News from the North(ern) Hemisphere

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Saturday was a glorious afternoon of jump racing after a difficult week of press coverage for racing up here. Two on going legal disputes have dragged racing's dirty laundry into the public domain and getting the focus back to the on track action was much appreciated.

Vey contrasting conditions at the two main UK meetings - at Sandown, it was a fine and sunny afternoon but overnight rain had left the ground Good to Soft, Soft in places. The two grade 1 feature races were both steeplechases over 3200m which involved the jumping of the stretch of seven fences down the far side.

The Henry VIII was the race for the novices and impressive Cheltenham winner THIRD TIME LUCKI was punted to 7/4 but there was plenty of support for EDMONDSTONE at 3/1.

Henry VIII Novices Chase: 

THIRD TIME LUCKI jumped too well and that was his undoing. Connections said after the race they thought Cheltenham was more to his liking - perhaps but he barely gets 3200m and on soft ground his exuberance cost him valuable energy. It may be he'll always be better on a quicker surface but Aintree looks a better option on this evidence.

EDWARDSTONE is having his second go at chasing - his first attempt a year ago didn't impress and he was sent back hurdling but has come back to the larger obstacles and looks very different for all he has brought down first time up. An impressive win at Warwick has now been followed up at championship level and he's generally 10/1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March. WAR LORD ran well enough in second.

On then to the Tingle Creek and the very top of the championship tree over 3200m. SHISHKIN's absence did devalue the race slightly but Champion Chase runner up NUBE NEGRA, third CHACUN POUR SOI and fifth GREANETEEN re-opposed. The money came for CHACUN POUR SOI who went off at 4/6. 

Tingle Creek Chase: 

This one really brought the horse down - Bryony Frost has had a torrid week at the BHA where her compliant of bullying against fellow jockey Robbie Dunne has laid bare some of the more unsavoury aspects of weighing room culture.

Bryony has often said she prefers to let the horses do the talking and GREANETEEN spoke volumes as to her ability in the saddle. I wasn't sure how well they were going at halfway but we know this horse stays every yard and that proved decisive. The top two in the market both flopped however and that does leave a question hanging over the form of the race. NUBE NEGRA didn't look happy on the ground while CHACUN POUR SOI, for all he looked straighter than he did on seasonal debut last year, seems to need his opening run and he blew up after two out.

GREANETEEN will doubtless be in the mix for the Champion Chase - whether he can match SHISHKIN if the latter brings his best form is debatable. It was also a triumph for trainer Paul Nicholls who had the 1-2 and followed up in the London National.

At Aintree, a wet and windy afternoon made it thoroughly unpleasant for man and beast alike and the ground quickly turned Soft. The Grade 2 Many Clouds however saw an impressive win by PROTEKTORAT who slammed NATIVE RIVER 25 lengths on his first run up from 4000m to 4800m. The King George looks the obvious next target where he'll mix it with the top chasers but he has that cruising speed which many other chasers don't possess.

We also had a race over the famous National fences which was won by SNOW LEOPARDESS.

 

 

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I'll cover the John Durkan in a moment but first a look ahead to the coming weekend and while there's good jumping in Britain and Ireland, the real highlight is the Hong Kong International Meeting at Sha Tin.

The International Jockeys Challenge is on Wednesday at Happy Valley but on Sunday attention switches to Sha Tin.

The Sprint over 1200m is mostly a local affair but a couple of Japanese runners add some interest and all eyes will be on the new sprinting kid on the block - PIXIE KNIGHT.

The Mile features MOTHER EARTH who needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort at the Breeders Cup and she joins four Japanese challengers against the locals. 

The Cup over 2000m features Champion Stakes runner up DUBAI HONOUR who comes to this with real claims. Aidan O'Brien has BOLSHOI BALLET while Irish 2000 Guineas winner MAC SWINEY is also in the field. LOVES ONLY YOU comes on from her thrilling Breeders Cup win.

The Vase over 2400m features PYLEDRIVER who won the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the useful French filly EBAIYRA along with MOGUL against both the locals and a couple of useful Japanese types.

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Sunday saw the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown over 4000m.

John Durkan Chase: 

If you ever want a definition of a brave and battling horse, I give you ALLAHO. I thought he was cooked after that blunder at the second last but he battled on bravely and saw off JANIDIL after the last. I did think ASTERION FORLONGE was going easily when blundering away his jockey three out and looked a likely winner.

I'm also far from convinced the race won't leave its mark on the winner who had to fight really hard but has confirmed his status as the top intermediate chaser. MELON ran his best race for a long time but both FAKIR D'OUDAIRIES and especially ENVOI ALLEN disappointed. I didn't think either looked wholly at ease on the sticky ground. JANIDIL confirmed the promise of his Fairyhouse win and can now mix it at the top table. 

On the same card, 2020 Cheltenham Bumper winner FERNY HOLLOW made an impressive fencing debut. He had been expected to be one of the top novice hurdlers last year and beat BOB OLINGER on his hurdles debut at Gowran and the latter went on to win at Cheltenham of course so they could rematch in the Arkle in the spring.

