeting graded races again now - perhaps something like the Silviniaco Conti Chase in January. 

Saturday was the big one and at the prices I was keen to take on the 6/4 favourite in the opening mares' novices' hurdle. In the end Listentoyourheart was a brave winner and strong at the line, she'll improve again when stepped up in trip. Walkadina was my win bet and she ran well before falling back into old ways and not seeing out her race - I wonder if a wind op is incoming. My each-way bet was Rula Bula at 12/1 (sent of 10/1) and she ran a mighty race to finish 2nd from the running on Jubilee Alpha (will be winning plenty of races mark my word). I managed to come out of the race with just a minor loss. In the 2 mile 6 furlong handicap chase I was keen on Highstakesplayer but he never seemed that comfortable going down the back straight. He weakened to finish 5th and I'm unsure about where he will race next. All wasn't completely lost in the end as I had spotted that Wiseguy looked outstanding and incredibly fit in the parade ring. He was 16/1 and had lost his way over fences last season before reverting to hurdles. In the race, he pinged the first 2 fences well to show he was back in the groove. I managed to get onto Corals to nab a bit of 10/1 in-running to cover my stake in the race (sent off 11/1) although I was kicking myself for not just taking the 16s in the parade ring. We moved onto the novices hurdle on the card and as I had written up before hand, I though The New Lion looked a top-class animal at Chepstow and duly took the 4/6 about him to remain unbeaten. I'm not really one for backing odds on but I felt that if I took him on I was throwing money away. He won impressively and strikes me as a 3 mile chaser of the future. I could easily see him ending up in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. I was not rolling in money by any means after backing such a short priced horse but it was enough to put me back level for the day. The 2 and a half mile handicap hurdle was the most depressing for me on the card as I quite fancied Issam to run a good race now returned to his best trip. They went very fast up front and Jordan Nailor had Tom Symonds' 6 year old way out the back, he pretty much stayed there. I wonder if he needs to be kept to less competitive races, at least for the time being. Impose Toi was the standout in the paddock again for the Nicky Henderson yard and looks to have improved plenty over the summer. He'll make a chaser in time but there's still money to be had with him over hurdles and should be kept onside wherever he goes. Inthewaterside was the horse to take out of the race however. He looked fit in the parade ring but was awash with sweat and playing up badly. He lost any chance he had before the race even began but put in a huge performance to finish 3rd and will reportedly now go novice chasing. I think he could be one for the Turners at the festival now that it is a handicap. Watch this space. I was now behind the 8 ball a little bit but not to worry as I strongly fancied Queen's Gamble and was happy enough to back her win only at 9/2. Nicky Henderson's horses were flying though and money poured in for Jeriko Du Reponet. I went in again on Harry Derham's mare at 8/1 before the off. She travelled well throughout the race without ever quite looking like winning. She conceded first run to the winner and even though she found plenty on seasonal debut, that lack of race fitness maybe played it's part and she couldn't real in Navajo Indy for Tom Symonds - go figure! The winner was very game and won this off a mark of 120. He could yet go in again - maybe Betfair Hurdle will be the big aim. I think he looks like an ideal Imperial Cup type. As for Queen's Gamble, she can undoubtably win a big pot from this sort of mark but she needs a fairly decent surface so may not be seen to much over the next couple of months. If she was mine, I'd be aiming towards the County Hurdle in March. Salver ran a huge race off 12 stone (only a 4 year old) and should be mixing it in graded company at some point this season when faced with heavy ground. Jeriko Du Reponet was the strange one though as he jumped the first few hurdles like fences and took him right out of his rhythm. At one point down the back I thought he'd pull up. He found plenty for pressure though and ran on to finish a fair 5th. I'd keep him over hurdles now this season as he should be exploiting his mark (135) in one of these big handicaps over the winter. I was now well and truly behind and kicking myself for not backing Queen's Gamble each-way but still just about ahead over the 2 days given the profit made from The Jukebox Man. However, the Coral Gold Cup (Hennessy to you and me) was next up. I had put up (and backed) Kandoo Kid and Henry's Friend ante-post at 16/1 each way 4 places. That put me in a strong position as both were shorter on the day, particularly Kandoo Kid who was around the 8/1 mark all morning. That meant I was able to have a little bit each-way on my old friend Remastered at 33/1 (just in case a miracle did happen). It was only a 13 runner renewal but an interesting one from the off. Sam Brown found it all too much and will be happier when back contesting veterans chases and Remastered had basically called it a day down the back straight when unshipping Jack Tudor. Colonel Harry was ante-post favourite but had drifted to 10/1 on the off. He was far too keen and dragged Gavin Sheehan to the lead early on, he was never going to get home and faded to 11th. All 3 of the Irish runners were under the cosh from a fair way out, all 3 look in the grip of the handicapper now. As do both of Dan Skelton's runners. Midnight River is on a real recovery mission now and Galia Des Liteaux looks in need of further and softer ground. She travelled well but was done for pace up the home straight. Henry's Friend was running a great race and popping his fences perfectly before making a mistake at the 14th and that lost him his position and probably 4th place - he finished a gallant 5th and will learn plenty for this experience. General En Chef travelled like the winner over most of the final few fences before tiring badly after the last. He acted up terribly in the prelims and that cost him in the end. It will be interesting if he comes back over here at some point after that. Victtorino was well fancied but was out the back early and didn't jump with any real fluency. He ran on through beaten horses to finish a good 3rd and I expect him to go very close back at Ascot over Christmas. Broadway Boy ran a mighty race considering he was on the front end throughout. He made a bad mistake at 4 out and that cost him any chance he did hold at the time. Kandoo Kid in the end, ran out a fairly easy winner. Nicholls had trained him for the race and as I had written up in my ante-post piece, he clearly loves the course. He jumped like a stag and will reportedly be aimed at Aintree now. I was confident enough to back him again at 8/1 on the day and even though Henry's Friend finished 5th it was a very good result and one of my best returns for the season so far. It was the first time I had backed the winner of the race since Cloth Cap in 2020 and it meant I left the 2 day festival, and the week as a whole in profit. 

Roll on next week! 

Zap.