Altior, the favourite for the 12:50 Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton, is crying out to be taken on as the form of his recent Cheltenham win over the since-retired Maputo looks a shade lucky. He did have Paul Nicholls’s Simon Squirrel well held on the day and there’s little reason to…
1.5pt win double Coney Island, Douvan @ 3.7/1, Leopardstown
The opening day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival is generally overshadowed by the events at Kempton Park, and is a warm-up for races such as the Lexus Chase to follow. To be brutally honest, the bookies aren’t giving much away with several short-priced favourites dominating the betting in a number…
1pt win Net D'ecosse @20/1, Kempton 14:00
It’s the King George later on the card that’s supposed to tee up the Gold Cup winner, but last season it was the Grade-1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase that Coneygree navigated on his way to Festival glory. This year’s renewal looks a competitive one with five of the seven entered…
0.5pt Win Smad Place @150/1 Ante-Post Double, King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup
Smad Place finished 27l behind Coneygree in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season and you could forgive connections for abandoning the prospect of another tilt this season. However, an operation on his epiglottis seems to have made him better-than-ever, and with the absence of Coneygree, this eight-year-old has a real live…
1pt win Thistlecrack @3/1, 0.25pts ew Karazak @50/1, Ascot 14:25
Reve De Sivola has won the last three renewals of this Grade 1 staying hurdle, though this looks a much tougher renewal than last year, where he looked fortunate to beat the idling Zarkandar. At a glance, it looks a two-horse race this season, with World Hurdle second Saphir Du…
1pt win Esoterique @16/1, Sha Tin 07:50
Andre Fabre has sent his star mare Esoterique over to Hong Kong to renew rivalries with Able Friend, this time on his home track of Sha Tin where he has been peerless in Hong Kong racing’s history. The fact remains he was well-beaten at Royal Ascot and has eight lengths…
0.5pts win Lucky Nine @33/1, 0.5pts win Charles The Great @50/1, Sha Tin 06:40
Hong Kong hosts four Group One flat races on Sunday morning, with Europe represented in all. The sprint, in particular, is full of value and looks the perfect punting race with a short-priced favourite seemingly there for the taking. At 15/8, Gold-Fun is a hot favourite after being dropped back…
1pt win West Approach @16/1, Cheltenham 14:25
Caspian Caviar Gold Cup aside, good punting opportunities are few and far between today but there may be some value about the Grade-2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Raced over just shy of three miles, today’s soft ground and Cheltenham’s hill will make this a proper test of stamina, which…
1pt win Annacotty @17/2, 1pt win Champagne West @9/1, Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, 13:50 Cheltenham
The Paddy Power Gold Cup form is asked a number of questions with several horses re-opposing over the New Course at Cheltenham. It’s fair to say the market is dominated by the outcome of that race with the first and second priced at 7-8/1 and locked in a battle for…
1pt win Private Malone @14/1, Cheltenham 12:00
At 14/1, Private Malone stands out as the value bet in this three-mile novice chase. Never outside the top two in his five career starts, he looks to have been dismissed by the bookies despite an impressive seasonal début at Haydock. He travelled like the best horse, jumped well and got…