Hi all,
Not as many fixtures as on Boxing Day. However, still plenty for punters to get stuck into. In fact, with the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (2:50) and the Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase), which makes it more valuable than the Welsh Grand National, there’s plenty to look forward to if you like your big field handicaps which I do.
Sadly, the Leopardstown action isn’t on ITV although it is tomorrow. The ITV cameras are covering eight races live from Chepstow and Kempton. It’s day two of Kempton’s Christmas meeting. However, its Chepstow which hosts the best of the day’s action in Britain and that’s where I start today’s preview.
My betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece and includes selections from Leopardstown.
Chepstow
The going at Chepstow is being described as soft and with showers forecast it could ease a bit more. So, it seems the Welsh Grand National will be run on reasonably testing ground.
1:05 – Watch Racing Online Free With Coral Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 3 ½ f
Zambezi Fix is a six-race maiden over fences.However, he was travelling like the mostly likely winner when falling three out at Ffos Las two starts back. He’s since finished 2nd of 11 at Sandown over hurdles. The 6-year-old looks to be on a mark he can win off and he finished runner-up here three times over fences last season. Needs to cut out the jumping errors but can win a race like this if he does.
1:40 – Forever Blessed looked an above average juvenile hurdler when making it 2-2 over hurdles last time and looks the right favourite for this Grade 1 contest.
At bigger odds I’m hoping for a big run from the Jane Williams trained Saint Segal who produced a pleasing performance to win at Bangor (good to soft) on his racecourse debut last month. He will need to improve to win this but is capable of more progress in the sphere and today’s softer ground should be in his favour.
2:10 – Flashjack might be an 11-year-old but he showed he was no back number when a 6-length 3rd of 11 over C&D on his seasonal return.
Saint Dalina is surely better than she was able to show when 9th of 10 at Carlisle on her seasonal reappearance 15-days ago.
Kateson could get an uncontested lead here and was back to form when 3rd of 13 back over hurdles at Aintree early this month. A three-time winner on soft ground. The 8-year’s old form figures at Chepstow are 121 and although he’s yet to win beyond 2m 5f looks the one to be with here. Yard has its horses in winning form.
2:50 – Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) – 3m 6 ½ f
I fancied 2018 winner Elegant Escape. He had a nice prep for this over hurdles at Sandown earlier in the month. However, the Tizzard stable seem to have gone off the boil in the past two weeks.
Deise Aba was beaten a nose at Sandown last time. He can race off the same mark here and looks nicely treated. Highland Hunter beat Deise Aba at Sandown, has a 4lb penalty to carry for the success but can’t be ruled out as he’s unexposed over marathon trips.
Last season’s winner Secret Reprieve won this last season as a novice. He’s 6lb higher this time around but was a comfortable winner 3 length winner and its not hard to think there could be more to come from him. First run since winning this in January could be negative though and horses making their seasonal reappearance are 0-11 1 placed since 2008.
Irish raider The Big Dog is well fancied. The 8-year-old improved for the step to 3m 4f when winning the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. He’s had a couple of prep runs in the autumn and should be spot on fitness wise. Needs to avoid the silly mistakes but if he does won’t be far away.
Venetia Williams has couple of contenders in Hold That Taught, the choice of stable jockey Charlie Deutsch, and Achille. The first named improved for the step up 3m 2f when winning at Carlisle 57-days ago. The 6-year-old is up 6lb for that success and 5lb out of the weights here but is capable of better and looked all about stamina last time. Achille has Hugh Nugent taking off a handy 5lb and he should be ready for this after his 5th of 21 in the Becher Chase at Aintree earlier this month. The 11-year-old stays well and looks on fair mark off 141.
Kempton
1:55 – Coded Message won this mare’s only handicap hurdle in 2019 and was a good 8 ½ length 3rd of 8, off 14lb higher 12 months ago. A reappearance 4th of 8 at Ascot should put her spot on for another crack at the race.
