Hi all,
It’s the final days of Leopardstown & Limerick’s Christmas meetings. This side of the Irish Sea there are three jump fixtures at Newbury, Doncaster and Kelso and all-weather jumps card at Southwell.
At Leopardstown where there are two Grade 1 contests. There’s also a competitive card at Newbury where the feature race is the Grade 1 Challow Novices Hurdle (3:05).
ITV are covering the best of today’s action from Newbury (five races), Leopardstown (two races), and Doncaster (2 races).
I begin today’s preview at Newbury with ITV races. As ever my betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Newbury
The ground has eased to soft at Newbury.
1:25 – MansionBet Faller Insurance Handicap Chase (For The Hallowe’En Trophy) (Class 3) – 2m ½ f
Gallic Geordie comes into the race seeking the hat trick after two wins at Lingfield. He has a 7lb penalty for the last of those successes 9-days ago. He’s won on good to soft and heavy so seems ground versatile. Different track today but the one to beat.
Early Du Lemo off for 10 months and ran respectably when a 6 ½ length 3rd of 9 at Sandown earlier in the month. The 8-year-old was a solid enough runner-up over fences at the meeting in 2018. Trainer Gary Moore has his horses in good form with 7 winners from 26 runners in the past 14-days.
At bigger odds we have the potentially well handicapped Russian Doyen. The 8-year-old was a useful hurdler and novice chaser, winning twice, including C&D, and finishing 4th of 20 to A Plus Tard in a novice handicap chase at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival when with Colin Tizzard. He seemed to lose his way and switched to the Jeremy Scott yard last season. Yet to hit his best form for a new yard on either start this autumn but has slid down to a good mark. Trainer Jeremy Scott has his runners in better form with 4 winners from 13 runners in the past 14-days.
2:00 – Bank A Winner With MansionBet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
An interesting handicap hurdle with Dashel Drasher and Dickie Diver both back over the smaller obstacles. The first named has improved over fences but did well over hurdles 4-7 and won over C&D in March 2019. He’s potentially very well handicapped back over hurdles.
Dickie Diver had just two starts over fences last season. The 8-year-old is having his first start over hurdles since finishing 11-length 4th of 20 to Minella Indo in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Allaho was one place in front of him and Lisnagar Oscar in fifth.
They take on several useful handicap hurdlers though.
Philip Hobbs who won this in 2018 saddles Masters Legacy. A winner at Chepstow on his seasonal return. He improved again when a length 2nd of 11 over C&D last month. Proved his stamina for the trip that and day looks to be going the right way. He’s sure to be there or thereabouts.
Trainer Tom Lacey has his horses in winning form. He runs Pounding Poet who put in a career best when a short-head 2nd of 13 in similar race at Aintree last time. The 5-year-old is 5lb higher here but remains on a competitive mark and will like the further ease in the ground.
Beauport ended last season with a surprise win in a valuable novice’s handicap hurdle at Sandown in March. Shaped with plenty of promise when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 10th on his seasonal return at the same venue 52-days ago. The soft ground will suit the 5-year-old who is capable of better albeit he might need further.
2:35 – Follow @mansionbetrace On Twitter Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 2f
A good-sized field of 14 for a very intriguing handicap chase.
Saint Palais bids for the hat trick after wins at Worcester and Wetherby, earlier in the month. He’s up 10lb for that latter success but had plenty in hand last time and the 4-year-old is open to further improvement.
Gericault Roque has run well on both his starts over fences. He confirmed the promise of his Wetherby chase debut when ½-length 2nd of 12 to Pats Fancy in novice handicap chase at Chepstow 25-days ago. The 5-year-old was doing his best work at the finish over 3m and should stay further.
Crypto ended last season with a soft ground handicap chase success at Carlisle in March. The 7-year-old made a solid return to action when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 11 at Bangor last month.
Nestor Park is an eight-race maiden over fences but he’s respected on his neck 2nd of 14 in this race last year. Likely needed the run when 4th of 9 at Lingfield on his seasonal return 59-days ago. Looks well treated and must be respected returning to a track he goes well at.
Wayfinder won novice handicap chase on his second start over fences in October 2020. Off for 14 months and brought down at ninth at Bangor 19-days ago. If his confidence hasn’t been dented by that mishap, he remains open to improvement. Trainer Rebecca Curtis saddled the winner of this in 2016.
3:05 – MansionBet Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 4 ½ f
Paul Nicholls saddled Bravemansgame to win last years renewal. He runs favourite Stage Star who looked an ideal type for the race when making all to win a novice hurdle over C&D last month (good to soft), a race that was won by Bravemansgame. Different ground today than last time but he did win a bumper on soft ground so should handle it.
Lossiemouth made it 3-6 over hurdles when winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Sandown 26-days ago. He brings the best form to the race and won’t be inconvenienced by the easing of the ground.
West Balboa looked a very smart prospect when winning on her hurdle debut at Warwick last month.
Gordon Elliot brings over Gringo D’aubrelle. A bumper winner at Navan two starts back before winning over hurdles at the second attempt at Fairyhouse last month. Capable of better in the spher and looks interesting stepped up to 2m 4f.
3:35 – MansionBet Proud To Support British Racing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) – 2m 6 ½ f
You can make some sort of case for all eight runners.
