Skip to main content

Featured

Cheltenham 2021 - Review

The week belongs to Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Jack Kennedy. Minella Indo won the Gold Cup having lost the RSA on the line this time last year. Everyone loves a comeback story and this is one because following that defeat there was a fall at Leopardstown at Christmas and a very ordinary run in February. I thought he was very overrated and even though he fit the age range  (the last 3 winners of the race were 7 or 8 years old), I over looked him for Al Boum Photo. Funnily enough it had the feel of when Al Boum Photo won in 2019 because there wasn't a lot of talk about him. I still expected him to be beaten even when he flew the last but A Plus Tard couldn't run him down. He proved me and the doubters wrong today by adding the top prize in National Hunt racing to that narrow second last year and the Albert Bartlett two years ago. What a Cheltenham record! Fantastic for Jack Kennedy as well. He's had some week too - Black Tears beating the hot favourite Concertis

ITV Racing - Boxing Day Review

1.15 Winner - Killer Clown - age, position, distance, previous run

1.15 Selection - Mr One More (placed) - weight, trainer, position, distance, course, previous run


1.50 Winner - Shan Blue - age, weight, position

1.50 Selection - The Big Breakaway (placed) - He's a big old boat - weight, jockey trainer, position, distance, previous run


2.05 Winner - Canelo - age, weight, position, previous run

2.05 Selection - Snow Leopardess (placed) - age, weight, position, distance, previous run


2.25 Winner - Silver Streak - weight, position, distance, previous run

2.25 Selection - Epatante (placed) - strange ITV were gonna double the ITV 7 if he won, at 1/5. Those are actions synonymous with bookies taking a favourite on - age, weight, trainer, distance, course, previous run


3.00 Winner - Frodon - age, weight, trainer, position, distance

3.00 Selection - Clan Des Obeaux (placed) - age, weight, jockey, trainer, position, distance, course, previous run



Just the five races today from ITV racing but there's action from Ireland and UK for the next 4 days including the Welsh Grand National from Chepstow on Sunday and the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Bank Holiday Monday. Today, it's all about the King George and if Clan Des Obeaux can win it for the third year running or can Cyrname, Lostintranslation or Santini defeat the champion.

Before that there are 3 races from Kempton and the Rowland Meyrick from Wetherby. We start with a 2m4f Handicap and the recent history suggests 6 year olds win this carrying 11/8 to 10/10. Harry Fry and Mick Channon have won it in the last 3 years and have Mr One More and Hold The Note respectively running today but Mr One More ran at Chepstow last time as Glen Forsa two years ago.

The Kauto Star Novices Chase over 3m is the 1.50 from Kempton. The Big Breakaway, One For The Team and Kalooki tick the most boxes. Colin Tizzard is only on a 8% win rate but I've gone with The Big Breakaway in this one even though he doesn't fit the age profile.

Over at Wetherby the 3 mile handicap chase has been won by horses carrying 11/11 all the way down to 10/7. It also favours 7 or 8 year olds who last ran in November and December over 2m7f - 3m2f. Snow Leopardess and The Dutchman are the choices and I've gone with Snow Leopardess who is shorter in the betting.

Epatante should win the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle having impressed at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth. Nicky Henderson has won this for at least the last 3 years and maybe Seven Barrows other runner in this Floressa can produce a career best and nick second from serial placers Silver Streak and Ballyandy

And so to the main event, The Ladbrokes King George VI and Clan Des Obeaux looks like he will take all the beating in this again. He's the right age and teams up with Sam Twiston-Davies again. He was second to Bristol De Mai over the distance in his season return at Haydock in November. Cyrname disappointed in this last year but hopefully lessons have been learnt to make this more of a contest while Lostintranslation looks to prove he can still compete at this level. Santini is interesting after running really well behind Lake View Lad at Aintree.



Comments

Popular Posts