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Wednesday 25 December 2013

Where to start ?



It's a packed Boxing Day on the racing front with 11 meetings in Britain and Ireland to choose from. Over here the best we have to offer is at Kempton with the King George, the Feltham and the Christmas Hurdle.Whilst in Ireland at Leopardstown we have a Grade 1 Novice Chase, Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle and a hot Maiden Hurdle, at Down Royal they stage an interesting Hunters Chase.

Festivities are in full swing here and I will be trying to pick out the best favs to try and collect some easy money to keep the wallet topped up for the indulgent days ahead.

You need to be up early tomorrow and have your wits about you as even before we hit 1.00pm there are several short priced fancies going to post with the likes of Milo Man, Vandros, Hail Tiberius, Bobble Boru, Horrendous Hulabaloo, Clondaw Flicka and Dubai Prince all in with leading chances in their respective contests.

In the 12.50 at Leopardstown Dermot Weld runs the useful flat performer Stuccodor in the Maiden Hurdle and he is up against Willie Mullins Daneking formerly trained by John Gosden and this could be an event to keep an eye on with Cheltenham in mind.

In the 1.30 at Down Royal an old fancy takes to the Hunters Chase stage in Joncol and if Paul Nolan has him up to his old form  he must run a big race, although he is up against last years winner Tammys Hill and also Salsify.

The 2.10 at Market Rasen is over 3m 5f and this marathon trip could be ideal for Merlin's Wish and if the going is testing then all the better. He has Charlie Longsdon's Orange Nassau to beat.

Champagne West gets a stone and 10lbs off top weight and fav Southfield Theatre in the 2.15 at Wincanton, although Harry Derham claims 5lb and the form of his latest win could be good enough to see him triumph.

In the 2.20 at Leopardstown Margaret Mullins (4-16) runs Cairdin in his first Handicap Chase and he should give a good account.

I had the The New One picked out as a festival winner from his first win last season and I'm sure he can go on again this time round. Obviously the 2.35 at Kempton is a difficult task fro him but My Tent or Yours wasn't overly convincing last time so I'm hopeful he can do the business.

Seconditis has troubled Rydalis so far this year and hopefully he can put a 1 on the board in the 2.50 at Wincanton in what could be a good day for the Williams yard. I.m hoping that his good jumping holds up and that that will make him difficult to beat.

Dan Skelton has his stable in top form and he has been a revelation, hopefully he hasn't stopped winning and in the 2.55 at Wetherby he runs Mister Grez  who must be placed at least.

Towcester takes some getting and you tend to see the races being won by the bigger stables who have no probs re fitness, however Course and Distance winners are also worth looking out for and in Bill The Lad in the 3.05 we have just that and he is able to run before he is reassessed by the Handicapper.

I have already covered the King George in my previous post and I've no reason to change my view on that.

Last Shot for Venetia Williams in the 3.25 is another fav that should win, but what price he will start at is anyone's guess.

Brian Ellison has a few runners tomorrow but one that could be capable of better over hurdles is Beaumont's Party who went up 17lb on the flat this season and the first time hood should hopefully light him up in a good way in the 3.30 at Wetherby.

In the 3.45 at Kempton there are several in with chances however I'm going to take an ew chance on Master Of The Game Hendersons entry who he was quite sweet on at the start of the season so hopefully he can put his best hoof forward in the first time hood.

On the flat at Wolverhampton the day starts with a tricky little sprint in which it may be best to side with Forest Edge to regain his winning sequence. He missed the break last time but couldn't get back into it, but that was not surprising as they took over half a second off the course record and some decent horses have run here in the past so it was decent time by any standard, even Tom Segal's. William Haggas looks to be after some Christmas funds and sends out Resolute and Epic Battle and both must have leading chances in their respective contests.

Well there you have virtually all of my thoughts for the Boxing Day bonanza. Not even I will be backing them all and I wouldn't expect anyone else to unless they were mad, but I've highlighted a Yankee from the above which can be done to small stakes.

Good luck !