Emmpressive Lady was one place and 6-lengths ahead of Coded Message last year. The 6-year-old should be better for her reappearance effort when 7th of 12 at Sandown 23-days ago with the return to 3m a positive.
3:10 – Cap Du Nord must be respected on his 3 ¼ length 2nd of 11 to Royale Pagaille in this race 12 month ago.
Morning Vicar could have needed the run when only 5th of 9 at Newbury last month. His stamina for 3m must be taken on trust and he may be better on a sounder surface. However, on the plus side he seems likely to get an uncontested lead should connections adopt his normal front running tactics.
Fortescue hails from the inform Henry Daly yard. The 7-year-old won twice in the spring at Sandown (soft) and Perth (good to soft). He ran like the run was just needed at Kelso in October. Before finding the competition to hot when 7th of 21 in the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury. He goes well in the mud and is just 3lb above his last winning mark.
Leopardstown
Finally, a look at the two big handicaps at Leopardstown.
2:20 – Eighteen go to pot for this two-mile handicap hurdle. Cotteemcavennigoal improved for the step into handicap company when a head 2nd off 11 at Navan last month. Raised 3lb for that effort but could be capable of better given the 6-year-old has only had five starts over hurdles.
Sea Ducor finished a 5-length 2nd of 22 in this race 12 months ago. That was just the 5-year-old’s third start over hurdles and he looks on a decent enough handicap mark. First run since finishing last of 19 on the flat at the Curragh in June. Something was surely amiss that day and he did win first time up over hurdles last season.
Call My Lyreen is 3-8 over hurdles and must be respected on his short head 2nd of 24 in a valuable handicap hurdle on his handicap debut at the Punchestown Festival in April. Below that form on two subsequent runs at Galway & Killarney in the summer but if he was to bounce back to his best would go close.
2:55 – Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade B) – 3m
The most valuable race either side of the Irish Sea today and not surprisingly it has attracted a maximum field of 27 runners.
Noble Yeats should be suited by the step up to 3m but does need to jump better than he did at Cork last time admittedly that performance did come over an inadequate extended two mile. Looks on a competitive handicap mark.
The Bosses Oscar a useful handicap hurdler has only had three starts over fences. He produced a personal best over the larger obstacles when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 8 to West Cork Wildway in a beginners’ chase at Thurles last month. Step up to 3m for his handicap chase debut will suit and the 6-year-old did finish runner-up in a 3m handicap hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago. Respected in the first-time tongue tie and cheekpieces.
Alfa Mix is another who gets the first time cheekpieces today. The 6-year-old put in a career best when a neck 2nd of 9 on his handicap chase debut at Punchestown last month. Today’s likely softer ground looks a big plus and he shapes like he will stay 3m.
School Boy Hours remains a maiden after nine starts over fences. He proved to be a consistent type over the larger obstacles last season and looks on a fair mark. First start since April but did put in arguably his best performance over fences when a 2-length 2nd of 10 to latest Exhibition on his seasonal return last October.
Stones And Roses looked a staying handicap chaser worth following when winning a 3m 1f handicap chase at Punchestown last December. The 7-year-old ran respectably on his first start for 11 months when a 11 ½ length 4th of 11 to Smoking Gun at Fairyhouse last month. The softer the ground the better for the Willie Mullins trained runner and he could out run big odds.
Betting Advice:
Chepstow
1:40 – 1pt win – Saint Segal – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:50 – 0.5pts each way – Achille – 20/1 @ Coral & Bet365 (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds) and 1pt win – Hold That Taught – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Kempton
3:10 – 1pt win – Fortescue – 15/2 @ Bet365
Leopardstown
2:20 – 1pt win – Call Me Lyreen – 10/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Sea Ducor – 7/1 @ Bet365
2:55 – 1pt win – The Bosses Oscar – 8/1 @ Bet365 and 0.5pts each way Stones And Roses – 20/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes (both paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John