Hi all,
The going is soft, soft to heavy in places at Ascot for the start of its two-day December meeting. More rain is forecast so it could well end up being heavy on Saturday. Let’s hope they don’t get to much of the wet stuff because there may not be any jumps action. The going at Haydock is already heavy and with plenty more rain forecast. There must be a real danger that there won’t be any racing at the Merseyside track on Saturday.
Sorry to start off on such a pessimistic note.
Let’s get down today’s main action which revolves around Ascot and interesting card at Navan. ITV are covering four races from Ascot and one from Navan this afternoon to cheer up racing fans.
Ascot
12:45 – Steal A March was an eyecatcher when staying on well to finish 3rd of 17 at Cheltenham 35-days ago. A winner of a novice hurdle at Hereford on heavy 12 months ago the ground will be ideal for the 5-year-old but I wonder if he might need further than 2m 5f ½ f.
Shang Tang won a soft ground novice hurdle over C&D 27-days ago. Looks competitive on his second start in a handicap and can go close.
Dhowin returned from a 313-day break to finish a respectable 6th of 13 at Wincanton 29-days ago. That was the 6-year-old’s first start since joining new trainer Warren Greatrex and given he prefers soft ground and the stable was going through a quiet spell, it was decent run.
Chazza hails from the inform Kim Bailey yard. A heavy ground winner of a bumper on his racecourse debut last November. The 6-year-old won a Bangor maiden (good to soft) in September before posting an excellent effort when runner-up to subsequent Cheltenham winner Breffiniboy at Leicester last month. Takes a big step up in trip but if he stays has a good chance.
1pt win – Chazza – 11/2 @ Bet365
1pt win – Shang Tang – 8/1 @ Bet365
1:55 – The one that I liked in the novices’ handicap chase Numitor is he’s now a non-runner.
Useful handicaps hurdler Mack The Man is the right favourite and should have come on plenty for his first start over fences last month. A winner on heavy over hurdles. He’s got his ground/distance today and mark of 130 looks workable,
Flegmatik made a successful start to his chasing career when winning at Carlisle (good) two starts back. He was then hampered twice by fallers when only 5th of 7 at Sandown last time. He’s better than he was able to show at Sandown. Now 4lb higher than at Carlisle but could be capable of defying his rise in the weights.
1pt win – Flegmatik – 9/2 – Gen
3:05 – An interesting Grade 2 novices’ chase. Nicky Henderson throws Allart into the deep end for his chase debut. A good fifth behind stablemate Shishkin in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival. This is first start since March but he could turn out to be high class over the larger obstacles.
Fiddlerontheroof has already had three starts over fences and posted a career best effort when runner-up to the useful Caribean Boy in a Grade 2 at Newbury three weeks ago. Today’s ground is more in his favour but the form of the Colin Tizzard yard remains a big concern.
Navan
1:35 – Five last time out winners among the seven runners in this Grade 2 novices’ hurdle. Overnight favourite Holymacapony impressed when winning on his hurdle debut at Punchestown 34-days ago and looks a very useful prospect.
At the prices it may pay to take a chance on the Gavin Cromwell trained Gabynako. The 5-year-old finished runner-up to two of today’s rivals (Eskylane & Fakiera) on his first two starts over hurdles before following up with a good win at Naas 27-days ago. That success came over 2m and he should be even better over today’s 2m 4f trip.
1pt win – Gabynako – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:10 – Thereisnodoubt won a 2m handicap hurdle here in March on his first start 318-day so fitness shouldn’t be an issue on his seasonal return. Goes well on soft/heavy ground and has won over 2m 4f. Up 9lb for his last win demands a bit more improvement from the 7-year-old but he’s a definite contender. Jukebox Jive is potentially well handicapped over hurdles compared to his best flat form. Hasn’t looked the most natural over hurdles but ran well enough to finish 5th of 13 at Cork last month. That was his first run over hurdles for 11 months so he’s entitled to be sharper today. Can win a race like this when everything clicks.
1pt win – Jukebox Jive – 9/1 @ Bet365
2:45 – Boghlone Honey showed some ability on her first three starts in maiden hurdle company and the mare shaped well when 3rd off 11 on her handicap hurdle debut at Sligo 56-days ago. Less miles on the clock than most of these, she’s open to further progress over this trip and if can build on last times promise, won’t be far away here.
1pt win – Boghlone Honey – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John