Post Christmas round-up

 2025 is here and I can't wait to see what it is going to hold from a racing point of view but it was an incredibly hectic festive period with lots to sift through. 

I was at Kempton on Boxing Day once again and things didn't get off to a very good start as I fancied Range to get out in front and put this field to the sword however, Ben Jones and Leader In The Park got to the front and was not for passing. Range was disappointing but he can still win races when he gets a chance to dominate. As for Leader In The Park, he has always looked to have plenty of potential and I expect him to climb the ladder further now he's getting his act together. I strongly fancied The Jukebox Man to do the business in the Kauto Star and he duly won well. He will reportedly not run again now before Cheltenham and the 3 mile Novice Chase on the Wednesday. I think he has a great chance in that. The Christmas Hurdle was an awesome thing to witness with the imperious Constitution Hill winning his 3rd after being ridden out to the line. He still looked short of his best but clearly wasn't 100% fit and with improvement to come, I find it difficult to see him getting beaten at Cheltenham in March. Lossiemouth seemed to find this pace on good ground at Kempton all a bit too much but she stuck to her task well and still may be the biggest challenge to Nicky Henderson's star come Spring. I really did think that the form Spillane's Tower brought into the King George would be good enough to take it should Il Est Francais not bounce back to form. Just in case that did happen I was happy to have a saver on the French hope and through most of the race it looked as though he was going to gallop his rivals into the ground. He tired up the home straight however and was reeled in by Banbridge who had been given a classy ride by Paul Townend. I'll admit that I got this wrong as I didn't think that the winner would stay a strongly run 3 miles but he clearly relished it and I'd imagine he'll be aimed at coming back here in a year's time. Il Est Francais looks capable of winning another big one on these shores if connections decide to come over again before the season is out. Even the Champion Chase has been muted. Spillane's Tower will be happier back on a more galloping track and could still have a say in the Gold Cup but Grey Dawning is now on a real retrieval mission and will need to bounce back to form somewhere between now and March should connections harbour real ambitions for Gold. Kientzheim defied a market drift to win the Maiden Hurdle well and she could step up on that to be a player in the Mares' Novices Hurdle at the Festival. My day ended badly as I had backed Doddiethegreat in the last only for him to be pulled up after just 1 flight having suffered bad interference at the first. I did manage to find a couple of winners at Wincanton and Market Rasen in the afternoon to dampen the losses but I didn't mind as it was a brilliant days racing all in all. 

I was back at Kempton on the 27th and the opening Juvenile Hurdle was won by the 15/2 shot Knight's Templar. Not a lot could be seen in the fog but the well backed favourite Risk It All (Gary Moore stable) got going all too late. He will make amends soon but the one I'd take out of the race was Nardaran for Paul Nicholls. He drifted badly in the market and after traveling well he looked to blow up in the straight and this nice looking type is one to keep onside. In the Mare's Handicap Hurdle I quite liked Royal Margaux back at Kempton on a decent surface and after traveling well she just couldn't pick up and finished 3rd (backed each-way) at 4/1. She is becoming frustrating now. The winner, Della Case Lunga, led all of the way and looks tough enough to take her place up in grade. I had a fair bet on Sir Gino in the Wayward Lad due to market confidence and the fact that no matter how good Ballyburn was, he was attempting to give 6 pounds to a Fighting Fifth winner. Ballyburn was never able to keep up with Sir Gino's jumping and the Henderson 4 year old put up one of the best chasing debuts I have ever seen. He will take some real stopping in the Arkle (Game Spirit may come next). In the Desert Orchid I really fancied the chances of Edwardstone and backed him at 7/2 (win only). He travelled and jumped well and even though he took the lead going into the home straight he couldn't hold off the late challenge of Soul Icon who was in receipt of 20 pounds. It is going to be difficult for Alan King to win another race with his stable star as he needs to avoid Jonbon (and Sir Gino). Boothill was still travelling well when he departed and it will be interesting to see where he goes next (perhaps Clarence House back at Ascot). The last 2 races didn't throw up much with Beachcomber winning by a distance in the handicap chase but the handicapper has since clobbered him for that and he will find life very tough going forward. Highstakesplayer threw in a very laboured performance and he is in danger of losing his form now. As for the last, well most of the front end of the market underperformed and it allowed the consistent Ooh Betty to add to her tally although she will find life harder now. Hansard ran well on his first run for a year and is one to keep an eye on. 

My final day of racing in 2024 was at Newbury and it opened with a Mare's Handicap Hurdle. I had backed Plantoroma who finished 4th after traveling strongly. She will need to show a bit more in a finish if she's going to break her duck. Tour Ovalie was given a good ride by Isabel Williams and is still progressive enough to suggest there could be more to come from her. Break My Soul once again looked set to enter the winners enclosure this season but like at Ascot, she tired late on and isn't really looking a betting prospect for the rest of the season. The favourite disappointed badly in the Maiden Hurdle and that opened the door for Peso to cash in and win at 18/1. He had finished 4th in an above average novice race at Chepstow earlier in the season and could build on this. Koapey led for much of the way and looked the most likely winner up the home straight and he should also be kept onside. Famous Five isn't a slick jumper or good traveller but he found plenty for pressure to win the Hallowe'en Trophy and I dare say there is more in the tank and if he can jump better there's certainly more races to be won. Skycutter ran quite flat but the drastic market drift suggested that was incoming. Jipcot bounced right back to form to run out a ready winner of the handicap hurdle over the intermediate trip and I suspect an attempt at the Coral Cup could well be on the cards. Mr Hope Street ran well and could still be competitive in big fields and I wouldn't give up on Rightsotom either. One of my main bets of the day came in the Mandarin and Henry's Friend (who I fancied for the Coral Gold Cup when he blundered badly down the back). He produced a quality effort here and ran out a ready winner at 7/2. He will reportedly be aimed at the Grand National now. My biggest bet of the day went on The New Lion in the Challow Hurdle. I have been so impressed with this horse so far this season and this victory in the Grade 1 was a proper class act. He never had to be asked any questions to win eased down. You could argue that Regent's Stroll underperformed and that the form of the race could be called into question but you cannot question how highly Dan Skelton holds him and I really do think he will take some stopping at the Cheltenham Festival. 

After 2 frustrating days punting at Kempton, it was good to end the year on a high with the two big winners at Newbury (Henry's Friend and The New Lion). It's been a proper up and down year but I'm happy going into 2025 and feel that it is going to be a real good'un!