Moving on to the coming weekend in the UK and Ireland and both Doncaster and Cheltenham stage two-day meetings on Friday and Saturday. We've had a lot of rain today and more is forecast so we may well see some "proper" jumping ground. At Doncaster, the two feature races used to be run at an equivalent Lingfield card until they were moved by the course owners following several years of lost cards due to waterlogging or frost.

No Grade 1 races but four Grade 2 events - two at each track.  At Doncaster, the Summit Hurdle is for the 3-y-o over 3200m. 18 have been entered and early favourite is PORTICELLO who impressed at Wetherby last time. The Grade 2 Novice Chase over 4800m looks tailormade for THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE who looked very good when winning another Grade 2 over this trip at Cheltenham. 

At Cheltenham, the 4800m staying novices hurdle has drawn 10 entries and the Irish raider BLAZING KHAL did it very well last time and is early favourite to follow up. 9 go in the Unibet Hurdle over 3200m (used to be known as the Bula Hurdle). SCEAU ROYAL ran really well in the Fighting Fifth and has obvious claims though SONG FOR SOMEONE returned with a fine run at Ascot and the Irish raider BALLYADAM is a fascinating contender.

More on these races down the week...

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Moving on from Viagra jokes which don't stand up to close inspection 

Final declarations are through for the Saturday meetings. At Cheltenham, the ground is now Good to Soft, Good in places so still on the fast side for the time of year. Just six go in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett for the staying novice hurdlers. BLAZING KHAL and GELINO BELLO were first and second in a 4000m Grade 2 at the last meeting - the former has to carry a 5 lb penalty for that success by two and a half lengths so you can see why they are closely matched in the betting as there's very little between them.

BARONY LEGENDS won a mickey mouse race at Lingfield over 3950m and could be anything but I'm more interested in three time Irish point winner BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE who has joined the powerful Skelton yard.

Seven go in the Unibet Hurdle over 3200m. The softening ground has seen SONG FOR SOMEONE displace SCEAU ROYAL as favourite but the latter ran well on gluey ground at Newcastle and I'm not convinced he will be that inconvenienced. SONG FOR SOMEONE chased home BUZZ at Ascot over 3900m and I just wonder if he'll have the speed for this.

Both the front two carry Grade 2 winning penalties but that still gives them an edge over the likes of GUARD YOUR DRAMS and BA::YADAM who look a notch below this class.

At Doncaster, the ground is now Good to Soft - the Grade 2 Summit for the 3-y-o hurdlers over 3200m has eight runners. PORTICELLO looked good at Wetherby but I prefer the unbeaten KNIGHT SALUTE who looked very good at Cheltenham - MAGISTRATO was held in fourth. Don't rule out TOO FRIENDLY who did it nicely at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

Just three stand in the Grade 2 December Novices Chase over 4800m. THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE is the obvious contender - he's ahead on the ratings and jumped well at Cheltenham last time which augurs well for this track where the fences aren't quite so demanding but can still be trappy.

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All eyes on Hong Kong this Sunday for the final significant event of the Northern Hemisphere season.

The Vase kicks off the series of four Group 1 races. PYLEDRIVER won his prep race at Lingfield but the form of GLORY VASE's second to LOVES ONLY YOU in the QEII Cup back in the spring looks very good now. EBAIYRA hasn't been seen since a disappointing sixth in the Jean Romanet at Deauville but she looks a big price at 14s in the UK if you realise she has some quicker ground form for all her best recent efforts have been on much slower French turf.

The Japanese have a very strong hand in the Sprint over 1200m. The 3-y-o PIXIE KNIGHT is the new star having won a big Group 1 at Nakayama and has two decisions over RESISTENCIA. LUCKY PATCH beat NABOO KNIGHT in a Group 2 last time but the local sprinters look to be going through some transition currently and may be vulnerable to the visitors.

In the Mile, Europe is represented by MOTHER EARTH who won the 1000 Guineas but that was a long time ago and she was well held in the Breeders Cup. GOLDEN SIXTY is the local champion and is going to take a lot of beating.

The Cup over 2000m carries a first prize of £1.6 million and is a serious race. LOVES ONLY YOU was a star in the Breeders Cup and comes here in top form but DUBAI HONOUR has been improving through the autumn and put up a fine effort when second in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. BOLSHOI BALLET hasn't perhaps lived up to the early season promise while it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if MAC SWINEY returned to form. The locals look moderate and the Japanese raider HISHI IGUAZU wasn't beaten far behind the Japan Cup winner CONTRAIL in the Tenno Sho and looks interesting.  

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Before I cast an eye back over the weekend's jumping in the UK, off to Hong Kong for the final instalment in the story of the 2021 racing season up here in the Northern Hemisphere.

Four Group 1 races saw the best of the locals take on a strong challenge, primarily from Japan but with Britain and Ireland also represented.

Hong Kong Vase: 

It's probably fair to say Joao Moreira knows every inch of both Happy Valley and Sha Tin and his track knowledge won him this Group 1 on GLORY VASE who was following up his 2019 success in this race. Martin Dwyer rode a typical British race on PYLEDRIVER but as soon as he hit the front, he was vulnerable to something coming off the pace with finishing speed and so it proved.

