Hi all,
Of yesterday’s selections only Handsworth provided a return although both Articulum & Unexpected Depth went close in their respective races.
It’s the last of the Christmas crackers today with the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. There’s also some decent racing at Newbury provided the course passes a morning inspection. If they do race at Newbury you can settle down to a bumper nine races on ITV.
Leopardstown
It’s fair to say that Willie Mullins has dominated this meeting so far and I expect that to continue today. The two best races on the Leopardstown card are the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novices’ Chase (1:50) & Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle (2:25). And Mullins has got the favourite for both races.
1:50 – Monkfish beat Latest Exhibition a neck in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and made a winning debut over fences Fairyhouse last month. Big step in class here but with a clear round is probably the one to beat. I put up Latest Exhibition in my Daily Punt column as a good each-way bet at 7/1 and I think he can give Monkfish most to do and like the favourite will appreciate the step up to 3m.
1pt win – Latest Exhibition – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
2:25 – It’s a rematch between Morgana first & second Abacadabras & Saint Roi. Hopefully today’s race will be run at a better gallop than it was Punchestown and we can see whether Saint Roi was an unlucky horse or not. Besides Saint Roi, Willie Mullins also saddles Sharjah who bids for a hat trick of wins in the race and Saldier who runs for the first time since winning last year’s Morgana Hurdle. It will be tough to win a race of this quality off such a long layoff but he is 2-2 when returning from a 365+day break. If the eight stand their ground he would lively each way contender.
1pt each way – Saldier – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:00 – A tricky enough novices handicap hurdle. Gabbys Cross bids for a hat trick after wins at Tramore and Punchestown. A mark of 121 looks workable for his handicap hurdle debut and he should go close. Top weight Jacksons Gold made it 2-4 over hurdles when winning a Tramore novice last month. The form of that race looks solid enough, the runner-up has won since. Millen To One was third in that Thurles race and was beaten ½ length in this race last year. He needs respecting with Jack Kennedy in the saddle.
1pt win – Jacksons Gold – 7/1 @ William Hill
Newbury
There’s decent racing at Newbury, if it survives a morning inspection, and some big fields. The feature race of a seven-race card is the Grade 1 MansionBet Challow Novices’ Hurdle (3:15). It’s not a betting race for me, although I hope Star Gate can enhance his Cheltenham Festival claims. It’s three of the handicaps that interest me from a betting perspective.
1:30 – There are four last time out winners in the eight strong field for this novices’ handicap chase. The eye is drawn to overnight favourite Demachine who made it 2-2 over fences with an impressive Ascot win last month. The Nicky Henderson Dickie Diver looks interesting on his chase debut off a mark of 141. The 7-year-old hasn’t been seen in action since finishing 4th of 20 to Minella Indo in the 2019 Albert Bartlett Hurdle. Despite concerns over the yard’s form, he could be well handicapped horse.
1pt win – Dickie Diver – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:40 – A big field of 14 have been declared for this 3m 2f handicap chase. Amateur is 0-4 over fences but has a couple of pieces of form that would give him a chance here. The 7-year-old finished 2nd of 12 at Carlisle 58-days ago and is having his first start since a wind-op.
1pt win – Amateur – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:45 – King D’argent made a winning chase debut at Warwick 19-days ago and although he’s been upped 11lb for that success he’s open to more improvement in the sphere and is the one to beat. Funambule Sivola looked much improved for jumping fences when winning at Wetherby (good to soft) on his chase debut two starts back. He probably failed to stay 2m 4f at Sandown last time and will be better suited back down in trip here. Bridle Loanan made it 2-2 in handicap chases when coming from behind to win at Fontwell last time. He’s up 8lb in better race but testing ground suits the 7-year-old who has each way claims.
Cheers
John