Merry Christmas from 2pts win! We’ve got six selections from across Kempton, Leopardstown and Wetherby.
1pt win Rubaud @3/1, 12:10 Kempton, Monday
1pt win Gala Marceau @8/1, 13:10 Leopardstown, Monday
1pt win Gelino Bello @11/4, 13:20 Kempton, Monday
1pt win Into Overdrive @5/1, 13:35 Wetherby, Monday
2pts win L’Homme Presse @9/4, 14:30 Kempton, Monday
1pt win Theatre Glory @5/1, 15:40 Kempton, Monday
2m (Winter) Ladbrokes “We Play Together” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+)
We go to Kempton for our first selection where RUBAUD looks a solid bet to get us off to a winning start. He’s been impressive in two novice hurdles and the stature of his connections swing favour his way ahead of Rare Edition, who looks useful himself but hasn’t beaten anything of note yet. In contrast, Rubaud beat a 102 rated flat horse with ease at Taunton, and that makes him pretty good value for his 130 rating, with scope to be much better. Trainer Paul Nicholls reckons soft ground is fine and he already looks an accomplished jumper.
1pt win Rubaud @3/1, 12:10 Kempton, Monday
2m Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (3yo)
Over to Leopardstown next for a cracking juvenile hurdle headed by impressive Fairyhouse winner Lossiemouth, but I’m buoyed by Paul Townend’s comments about stablemate GALA MARCEAU as he’s not sure if he’s on the right one. Gala Marceau looked really good in France and moved to Willie Mullins with a big reputation that’s so far unblemished. Receiving 3lb from the favourite, she doesn’t deserve to be 8x the price at 8/1 and that’s good enough for a bet – remember Townend wasn’t even on Lossiemouth last time out so they can’t be certain at this stage who’s best.
1pt win Gala Marceau @8/1, 13:10 Leopardstown, Monday
3m Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Not a renewal I’d expect to make a dent in the Cheltenham markets, but a competitive one nonetheless. McFabulous was firmly down as a non stayer over three miles as a hurdler so I’m going to be stubborn and rule him out, especially with soft ground. GELINO BELLO is the Grade 1 winner over 3m as a hurdler and I’m surprised he’s not more popular. Yes, he’s won two easy chases and hasn’t been that impressive in jumping fences, but he barely had a race last time and was entitled to lose concentration with no meaningful opponent to keep him honest. I actually quite like his jumping technique; he adjusts right to make sure he finds the right stride – it reminds me of L’Homme Presse. He’s the young, unexposed horse in the race alongside the Skelton’s mare – who was nowhere near as good over hurdles – and he’s got good form on soft ground.
1pt win Gelino Bello @11/4, 13:20 Kempton, Monday
3m Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
A competitive renewal with all the runners in with some sort of a chance. If the rain hadn’t come I’d be tipping my cliff horse Millers Bank each way but he doesn’t like like bad ground. Despite finding reasons all of them could win, L’HOMME PRESSE is the class horse, 9/4 is a good price, and he has to be the bet with the likely soft ground. His tendency to adjust left is not ideal for a tight right handed track but he’s an excellent jumper and very quick away on the landing side, which makes him really hard to pass. I thought long and hard about putting up Hitman at the prices as he’s an improving, really good jumper and completely unexposed at 3m, but ultimately he would need to outstay L’Homme Presse and I can’t see that happening.
2pts win L’Homme Presse @9/4, 14:30 Kempton, Monday
2m5f (Winter) Ladbrokes Fanzone “Your Team Your Game” Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-140)
Nicky Henderson has won the last two renewals and can do so again with THEATRE GLORY, who they definitely rate higher than a handicapper. She was well fancied when unseating at Newbury and I noted Jerry McGrath, closely associated with the yard, tipped her ante-post on a recent podcast for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. If she is up to that class she’ll need to be better than a 137 horse and at 5/1 I’m happy to pay to find out.
1pt win Theatre Glory @5/1, 15:40 Kempton, Monday
Leave a comment