To be fair, PYLEDRIVER, like most British horses, isn't trained for a fast finishing kick and he ran a fine race in defeat. I don't know if he will stay in training as a 5-y-o but if they keep him going, he'll no doubt be competing in the top 2400m races on quick ground. EBAIYRA was held in third but ran well and was nicely clear of the others including MOGUL who was disappointing and I just wonder if a stallion career now beckons.

The second was the 1200m Sprint where the best of the locals in the form of LUCKY PATCH faced a strong Japanese challenge headed by PIXIE KNIGHT and RESISTENCIA.

Hong Kong Sprint: 

The race was marred by a horrible incident on the home turn - AMAZING STAR suffered a fatal injury but brought down three others -  PIXIE KNIGHT, LUCKY PATCH and NABOO ATTACK who was also fatally injured. Zac Purton was one of three jockeys needing hospital treatment but mercifully none of their injuries was serious.

SKY FIELD took full advantage of the inside berth and as a horse proven over 1400m he had too much for RESISTENCIA who ran a fine race in second.

The Mile looked on paper a golden (so to speak) opportunity for GOLDEN SIXTY to follow up last year's success and cement even further his status as not only Hong Kong's best horse but arguably one of the beat in the world over 1600m.

Hong Kong Mile: 

This was GOLDEN SIXTY's sixteenth straight win and to be honest it all looked very easy. He has so much tactical speed he can get his jockey out of any pocket or problem and still have far too many gears for the opposition. I'd love him to come to Europe for a race like the Sussex but his connections can get £1.4 million for what wasn't much more than an exercise gallop at home. 

MOTHER EARTH ran her first race for some time in fourth and it'll be interesting to see if her racing career continues next year. 

The final race was the Cup over 2000m - this attracted a high class field headed by the Japanese-owned and trained LOVES ONLY YOU who had won the Filly & Mare Turf at the Breeders Cup. In opposition were DUBAI HONOUR, runner up in the Champion Stakes at Ascot and other strong Japanese challengers in LEI PAPALE and HISHI IGUAZU.

Hong Kong Cup: 

I thought turning for home Yuga Kawada had ridden a copybook race on LOVES ONLY YOU but it all unravelled in 100m as first RUSSIAN EMPEROR and then HISHI IGUAZU got their retaliation in first by quickening for home. With LOVES ONLY YOU short of room, Kawada needed the most willing of rides and he was in luck and under a power drive, he got the mare's head up in the final strides - the ultimate "Get Out of Jail" free card.

Joao Moreira might not have won this time but he showed why he's one of the top two riders on this track - he timed his challenge to perfection while Blake Shinn arguably went too soon on RUSSIAN EMPEROR. For Tom Marquand, it was all happening too quickly and while DUBAI HONOUR ran home well, he was never on terms in fourth.

LOVES ONLY YOU is a real star and while I can't imagine connections would be interested in a European campaign, all the evidence is she would more than hold her own.

The horrible incident in the Sprint notwithstanding, a marvellous set of races - GOLDEN SIXTY again showed his brilliance while for the Japanese GLORY VASE and LOVES ONLY YOU excelled - it will be fascinating to see what kind of challenge the Japanese mount for Dubai World Cup night or perhaps the Saudi Cup in the interim.

 

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Looking ahead to the weekend, the main card is the two day fixture at Ascot on Friday and Saturday.

The ground is currently Soft, Good to Soft in places but it's set to turn drier and colder as the weekend approaches.

Friday has two Grade 2 races - the Kennel Gate for the novice hurdlers over 3150m has JONBON seeking to follow up his impressive win at Newbury. He's highly regarded by Nicky Henderson and is already seen as the UK's main challenger in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

The Noel for the novice chasers over 4000m was due to see the top Irish challenger BOB OLINGER, who won the Ballymore at Cheltenham and looked good on his chasing debut  but this afternoon it was announced he wouldn't be running. That rather diminishes the race with PIC D'ORHY likely to benefit if his jumping holds up.

Saturday's feature is the Grade 1 Long Walk a championship race for the staying hurdlers over 4850m. This can be a real slog - THYNE HILL was mugged on the line last year by PAISLEY PARK but the better ground should favour the form. However, he has a new potent threat in BUZZ who won the Ascot Hurdle last time over 3900m so this is a big step up in trip but he was a stayer at up to 3800m on the flat so this should be within his compass. THYNE HILL got bogged down in the Auteuil mud last time.

At Cheltenham in March 2020, CHAMP won the RSA, the staying novices chase, beating MINELLA INDO. Since then, their fortunes have sharply diverged with MINELLA INDO winning the 2021 Gold Cup and CHAMP pulling up. He's got talent, no question, but questions to answer. THOMAS DARBY beat ON THE WILD SIDE at Newbury but both have to prove they can mix it at the very top table.

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A quick look back at what wasn't a wholly unsuccessful afternoon's punting last Saturday.

