Hi all,
It’s the final Grade 1 race of the festive period with the latest running of the 2m 4f Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas (2:10). The best race this side of the Irish Sea is the Sky Sports Racing Sussex National Handicap Chase (2:20) There’s also a jumps card at Ayr and an all-weather fixture at Newcastle.
I have had look at a couple races at Naas & Plumpton. I doubt there will be many selections in the upcoming week but watch your inboxes for updates.
Naas
2:10 – Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 4f
Ginto has won both his starts over hurdles and last time looked a smart prospect when winning a Grade 2 at Navan last month. Looks a Grade 1 hurdle in the making and the right favourite here.
Ginto’s stablemate Hallow Games, in the same ownership, also looked a novice hurdling prospect when winning a Grade 3 at Navan last time.
Both may have to play second fiddle to the sole Willie Mullins runner Whatdeawant who made a winning hurdle debut at Navan over 2m 4f and beat Ginto in a bumper on his racecourse debut last January. The 6-year-old has won on heavy so the forecast going shouldn’t hold any terrors for him.
Verdict: Ginto will be a tough nut to crack but Whatdeawant should give him a race and can win this.
Plumpton
2:20 – Sky Sports Racing Sussex National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 4 ½ f
The going is being described as soft at Plumpton and it means good field of 16 for this year’s renewal.
Last year’s winner Seaston Spirit and 2020 winner Christmas In April both bid for another win in this marathon handicap chase.
Seaston Spirit didn’t reproduce that form on three starts last season and wasn’t much better on his seasonal reappearance in the London National at Sandown last month. However, he has slipped to 3lb below last years winning mark. Christmas In April pulled up in the same race and the yard is going through a quiet spell.
I See You Well made it 5-7 here when winning over 3m 2f her last month. He’s up 5lb which makes things tougher but he’s in form and his course form put him high on the shortlist. Granted stamina for 3m 4f must be proven but he was still going well when falling five out in this race in 2019.
Pemberley has just had the four starts over fences and got off the mark with an improved performance at Warwick last month. Up 6lb for his last win but he looks the sort to do well in stepped up to a marathon trip like this.
Verdict: Both the front two in the betting Pemberley and I See You Well must be high on the shortlist with a slight preference for the latter. Last year’s winner Seaston Spirit is 3lb lower this time around and must be respected despite a poor seasonal return.
Plumpton
2:55 – I’m interested in two previous C&D winners here in Finnegans Garden and Duhallow Lad . Finnegans Garden stepped up on a low-key reappearance when 7- length 2nd of 7 to subsequent Gallic Geordie at Lingfield last time. He might be a 13-year-old but he’s a four-time winner at Plumpton and his form figures over C&D are 61131. Soft and heavy ground suits and he shouldn’t be far away here.
Duhallow Lad is 2-2 at Plumpton. He goes well in the mud as he showed when winning on heavy ground at Uttoxeter last December. First run since March and he doesn’t have a great record fresh but if ready to roll he’s handicapped to go close.
Betting Advice:
Plumpton
2:20 -1pt win – I See You Well – 7/1 @ Bet365 and 0.5pts each way – Seaston Spirit – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
2:55 – 0.5pts win – Finnegans Garden – 9/1 @ Bet365 – and 0.5pts win – Duhallow Lad – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John