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. 

Newbury - Saturday 29th November

I will be at Newbury on Saturday for what looks set to be a cracking card headlined by the hottest renewal of the Coral Gold Cup for many a year. If this doesn't do it for you then nothing will!

I have a selection for each and every race on the big day. 

11:55, Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' Mares' Novices' Hurdle

La Conquiere 15/8, 2pts win

Kingston Queen coming out has robbed the race of a significant amount of quality and it could be that it is now ripe for the taking for Jamie Snowden's mare La Conquiere. The soft ground is a bit of an unknown for the 6 year old but she brings in decent bumper form when second at Aintree in April and produced a power packed finish to win on hurdling debut 29 days ago from a subsequent winner. She'll come on for that run I'm sure and this looks a good opportunity. 

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12:30, Coral Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase

Hunter Legend 9/2, 2pts win

Leader In The Park looked like a horse to follow last season when winning at Kempton on Boxing Day but rather lost his form in the Spring and may well need this run on seasonal debut. Scarface on the other hand should be fit after his run at Wincanton last time out and now returns to a more favourable trip. The suspicion is he's in the grip of the handicapper however. Booster Bob pulled off a remarkable win in the Greatwood Gold Cup on this track in March and should continue to progress over this longer trip. He's a threat but Venetia Williams' Hunter Legend was a real eye catcher last time out in the Paddy Power and looks set to come on appreciably for that effort. Proven on soft ground and at around this trip, the stable often comes into form around this time of year and now looks the time to strike. 

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13:05, Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Novices' Hurdle

Kocktail Bleu 11/2, 2pts win

Kalkbrenner looks set to go off favourite but he was rather workmanlike when winning at Ffos Las and the form of that race has yet to be tested. Buddy Holly is interesting now in training with Nicky Henderson but preference is for recent Fontwell winner Kocktail Bleu. A runner up to Idaho Sun at Windsor in January, the 5 year old put in a decent effort when winning on hurdling debut from the front. He's proven on soft ground and goes for a stable that couldn't be in much better nick. 

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13:40, 'Join Coral Bet 10 Get 50' Handicap Hurdle

French Ship 10/3, 3pts win

A real open affair for the 2 1/2 mile handicap hurdle on the card. Royal Rambler should improve for his seasonal debut at Cheltenham last time out and will enjoy this test more whilst stablemate Guard Duty would be of interest if bouncing back to form. The Emma Lavelle stable isn't in terribly good form at the moment however. Personal Ambition could still progress now back over hurdles and is respected as much as he will find this harder to dominate with plenty of forward running types in the line up. One of those is Lud'or who bolted up by half a furlong at Bangor last time out. He's proven on soft ground but was hammered by the handicapper and now runs in a much deeper race. It could be that recent Cheltenham winner French Ship could follow up in a race that could be run to suit. Conditions hold no fear for a horse from an in-form stable and he's still mightily unexposed. 

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14:15, Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

Indeevar Bleu 4/1, 3pts win

A fair renewal of the Gerry Fielden sees a couple of 4 year olds top the weights on 12 stone. Both bring in the best form but that welter weight could be a bit of an anchor and they are up against other unexposed types. Indemnity is respected after finishing 2nd to Greatwood Hurdler winner Alexei at Ascot last time out but preference is for Olly Murphy's Indeevar Bleu. Very lightly raced for a 7 year old the son of Blue Bressil cantered home to win over hurdles for the first time at Lingfield this time last year on very bad ground. He bounced back from defeat at Haydock (albeit under a penalty) to run out a ready winner at Ffos Las in the Spring. Clearly fragile, but he has a great record when fresh and scampered clear like a well handicapped horse the last day. 

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14:55, Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Resplendent Grey 13/2, 2pts win

Lowry's Bar 28/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)

What a winter cracker! Myretown heads the market and for good reason. He was mightily impressive when tearing apart the field at the Cheltenham Festival and has been kept back for this ever since. He's been kicked up 15 pounds for that win but few would argue with that. He could still be ahead of the handicapper but he may find this harder to dominate. The Changing Man is an admirable performer and should run well again but is starting to look vulnerable for win purposes whilst the ground may have gone against Hyland. Panic Attack goes in search of a big double after taking the Paddy Power 2 weeks ago but she's never convinced over this far. Katate Dori will go on the ground and was progressive last year but needs to bounce back to form now and this is just about as hard a race to do it in as you will find. With so much pace on up front and on a galloping track it could be that everything is set up for Resplendent Grey to run a big race. The Bet365 Gold Cup winner finds himself much higher up the weights than when winning at Sandown but the suspicion is that he's an improving horse at the age of 7. He likes to come home with a late rattle and that could be telling here. At bigger odds Lowry's Bar goes for an in form stable and has been targeted at this race all summer. He finished 2nd to Jagwar this time last year (giving 7 pounds away) and duly built on that to win back to back races in the winter before slightly going off the boil in the end. He's been freshened up for this since and will enjoy this test. 

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15:35, Coral 'Pipped-At-The-Post' Payouts Handicap Chase

Etalon 8/1, 1.5pts win

A race with loads who will want to get on with it could play into the hands of Etalon who finished 2nd to Twinjets (winner here on Friday) at Fontwell on seasonal debut 34 days ago. Has won at Newbury before. 

Newbury - Friday 28th November

Newbury trixie

12:15 - Sinatra

12:45 - Mambonumberfive

13:15 - Highland Crystal

SP, 1pt win

A difficult days punting awaits at Newbury with not a lot of value on show but the first 3 favourites all look to have decent chances and it could pay to have them running for you.