Starting at Doncaster and KNIGHT SALUTE put up a fine performance to win the Summit for the juvenile hurdlers. He's unbeaten in four and while I wouldn't have him as a Triumph contender, he's farmed the early season events. PORTICELLO set he pace but was there to be shot at and will know more next time.

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE duly won the December Novices Chase for the staying chasers but 4/7 doesn't get you many mince pies. His jumping was reasonable and it'll be interesting to see if they send him to Kempton for the Feltham, the Grade 1 equivalent, on Boxing Day.

At Cheltenham, a gloomy but mild afternoon was brightened by some pulsating finishes and in the Unibet Hurdle, GUARD YOUR DREAMS stepped up to the Champion Hurdle table with a hard fought but brave win. He jumped and travelled whereas SONG FOR SOMEONE ran like a horse who wants further, much further, as he really only got going up the final hill. It's controversial but I'd run him in the Stayers as he simply doesn't have the pace for a Champion Hurdle. With HONEYSUCKLE not likely to be seen until the Dublin Racing Festival in early February, Christmas will be the chance for any potential rival to strut his or her stuff both in the UK and Ireland.

BLAZING KHAL followed up his previous success over the Old Course with a win over the New Course in the Bristol Novices Hurdle. He's not the most fluent of jumpers but has an engine and you'd think slower ground might help him get organised. I was hugely taken with BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE who ran a fine race in third, beaten only six and a half lengths, tiring up the hill on his UK debut and he's gone straight into the notebook. I'm really looking forward to him over fences and, I'll be honest, he's a Gold Cup contender for me in 2024 - you heard it first here !!

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The ground at Ascot has dried to Good to Soft, Soft in places ahead of the two-day Christmas meeting starting tomorrow.

The two Grade 2 events have attracted just five runners each and Kempton are starting to panic their feature events will cut up with no rain forecast and the ground likely to be on the quick side.

The Kennel Gate is all about potential - JONBON looked very good at Newbury while KNAPPERS HILL has won at Wincanton and Chepstow. I'm tempted to play on the latter at 5s simply because the price of JONBON (8/11) is more about the noises coming from Nicky Henderson's yard than what he's beaten on the track.

PIC D'ORHY is 6/5 for the Noel Novices Chase but his jumping has always looked a bit suspect and I much prefer FAIVOIR from the Skelton yard who won over course and distance last time but at 2s, the bookies have had the same thought.

9 stand in Saturday's Long Walk, the Grade 1 for the staying hurdlers. The proven form of THYNE HILL over this trip, including a narrow defeat in this last year to PAISLEY PARK on much slower ground, against the potential of BUZZ who looked on the up when winning the Ascot Hurdle albeit over 900m shorter. I think THYNE HILL is the option back on better ground.

The question for this punter, given nine runners, is the each way angle (paying first three places up here). ON THE BLIND SIDE won the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and has threatened to get near to the top table of the stayers. I think at 10s he's the each way call.  

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Big news over here this evening:

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/oisin-murphy-relinquishes-flat-jockeys-licence-while-he-focuses-on-rehab/527565

Murphy has plenty of friends in the media and more significantly Al Shaqab racing and he's not the first talented jockey to have "issues" but this is a significant development.

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The focus of the weekend racing up her was the Christmas meeting at Ascot which took place on ground described as Good to Soft, Soft in Places.

The Grade 1 feature yesterday was the Long Walk, a hurdle over 4900m and one of the championship races in that division of the staying hurdlers. Last year's first and second, PAISLEY PARK and THYNE HILL, went again but faced the best form of the current season from THOMAS DARBY and ON THE WILD SIDE and the return of CHAMP. last seen pulling up in the Gold Cup when well fancied.

Long Walk Hurdle: 

After seeing his other major staying hurdle hope, BUZZ, break a pelvis on the gallops, this was redemption in spades for trainer Nicky Henderson as CHA<P galloped right to the top of the staying hurdle tree with this win.

Let's not forget he ran well over 3200m over fences and while he flopped in the Gold Cup in 2021, he did win the 2020 RSA for the staying novice chasers. The truth is he seems so much happier as a hurdler - he makes a typical hurdlers shape over the obstacles rather than that of a natural chaser and on this evidence he goes to the Stayers at Cheltenham with serious claims.

THYNE HILL was a worthy adversary and will be so again in March especially if the ground is reasonable. PAISLEY PARK ran on well but I simply don't think he has the tactical pace for championship class races unless the ground goes heavy. THOMAS DARBY ran okay but the gulf between Grade 1 and Grade 2 was clear to see and we'll need to see who the Irish bring to the table after the Christmas Leopardstown meeting.

It was a decent weekend for Henderson after JONBON had won well on Friday to establish himself as the top of the British novice hurdlers. PIC D'ORHY got his jumping together to win the Noel but I remain unconvinced he'll be blemish free in the hurly burly of a Cheltenham championship race. 

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Just back from a chill afternoon at Lingfield watching some modest jump racing.

No surprise as quality is very short in the run-up to Boxing Day when the big Christmas meetings kick off.

