Felicitations of the season to you all, my punting friends! I hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas and that you are all set to enjoy the fantastic equine action in store for us over the next few days.
I’m going to try and not be too anti-social with the family ce soir so with out any further ado lets have a gander at the card at Leopardstown tomorrow and a look at the Grade 1s at Kempton.
12:20 Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle – This looks to be a penalty kick for Clondaw Court at a forecast price of 1/5. Originally a points winner for Colin Bowe, he has joined an extremely high achieving class of novice hurdlers with the champion trainer. The betting angle is the forecast. I think the one to chase home the long odds on fav is Little Rocky from the Hughes yard. Unexposed over jumps, and well able to handle a cut in the ground on the flat and a nice price. Jumps left – suits here.
12:50 Bookmakers Bar At Bewleys Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle – This is a pretty interesting maiden. Stuccodor could prove to be an interesting hurdler in time. He beat Fiesolana (a bloody good filly) over 7f on the flat. However I’ve gone for an each way nibble on The Winkler at 7/1. Chased home Faugheen and Empire of Dirt last time, the later is possibly nothing major. Handles the cut well.
13:20 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle – Again a penalty kick for the fav Analifet here who is shaping up to be a major Triumph Hurdle contender. The angle here is again the forecast. Guitar Pete ran a game enough second behind Royal Irish Hussar at Cheltenham last time. Game enough to impress me. Thats the 1,2.
13:50 Copper Face Jacks Handicap Hurdle – In the betting forecast Not For Changing is priced up at 4-1 fav. Id be happy enough to take the Elliot charge on. Allez Vic, who has beaten the fav and gets weight off him here has a nice each way chance at 12’s. Sin é! No big interest.
2:20 Racing Post All You Need For Irish Racing Handicap Chase – Each way is the name of the game again here for me. Cairdin for Mags Mullins catches the eye. Quite inconsistent but has form with a second to Trifolium. An each way squeak at a decent price.
2:55 Racing Post Novice Chase – Ask anyone who knows me. I am one of the biggest Champagne Fever fans on the face of this earth. Back him in nearly all of his runs to date. Bar when he was beat in the Royal Bond. He has an incredible cruising speed and jumps like a stag on steroids. Again the value is with the forecast. This horse is pretty tough to beat under 2mile 4f. Defy Logic will probably chase him home. COME ON THE FEVER!!!
3:30 Donohue Marquees Flat Race – This is a bloody hot bumper. A champion bumper contender could come out of this race. People are talking up Macbride here for a bit of improvement. I’m not convinced. Siding with Vedettariat for a bit of improvement from the last run.
KEMPTON PICKS:
Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Just A Par
Christmas Hurdle – The New One to best speed horse My Tent. If on faster ground the JP horse would have a huge test. New one wins out on stamina.
King George – Silviniaco Conti to go well on heavyish ground. I also like an each way nibble on Menorah.
So thats it folks. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and the very best wishes of health and happiness for the New Year. Thank you all very much for what has been one of the most crazy years of my life.
Slán tamaillín,
T
Turf Talk 