Uttoxeter - Wednesday 31st December

Last day of the year to find a winner!

14:43, QuinnBet Daily Free Bet Novices' Handicap Chase

Jacques Clouseau 8/1, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)

The midlands track is putting on a fair meeting to see out 2025 and the middle distance novice's handicap chase looks like a proper betting heat. It's a pretty open affair but Mel Rowley has been having a decent time of things with her string and she sends out chasing debutant Jacques Clouseau here. The 6 year old ran a cracker on seasonal debut at Southwell last month when just denied up the run in and should strip fitter for that now. It's also interesting that this is second time up after a wind op. He's a chasing type all over so it's no surprise connections are keen to get him over the larger obstacles and this looks like a nice place to start. He's the sort who will find improvement for chasing and a mark of 109 could be readily exploitable. 

Taunton - Tuesday 30th December

14:20, Byerley Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Lady Tadita 5/2, 2pts win

This is one of the hottest Mare's Novices' races you will see at this time of year and has been won by plenty of decent types over the years, including Marie's Rock in 2019. Al Fonce is an intriguing runner from France and comes into this seeking the hat-trick. A relative of Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, it's likely that this sharp track and good ground combination could catch her out under a penalty. Dan Skelton's Getawhisky was building on her debut promise when falling at Ascot last time out when seemingly having the well backed favourite in trouble. She looks set to run well again if given free-reign up front although she does have to improve on her bare form. St Irene runs for fledging trainer Nick Schofield and couldn't have done it any easier at Wincanton last time out but it could be that they all have it to do to down Jamie Snowden's improving mare Lady Tadita. 1 from 1 in bumpers last year, the daughter of Masterstroke looked in trouble on hurdling debut at Market Rasen turning in but really quickened up once the penny dropped to run out an 8 length winner. She defied the penalty at Huntingdon last time out and she looks like a mare going places. This is not a gimme by any stretch of the imagination but she could well take this on her way to better things. 

Ascot - Saturday 20th December

The last big meeting before Christmas is here and it's a cracking card at Ascot. 

13:15, Karen Codd Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Mount Gay Run 4/1, 2pts win

The Dan Skelton trained Mount Gay Run makes a big step up in distance but he was running on strongly at the line on seasonal debut last time out and the new trip promises to bring about improvement. 12 months ago the 7 year old ran well at Listed level and a mark of 113 could be lenient. 

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13:50, Howden Handicap Chase

Bad 4/1, 2pts win

This is a mightily competitive race and plenty have chances but it could just be that Bad is improving too fast for the others. Now off a career high mark of 144, he will need to continue to progress but he's looked a better horse already this year and ran a cracker at Cheltenham last time out on ground that was plenty soft enough. He's now back on a right handed track and at the age of 6 he should still be coming into his prime. 

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14:25, Howden Long Walk Hurdle

Potters Charm 13/2, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)

A fair renewal of the Long Walk sees J P McManus have a strong hand with the front 2 in the market. Gordon Elliot runs Honesty Policy who won a grade 1 at Aintree in the spring. This is his first run of the season however and could be vulnerable in a hot race. Perhaps it will pay to side with the Twiston-Davies' up and coming Potters Charm. The 6 year old was sweeping all before him this time last year before going missing a bit in the new year. After a mishap early on at Wetherby he ran a cracker behind Woodhoo and Celtic Dino over a trip too short last time out but it was a decent effort and he ran on well to the line. Totally unexposed at the trip and could be the answer.

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15:00, Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase

Johnnywho 6/1, 2pts win

Hyland 10/1, 2pts win

The big handicap chase of the day brings together plenty of in form horses and plenty on recovery missions. Pic Roc is totally unexposed but the market has contracted his price so it could be time to chance a couple in search of a return to form. Johnnywho narrowly failed at the Cheltenham Festival in March and ran a stormer to finish 5th in the Irish Grand National after that. Ran well to finish in the same position over a trip too short at Aintree last time out (at a time when the stable was under a cloud) and could now take a step forward for that outing. Still looks like a big win is incoming and this is more his trip. Hyland is another who is looking to bounce back to form but now finds himself 4 pounds lower than when 2nd in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton in February. He never got into the race at Cheltenham in October but put in a better round at Newbury last time out. He may appreciate being back on a right handed track given he's run well at Kempton and the stable seem to be going better now. 

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15:35, Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle

Fiercely Proud 8/1, 2pts win

One of the hottest renewals of this race for a couple of years and it sees potential Champion Hurdle dark horse Alexei head the weights. He's been clobbered by the handicapper for bolting up in the Greatwood last time out but still has a big chance here if continuing his progression. Mondo Man is at the other end of the weights and looks ready to go close but there has to be a worry over his temperament. As such it could be that last year's winner Fiercely Proud is the one to side with. A bit higher in the weights 12 months on but he was clear with the runner up that day (decent horse) and ran a lovely race at Cheltenham last time out behind Alexei with whom he is now 9 pounds better off with. Clearly likes the track and the stable continue in good nick.

Cheltenham - Saturday 13th December

A quiet week and it's a fairly low key Saturday from a punting perspective but there's plenty of punting action at Cheltenham if you want it. The highlight is the December Gold Cup.

13:50, Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Jagwar 7/2, 3pts win

The December Gold Cup headlines this weekend's racing and it's a similar sort of race to the Paddy Power run over the Old Course last month. Vincenzo and Hoe Joly Smoke finished 2nd and 3rd in that affair and must enter calculations again but the suspicion is that they will have it all to do to better Jagwar. The improving 6 year old is having his first run since winning at the Festival in March but the vibes from the stable are suggesting that he will be fit enough to do himself justice. He's got a bit of quality that the others perhaps lack and he should be taking this on his way up the ladder further. 

Sandown - Saturday 7th December

The rain has hit Sandown hard over the past 24 hours and conditions look set to be testing at the Esher track. It's a day full of quality with 2 Grade 1's however much it doesn't appeal as a huge punting affair. 

13:20, Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Turndlightsdownlow 10/3, 2.1pts win

Martin Keighly's unexposed 5 year old comes into this in red hot form after back to back wins and finds himself off a featherweight now upped in class. The light burden could be handy in stamina sapping conditions and he's not looked short on stamina. He was impressive at Kempton last time out and is very much going the right way. 

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14:25, Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Hurdle

Knickerbockerglory 9/4, 2pts win

Dan Skelton's admirable 9 year old won this race last year and arrives back at the scene of that triumph off a 6 pound higher mark but this appears to have been a target with the stable going well at the moment. Conditions are once again favourable and a big run is expected. 

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15:35, Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase

O'Connell 11/4, 2pts win

Northern trained O'Connell arrives off a career high mark as a 9 year old but was mightily progressive last year, winning 3 races on the trot including over this course. Gavin Sheehan's mount is a thorough stayer who's proven on a soft surface and the trip. This test looks sure to suit and is expected to come on for his seasonal debut as he did last year.