The two main meetings are the four day Leopardstown Christmas Festival in Ireland and the Kempton Christmas meeting on Sunday and Monday.

There are other decent races at Limerick, Chepstow and elsewhere before the end of the year so I'll try to keep on top of everything.

At Kempton on Sunday, where the ground is currently Good, Good to Soft in places, we have three Grade 1 races on Sunday - the Kauto Star (also known as the Feltham) for the staying novices, the Christmas Hurdle for the championship hurdlers over 3200m and the King George VI Chase for the staying chasers over 4800m. The latter two are the mid season championship races before the Cheltenham Festival some three months away.

At Leopardstown, the St Stephen's Day meeting features the Racing Post Chase for the speedy novices over 3400m and a Grade 2 for the juvenile hurdlers over 3200m. The ground is currently Good to Soft. 

Limerick has the Faugheen Chase over 3950m for the intermediate novices - the ground is Soft, Heavy in places.

I'll offer some more thoughts on these during the week.

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Monday is another quality day.

At Leopardstown, there are Grade 1 races for the championship chasers and the novice hurdlers, both over 3200m.

Chepstow stages the only Grade 1 for the 3-y-o hurdlers, the Finale. As you know, all horses in the northern hemisphere have their birthday on January 1st so the Triumph and the Doom Bar are the two championship races for the 4-y-o hurdlers in the spring.

Kempton has two Grade 2 chases over 3200m, the Wayward Lad for the novices and the Desert Orchid for the more experienced chasers.

It's a step up in trip at Leopardstown on Tuesday with the Christmas Hurdle over 4800m for the stayers and the Savils over the same trip for the championship chasers which is essentially Ireland's equivalent of the King George.

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Final declarations are through for the big Sunday meetings here and in Ireland.

Although rain is forecast, the extraordinarily dry spell has meant they are watering the course at Leopardstown and at Kempton the ground is Good, Good to Soft in places and that has had a real impact on fields with just 42 declared for the six races.

The three Grade 1 events have just 18 between them so it's a pretty poor show given the prize money and the status of the races. It wouldn't be the biggest surprise if the second half of the winter was really wet and we'd be running on constantly heavy ground into March but we'll see.

The Kauto Star over 4800m for the staying novices has just four runners - it's a match between the two best young chasers we've seen so far - BRAVEMANSGAME and AHOY SENOR. They met over hurdles at Aintree in April when AHOY SENOR won by seven lengths and you can argue his performance in the John Francome at Newbury is better than what BRAVEMANSGAME has shown in his two wins. This will be a different test - Kempton is a sharp right-handed track and quite trappy with the fences coming up fast. 

I just incline toward BRAVEMANSGAME who looks the safer jumper and is proven on good ground while AHOY SENOR, you'd think, might want a little more juice.  if we did get significant rain before Sunday, I'd happily change my mind but at 5/6 and 5/4 the two, it's not a race for betting.

EPATANTE is 4/5 to win the Christmas Hurdle over 3200m and she re-matches with NOT SO SLEEPY with whom she dead-heated in that eventful Fighting Fifth at Newcastle a month ago. Back on this trip and on decent ground, I'd pick her to come out best both face a serious rival in TRITONIC who won a handicap at Ascot last week. As a juvenile hurdler, he was an impressive winner of the Adonis, over this course and distance on quick ground. It may just be he's coming back to his best and with his optimum conditions might well trouble the principals and at 13/2 I've had a small wager.

Nine go in the King George for the championship chasers over 4800m - this is the second most significant steeplechase of the season after the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The beauty is you can't get two more different tracks than Cheltenham and Kempton and any horse able to win both races is worthy of being called champion.

MINELLA INDO won the Gold Cup in March and ran well enough on re-appearance at Down Royal. It's probably fair to say he wasn't cherry ripe and the run will have brought him on. Running him here rather than at Leopardstown in the Savils is a bold move by connections but he comes here with an obvious chance. FRODON won the Down Royal race and won this last year and must again have a big chance but Paul Nicholls sets us a bit of a poser by running another past winner of the race in CLAN DES OBEAUX.

Last year, CLAN DES OBEAUX was eight lengths behind FRODON in third but in the spring won Grade 1 chases at Aintree and Punchestown and the word from the stable is he has never been better.  CHANTRY HOUSE from the Henderson yard is the new kid on the block - he won the Golden Miller at the Cheltenham Festival and followed up in the Mildmay Chase at Aintree where he thumped the useful SHAN BLUE. He had a nice gallop round Sandown in a match at the beginning of November and brings all sort of potential to the table.

LOSTINTRANSLATION lost his way last season ending up pulling up in the Gold Cup but he looked back to better form at Ascot while ASTERION FORLONGES was travelling powerfully when losing his rider in the John Durkan two weeks ago.

I fancied SAINT CALVADOS for this last year but he didn't quite get home.

It's a really hard race to call - ASTERION FORLONGES would be my idea of an each way punt at 7s but he could run a blinder and finish fifth. FRODON will set the pace but this looks a stronger race than last year and he's there to be shot at on this quicker ground. CHANTRY HOUSE needs to take another step forward but could and I come back to CLAN DES OBEAUX but last year's disappointing run, albeit on slower ground, weights on my mind.