Fern Hill has to be respected on his neck 2nd of 7 to Come On Teddy in novice handicap chase at Uttoxeter on chase debut 22-days ago. That was the 6-year-old’s first start for 10 months and he was 7lb out of the weights that day. There was plenty to like about his attitude at the finish last time.
Flash Collonges was thrown in the deep end for his chase debut when 3rd of 4th to Ahoy Senor in Grade 2 novice chase here last month. He should be all the better for that experience and looks the type do better over fences.
Patroclus twice a winner over hurdles last season is having his first run since pulling up in a valuable novices’ handicap hurdle at Sandown in March. Looks the type to do better over fences but a slight concern would be a further easing of the ground.
Beatthebullet a decent enough hurdler made a winning chase debut when beating two rivals at Exeter last month. The 7-year-old is vulnerable to less exposed types and does need to jump with more fluency than he did last time.
Leopardstown
1:45 – Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 3m
Run Wild Fred took advantage of a handy mark to win the valuable Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan last time and brings the best form into the race.
Run Wild Fred’s stablemate Fury Road missed the beginners’ chase yesterday to come here. A runner-up to the smart Gabynako on his chase debut he’s since gone onto finish 1 ½ length 3rd of 8 in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. A smart staying hurdler he’s made a solid start to his chase career. The first time cheekpieces are applied here and the step up to 3m looks a plus.
Ontheropes won the Munster National two starts back before finishing a never nearer 4th of 20 in the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury last time.
Vanillier last season’s Albert Bartlett winner at the Cheltenham Festival. He built on the promise of his Down Royal Chase debut when winning the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown last month. His jumping was solid enough that day and the step to 3m should bring out more improvement in the 6-year-old.
2:20 – Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
Sharjah is a standing dish in this race and bids for a four timer. The 8-year-old made a winning return to action when beating two rivals in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last time. He’s a worthy odds-on favourite and it’s hard to see him being beat.
It could be one -two for trainer Willie Mullins who also saddles Echoes In Rain. The mare was 15 lengths behind Sharjah in the Morgiana but was far to keen to do herself justice on her first start since winning a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. She’s better than she was able to show the last day and if she gets a decent gallop remains a mare capable of better.
2:55 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle – 2m 4f
A field of twenty are set to mee the starter. The two I like most are Farrawaybay and Mahlers Dollar.
Farrawaybay has been a steady improver over hurdles this autumn. The mare put in a career best effort on RPR’s when winning an 18 runners handicap hurdle at Navan 53-days ago. She’s only had seven starts over hurdles. Up 8lb for her latest success, demands more from her but she may be capable of more improvement, if she handles today’s softer ground.
Mahlers Dollar won a Clonmel Maiden hurdle (soft) two starts back and improved again when finishing a 5 ¾ length 3rd of 16 on his handicap hurdle debut at Cork last time. He travelled like he was on a winnable mark at Cork and the return to 2m 4f could bring out more progress in the 7-year-old.
Doncaster
The final two races on the Doncaster card are on ITV but I have just looked at the first of them and there are few in with a chance.
2:50 – Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m
Glen Forsa was never really travelling before eventually pulling up in the Rehearsal Handicap Chase at Newcastle last time. Prior to that the 9-year-old had finished an encouraging 10-length 4th of 10 at Ascot on his first start for new trainer Charlie Longsdon. He’s on a good mark on his best form, if you ignore his Newcastle performance although he does have to prove his stamina for 3m. Trainer won this in 2018.
Oscar Robertson took advantageof a drop-in class to win over 3m at Wetherby last time. He should run well again albeit this is a better race.
Philip Hobbs saddled last year’s race winner and has a live contender in Kalooki. The 7-year-old was sent off the 4/1 favourite for better race at Newbury on his return to action last month. However, he ran well below market expectations in finish 7th. He’s surely better than that run and the return to 3m should suit.
Cool Mix looked as good as ever when a 13-length 4th of 12 in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last time. Fifth in last season’s Scottish Grand National. A consistent sort he shouldn’t be far away again.
Cat Tiger was well fancied (3/1 fav) for the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences on his seasonal return. He made a few mistakes that day that didn’t help his cause. Third in the Foxhunters at Aintree last April. He’s not handicapped out of this, if he can cut out the mistakes.
Chirico Vallis won at Chepstow (good) in October but he’s not certain to repeat that performance on softer ground today.
Port Of Mars is having first run since pulling up at Kelso in February. He’s had a breathing operation since that run. He’s only had four starts over fences and could be capable of better on his handicap chase debut. Both career wins have come the mud so soft ground won’t inconvenience the 7-year-old.
Betting Advice:
Newbury
1:25 – 1pt win – Russian Doyen – 12/1 @ Bet365
2:00 – 1pt win – Dashel Drasher – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Pounding Poet – 6/1 – Gen
2:35 – 1pt win – Nestor Park – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power and 1pt win – Wayfinder – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Leopardstown
1:45 – 1pt win – Fury Road – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
2:55 – 1pt win – Farrawaybay – 7/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Mahlers Dollar -10/1 @ Bet365
Doncaster
2:50 – 1pt win – Glen Forsa – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John