Hi all,
Cheltenham’s December Meeting begins on Friday. There’s plenty of high-class racing on offer over the two days. There’s also good Doncaster card weather permitting that could provide punters with some decent betting opportunities.
Before we enjoy all those potential goodies lets have a look back at last weeks five eyecatchers.
Eyecatchers – W/e December 8th
Saturday December 6th
Aintree
In Monday’s Daily Punt I mentioned a few horses from Saturday’s Becher Chase that could be worth adding to your trackers. Here are two of them:
Kimberlite County like the winner racing in the first time cheekpieces ran a cracker to finish second. I wasn’t sure about him enjoying the National fences, but he handled them fine. This was a nice return to action by the 7-year-old who will surely be aimed at the big one in April after this run.
Le Breuil ran better than his final position of 7th suggests. This was the 7-year-old’s first sight of the National fences and he seemed to enjoy it. He was still bang there three out before fading out of contention. Trainer Ben Pauling is struggling for winners so in the circumstances this was a good run. Too early to dismiss his National credentials.
There were also two impressive winners on the Aintree card:
Sammy Bill, trained Oliver Sherwood,looked a handicap chaser very much on the upgrade when winning the 2m 4f handicap chase. The handicapper has raised the 6-year-old 11lb for the win which makes life tougher but he’s going the right way.
The other winner that took the eye was Notre Pari in winning the 2m 4f handicap hurdle. The 5-year-old improved for the step-up distance on his handicap debut. He finished his race off powerfully to land his first win over the smaller obstacles. He’s risen 8lb for this win but there should be more to come from him this winter.
Didero Vallis – Venetia Williams
The 6-year-old raced like he needed the run on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot. He ran much better here when 5th of 15 in the Grand Sefton Chase.
The handicapper has dropped him 2lb for this effort and he’s now just 2lb higher than for his last win at Haydock 12 months ago.
Suited by soft ground I’m sure he can be placed to winning advantage sooner rather than later.
Sandown
Fortunate George – Emma Lavelle
Fortunate George had been well backed(3/1 Fav) for his seasonal return at Fontwell but ran poorly and was eventually pulled up. This was a much better effort from the 9-year-old in finishing 3rd of 11 in the Pertemps Series Qualifier, albeit, he finished a well beaten third.
He’s now 9lb lower than his last win at Wincanton in February 2018 and is a well handicapped horse when his sights are lowered back into Class 3 company.
Navan
Sire De Berlais – Gordon Elliott
The 7-year-old put in a career best when winning the Pertemps Series Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Not as good at Aintree on his final appearance of last season. Made a solid return to action when 4th of 16 behind The Jam Man in the valuable 3m ½ f. Held up in the rear he was never really put into the race but made some headway coming to the last where he was slightly hampered by the fall of Coko Beach.
He wouldn’t have beaten the three that fell in front of him but would have been closer but for events at the last. If you look at the race replay his jockey didn’t subject him to hard race. There will be other days and given he goes well at Cheltenham he could be targeted at another Pertemps in the spring.
Glenloe – Gordon Elliott
Glenloe is one of the horses who I just think has a good handicap pot in him. The 8-year-old is relatively lightly raced with 1 win from 14 runs. His peak performances over hurdles two seasons ago came over 3m when 2nd of 23 in the Pertemps Series Final at the Cheltenham Festival and a close-up 5th of 25 at the Punchestown Festival. Just the two starts over fences last season. He started this season when 5th to Faugheen in a beginners’ chase at Punchestown.
Looked interesting on his handicap chase debut. Held up at the back of the field he never really got competitive but was noted running on nicely into third at the finish.
His best hurdling from came over 3m and he’s yet race over that distance over fences. I can’t wait to see connections try him over that distance. There’s a big handicap chase in the son of Kayf Tara when he goes over 3m.
Sunday December 8th
Kelso
Big River – Lucinda Russell
Big River was the class act of the Scottish Borders National. Racing off 3lb lower than when 4th of 24 in the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. He confirmed he was a dour stayer when a running 5th 0f 23 in the Scottish Grand National on his final start of last season. Was never travelling and was eventually pulled up on is return to action last month.
Can race lazily and get behind in his races but the first time cheekpieces seemed to be working the trick here as he was travelling nicely in the rear when bought down at the 14th.
Provided his confidence isn’t dented by this mishap and the cheekpieces continue to work he 9-year-old remains more than capable of winning a decent handicap off his present mark. His liking for soft ground and extreme distance would making him interesting for races like the Eider Chase later in the season.
My latest ante post article will be posted by this time tomorrow.
Cheers
John