That leaves MINELLA INDO and they've put cheekpieces on him which could eke out a bit more not that he finds to find a lot given he won the Gold Cup. I see that as a real statement they are serious about winning both the championship races in England so he's my pick though I'll stay out of the race from a betting viewpoint. 

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At Leopardstown six go in the Racing Post Chase for the speedy novices over 3400m. FERNY HOLLOW is a highly interesting type. He beat APPRECIATE IT in the 2020 Festival Bumper and the latter would go on to win the Supreme Novices at this year's Cheltenham.

Considered an exciting hurdling prospect last autumn, FERNY HOLLOW ran just once, winning at Gowran and beating BOB OLINGER who would go on to win the other big novice hurdle championship, the Ballymore for the stayers. 

Having beaten both novice hurdle championship winners, you can understand the regard in which FERNY HOLLOW is held and he made an impressive chasing debut at Punchestown but this is the acid test on quicker ground and against RIVIERE D'ETEL who has won all his three chases on decent ground by wide margins. It'll be a fascinating race.

At Limerick, the Faugheen for the intermediate novice chasers over 3950m looks much more open but nowhere near as strong a race. GABYNAKO, to be fair, does bring Grade 1 form with his narrow second in the Drinmore and that should be good enough against the promising FAROUK D'ALENE and my idea of the winner VANILLIER.

 

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We've got the final declarations for Monday's racing - at Chepstow, the Grade 1 Finale for the 3-y-o hurdlers over 3200m looks wide open with a maximum field of 16 and all have won at least once. The other conundrum is whether the mainly fast ground form will hold up on much softer ground and over a stiff track. PORTICELLO was beaten at Doncaster by Knight Salute who isn't in the field but is arguably the top juvenile.

Like many of these, PORTICELLO is an ex-French type so slower ground shouldn't be an issue. FOREVER BLESSED is favourite having won by wide margins at Ffos Las and Sandown. For a gelding by Zoffany out of an Oasis Dream mare, he stays remarkably well. Plenty of others come here unbeaten having won small races at lesser tracks and the value of those bits of form is hard to gauge. It's not a race for me to play in if I'm honest but it's one to watch.

Kempton's second day of the Christmas Festival features two quality Grade 2 chases. The Wayward Lad for the speedy novices over 3200m looks at the mercy of EDWARDSTONE who won the Henry VIII at Sandown convincingly. It may be he's the new speed chaser and next season he'll have to mix it with the championship level performers who have their turn in the Desert Orchid. This sees the return of last year's champion novice SHISHKIN and he takes on Tingle Creek winner GREANETEEN.

SHISHKIN won the Wayward Lad last year and went on to win the Arkle at Cheltenham and the Maghull at Aintree, the two spring championship races for the speedy novice chasers. He's had a few problems with his blood and missed the Tingle Creek but reports indicate he is in good order and if he brings his level of form from last season, GREANETEEN, good horse though he is and Grade 1 winner as he was last time, will have a lot on his plate.

The Irish equivalent of the Desert Orchid is the Grade 1 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. Just four go to post but another intriguing clash - this time between two horses who both disappointed last time. CHACUN POUR SOI won this last year and went on to win the Dublin Chase before just missing out in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. However, he redeemed himself by beating Ryanair winner ALLAHO at Punchestown. He went to Sandown for the Tingle Creek but ran a shocker trailing home last.

ENVOI ALLEN was the dominant Irish novice chaser last year but fell at Cheltenham in the Marsh Chase and flopped in the Champion Novice at Punchestown. A smooth win at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance was followed by a moderate sixth in the John Durkan. The balance of his form suggests he wants 4000m rather than the 3400m of this race and I also think back on a course where he was run well in the past, CHACUN POUR SOI looks the one.

The field for the Future Champions Novices Hurdle over 3200m tells you all you need to know about Irish jump racing. The six runners come from just three yards - Willie Mullins has three runners, Gordon Elliott has two and Henry de Bromhead one. In truth, there's not much between any of them.  LARGY DEBUT represents the last named and slammed the Cheltenham Bumper winner KILCRUIT on hurdling debut but the form is far from convincing and I prefer MIGHTY POTIER who was a solid third in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.

 

 

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Plenty of rain overnight and at Kempton the ground is now Good to Soft, Soft in places.

At Leopardstown it's eased to Soft, Good to Soft in places.

 

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Starting the look back with the St Stephen's Day action in Ireland.

Leopardstown and Limerick both stage four day Christmas Festival meetings and both had Grade 1 races on their opening day.

Both were novice chasers - at Leopardstown, the speedier novices went over 3400m while Limerick's Faugheen Chase was over 3950m.

The Racing Post at Leopardstown looked a match on paper between FERNY HOLLOW, the 2020 Cheltenham Bumper winner and RIVIERE D'ETEL, a promising 4-y-o chaser who had won his three chase starts by wide margins and was getting 13 lbs from FERNY HOLLOW.

