Ahoy there folks. A brace of winners in the shape of Special Tiara at Kempton and Russian Bill in the lucky last at Leopardstown today.
Apart from that, pretty bleak. It was a bit of a blood bath for punters today in general, so hopefully we can regroup and consolidate tomorrow!
Listen up!
12:15 At The Races Maiden Hurdle – Snow Falcon has the form in the book to justify 13/8 favouritism after coming second to Milsean the last day on the back of another two good runs. However, considering conditions, and the results the ground has produced, I’m going to look elsewhere. Considering the form of Dessie McDonoughs and the good run behind a classy Drumacoo the last day, Pack the Punch catches the eye at 5/1. I realise he is unproven on the ground but the other two of his got through it so well, it’s like they are being trained on a deep surface at home that this ground doesn’t seem to bother them too much. It’s a guess, but a guess I’m willing to take at the price.
12:50 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – Kashline looks well treated returning to the smaller obstacles. Headgear for the first time and a feather weight could see him run well at a nice each way price. Triplets Joy also looks like an improver and, whilst this is a step up, he was a beaten favourite 9 days ago so must be in some sort of form for connections to fancy him.
13:20 Ballymaloe Original Country Relish Beginners Chase – On hurdles form, Un Atout should find this relatively straightforward. After spending a long time off the track since his last run, he is also entitled to improve a fair bit. Le Vent D’Antan also shaped well on chasing debut, but had his flaws too. The one I’ve gone for, for the sake of value, is Balbir Du Mathan who shaped well when coming down at the second last on his chasing debut. Connections obviously rate him and he will have hopefully learned a bit from his mistakes.
13:50 Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) – An open enough betting heat at the minute. Briar Hill makes his racecourse return since falling in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. Significant that Ruby goes for Zaidpour, but Briar Hill has buckets of class and is superb value at 4/1. If he’s fit he surely has a great chance. That is the question though!
14:20 Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle – Shabra’s Bertolini is in the form of his life at the minute and could go well here again for connections. Meanwhile Dollar and A Dream makes for an interesting handicap debutant for Tony Martin and the same people who own Beneficient. If they want to go anywhere bigger and better, handicap wise, towards the end of the season, let’s just say this could be a prime opportunity to increase their mark and just creep into the bottom of the weights for some of those races. He could also just be a yak!
14:55 Lexus Chase (Grade 1) – A humdinger. I would be all over Road to Riches on better ground, but alas, it has gone against him, me thinks. It’s Lord Windemere for me with expected improvement from a promising racecourse return last time. Could on On His Own be the each way bet of the century? 25’s with PP as I write.
15:25 Thornton’s Recycling Flat Race – They haven’t even come close to a bumper winner yet this week, but PWM and WPM team up with the 4/6 fav Up For Review in this. The vibes are good.
So sin é for day 3 folks. Heres hoping!
Slán tamaillín,
T
Turf Talk 