Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. The very best festive wishes to you and yours.
Needless to say the wine has been swilled, turkey scoffed and, as has become tradition over the past few years for me, I’m now tapping away at the laptop with gusto whilst the red wine induced chaos continues around me.
How and ever, one must carry on!
It is great to be writing to you once again. The professional lifestyle is not exactly conducive to any sort of extra-curricuar of carry on. Especially when there’s pints to be drank and craic to be had nearly every other night of the week it seems. Maybe I need to sort out my priorities….maybe not.
Four great days of racing lie in wait and I, for one, cannot wait. The rain is an issue, however. It has spilled in Dublin pretty much all day. As I peer out the window here in D6 (not my normal Christmas haunt I hasten to add) the rain has eased, but the ground is holding idle water on the surface. The water table is high. ‘Bottomless’ is the word that will be on many riders lips as they come in from the first tomorrow, I suspect. With that in mind, selecting horses may be tricky….never mind selecting winners.
Anyway, it’s Christmas, so I’ll forgo any further waffle. I’ve got a G&T waiting for me. Tanqueray, in case you were wondering.
12:15 Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle: Tricky. Plenty of unraced entries here, and I suspect there may well be a few non-runners. Not just here, but throughout the card. Ball D’Arc is interesting for me. Dempsey claims 3 off the back, acted well on the heavy at Navan and that French pedigree would signal his ability to continue to get through that bad ground. His previous visits to the track will stand to him when those around him could be quite green when they encounter ground that is very different to any all-weather/wood-chip gallop they might have encountered in their eduction. Of the unproven types, Usurp could be interesting, but to be honest I’ll be staying out of trouble here!
12:45 Thornton’s Recycling Maiden Hurdle: On this ground and at that price I’ll be taking on Vigil. Don’t Touch It showed promise when handling the soft sod at Gowran. 7/2 available at present could prove skinny enough but I’ll take a chance. Volavien looks the danger, to my untrained eye.
13:20 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle: Jer’s Girl has been the springer over the past few days. This has been a market I’ve been keeping a close eye on over the last few days. I’d give Rashaan a serious shout in this and I’ll have fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyes crossed for the Treacy family. Here’s hoping he’ll get the job done and keep the fairytale alive. Fairytales aside, he is a classy individual and should be in the mix, despite the fact he has to give weight away to the rest.
13:50 Cardinal Capital Handicap: Given the nature of this race you’ll allow me two against the field, surely! The one that sticks out to me ticks a number of boxes. Thrice raced maiden. First time in a handicap. Mark Walsh for Tony Martin with a JP horse in it. Spacious Sky. Mmmmmm. Worth a tenner a 5’s…. Each way players could do worse than have a look at the top weight Ice Cold Soul.
14:20 Download The Free Racing Post Mobile App Handicap: Trappy. Normally I’d run a mile from a Kings Theatre in this type of ground but I’m All You Need could be the one to cure your hangover. Can handle the bog and still looks well handicapped.
14:55 Racing Post Novice Chase: Despite any ground worries Douvan should still get this done. I’m not going to spout on here. The experts can tell you all how good he is. The bet for me is a reverse forecast. Douvan & Sizing John. Up and down the line.
15:25 Donohoe Marquees Flat Race: You’d want to be a brave man or woman to back a 4/6 fav in that muck. Thirsty Work could quench your thirst and pay for a pint after racing, however. Katie claims 5 and he runs for a yard in form. I may have a each way play on a horse called Bobo Mac as well. I have a hair brained theory that horses with experience, regardless of ability, will often outdo their classier ‘first-time-out’ counterparts on the heavy stuff. He could be a yak but 20’s is tempting.
Open Eagle in the first at Kempton has been well touted by the shrewdies. word a pound or two. I probably wont have a bet in the King George at this stage….how boring…
Anywho, that G&T is getting flat. Goodnight and God bless.
Slán tamaillín,
T
Turf Talk 