Racing Post Novice Chase: 

This was a hugely impressive performance by FERNY HOLLOW (one of two on the day) and while the second ran with merit, the fact is this was her chance and she couldn't take it. As to whether FERNY HOLLOW can win the Arkle at Cheltenham, his jumping will help a lot but whether he has the tactical speed especially on quicker ground remains to be seen. 

The others were well beaten off and with APPRECIATE IT staying over hurdles and BOB OLINGER looking more likely to go for the Marsh over 4000m, you'd think EDWARDSTONE could be the one to give FERNY HOLLOW a race at Cheltenham.

At Limerick, a couple of late defections (including VANILLIER) slightly devalued the Faugheen.

Faugheen Novices Chase: 

A dramatic finish saw MASTER MCSHEE edge out FAROUK D'ALENE in the final strides. This was a huge success for trainer Paddy Corkery and a reminder even in a sport seemingly dominated by three or four big yards, the small guy can sometimes come out on top. The quality of the form of the race is more open to debatable - GABYNANKO was moderate in third - I suspect the much slower ground didn't help him. 

Elsewhere on the Irish cards, the maiden hurdles saw a succession of very short priced favourites, most of whom obliged, The star was SIR GERHARD who won the 2021 Cheltenham Bumper. He looked very good on his hurdles debut at Leopardstown though I'm not sure what he beat. Another for the notebook is WATCH HOUSE CROSS who won the other maiden hurdle at Leopardstown. The short priced favourite fell when challenging two out but WATCH HOUSE CROSS took full advantage - to be honest, he's a future chaser and I look forward to seeing him over the larger obstacles next season.

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On then to Kempton and what we can think of as the mid-season championship day. First thing to note after half an inch of unexpected overnight rain, the ground was Soft, much slower than expected and that would have a considerable impact on the action.

Three Grade 1 races and the first was the Kauto Star Novices Chase over 4800m for the younger staying chasers. Just four went to post and on all known form a match between AHOY SENOR and BRAVEMANSGAME.

Kauto Star Novices Chase: 

The story of this race is easily told. BRAVEMANSGAME put in an exemplary round of jumping (as good as FERNY HOLLOW was over the shorter trip) whereas AHOY SENOR declined to stand off on a few occasions and was just too cautious and careful. Trainer Paul Nicholls suggested the winner would miss Cheltenham and come back to Kempton for the 2022 King George which is an intriguing plan but I find it hard to believe connections won't decide to have a go at Cheltenham. He jumps well and goes on decent turf.

The championship race for the hurdlers was the Christmas Hurdle and the 2019 winner EPATANTE was bidding to atone for her narrow defeat last year. She had made a satisfactory if muddling return in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle dead heating with NOT SO SLEEPY:

Christmas Hurdle: 

 

With NOT SO SLEEPY not in a going mood and the ground having gone against TRITONIC, EPATANTE probably didn't have a lot to beat and for all she did it well you'd have to think HONEYSUCKLE and her supporters wouldn't be too worried.

On then to the big race and arguably one of the most open King George VI chases for many years. In the end, the Gold Cup winner MINELLA INDO went off narrow favourite over CLAN DES OBEAUX and CHANTRY HOUSE but both last year's winner FRODON and John Durkan faller ASTERION FORLONGES were also seen as serious contenders.

King George VI Chase: 

A fantastic race and a right boil over as TORNADO FLYER, the outsider of the field, triumphed at 28/1. A fluke result? Perhaps - FRODON and MINELLA INDO went off like scalded cats and with the ground having softened, neither was able to maintain the pace. This allowed those who sat off the pace to come through in the final 800m. CLAN DES OBEAUX looked the likely winner at the top of the straight before fading and ASTERION FORLONGES was threatening to make it a Mullins 1-2 when capsizing at the last.

This was only TORNADO FLYER's second run at 4800m - he had run in the Savils last year - but the evidence of his runs in races like the Ryanair and the John Durkan was he would relish the trip and so it proved. How he would go over an additional 400m at Cheltenham remains to be seen.

CLAN DES OBEAUX lost nothing in defeat but you just have a chance his time has come and gone at the very top table. SAINT CALVADOS again for me didn't quite get home but rewarded those who kept the faith (not me).

FRODON got involved in the ludicrous early pace duel with MINELLA INDO and both paid the penalty. FRODON's jumping kept him in it until the home turn and he came home a well beaten fourth while MINELLA INDO was in trouble with a mile to go and was eventually pulled up. Spring may be his time but if, as I suspect, A PLUS TARD wins the Savils today, it'll be clear who is now top of the pecking order among the championship chasers.

CHANTRY HOUSE jumped poorly and I suspect the ground wasn't helping and he pulled up. ASTERION FORLONGES was again let down by his jumping late on - when he gets tired, he doesn't put a leg out to sav himself 

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Final declarations are through for tomorrow and Wednesday.

Leopardstown's meeting dominates tomorrow and fortunately the big races are being shown on UK free-to-air.

11 have been declared for the staying hurdle Grade 1 over 4800m. FLOORING PORTER won the Cheltenham stayers hurdle but flopped at Punchestown where the lightly-raced KLASSICAL DREAM was a convincing winner. FLOORING PORTER returned in the Lismullen at Naas and was going well when falling two out. Both have claims but I'm very interested in ABRACADABRAS over this trip. He beat BUZZ in the Aintree Hurdle over 4000m in the spring but was no match for HONEYSUCKLE in the Hatton's Grace last time and this step up in trip looks a shrewd move.

I've backed him against the front two in the hope he'll see it out well.

SIRE DU BERLAIS was third to FLOORING PORTER in this race last year and then chased him home at Cheltenham. H

He's another with claims but I'm more worried about SALDIER who may be 25/1 but won the prestigious Galway Hurdle in the summer and is another having a first go at this longer trip. 

8 go in the Savils Chase over 4800m and A PLUS TARD is 4/6 to follow up his facile Betfair Chase win. That race fell apart in his favour but with several high-profile bubbles burst in yesterday's King George he could well be the dominant staying championship chaser currently. I expect a good run from JANIDIL who was second in the John Durkan and from KEMBOY back at a track where he often performs to his best. 

On to Wednesday and 8 go in the Neville Hotels, the staying novice chase championship race at Leopardstown. This looks a weak renewal and perhaps BACARDYS can finally fulfil his potential at the expense of RUN WILD FRED and VANILLIER who ducked the Faugheen at Limerick for this.

The Matheson is the championship hurdle race over 3200m. - just six go and SHARJAH, last year's winner, looks set to follow up with ZANAHIYR likely to follow him home.

At Newbury. the Challow over 4050m is the mid season championship for the intermediate hurdlers. Another small field and I'm not wholly convinced about the quality. Gordon Elliott may be similarly unconvinced as he sends over the French import GRINGO D'AUBRELLE but his form is nothing special. WEST BALBOA from the Skelton stable could be anything off a Warwick win but the form is with LOSSIEMOUTH who won a Grade 2 at Sandown last time and could be ready to go to the top table.

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The second day of the Christmas Meeting at Kempton has in the past had a touch of "after the Lord Mayor's Show" about it but that certainly wasn't the case this year. A good crowd turned up to Sunbury and with the ground remaining Soft, the two feature chases, despite having small fields, had drawn headline acts and both delivered in style.

EDWARDSTONE made no mistake in the Wayward Lad and with MY DROGO sidelined for the rest of the season with injury, EDWARDSTONE is now the English no.1 novice chaser and will take on Monday's emphatic Leopardstown winner FERNY HOLLOW in the Arkle at Cheltenham but I was also impressed by the Willie Mullins trained HAUT EN COULEURS at Leopardstown yesterday and he could well be in the mix.

In the Desert Orchid, all eyes were on the return of this year's Arkle winner SHISHKIN who faced an intriguing clash with GREANETEEN who had won the Tingle Creek on his previous outing but this was one way traffic as SHISHKIN jumped superbly and had these cooked from two out coming home for a wide margin win. It's likely GREANETEEN ran flat but even so SHISHKIN looked back to his very best and completely vindicated trainer Nicky Henderson's patience. SHISHKIN will probably run in the Game Spirit at Newbury before the Champion Chase and a clash with the top Irish contenders ENERGUMENE and CHACUN POUR SOI.

The latter was due to run in the Paddy's Rewards Chase at Leopardstown but was a late scratching due to lameness and that left ENVOI ALLEN facing just two opponents.

Paddy's Rewards Chase: 

I wasn't that taken with this performance. He's not the flamboyant horse of his novice days and I just think he's lost something. He was entitled to beat these two on form and he got the job done but I saw nothing to worry me were I holding an ante post voucher on SHISHKIN for the Arkle. I don't even know if ENVOI ALLEN will turn up at Cheltenham - the Ryanair is perhaps the more obvious target but that's going to be a tough race as well.

The Novice hurdlers had their championship race over 3200m but unfortunately I can't find a video for it as yet.

MIGHTY POTTER followed up his Royal Bond third with a win here but I thought the second, THREE STRIPE LIFE, was a shade unlucky having been hampered when the second last hurdle was flattened by other runners. Whether any of these are Cheltenham championship grade remains to be seen but the novice hurdle picture looks unclear on both sides of the Irish Sea currently.

 

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Day 3 of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival took place on Soft ground for the hurdlers and Good to Soft ground for the chasers.

Two Grade 1 races - the first was the championship race for the staying hurdlers over 4800m.

Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle: 

Was this won and lost at the start? Plenty on social media and some of the broadcast pundits argued it should have been a false start - the rule in Ireland is horses come in at a walk before the starter drops the flag and starts the race. There's no doubt KLASSICAL DREAM poached a significant advantage and given he's a Grade 1 winner that was decisive. FLOORING PORTER's jockey, Danny Mullins, was far from happy at the start and did his best to negate the advantage but was never ever quite able to get on terms with the winner.

The front two ended up 20 lengths clear of the others - I thought ABRACADABRAS might reward my each way bet on the home turn but he faded tamely. In terms of Cheltenham, we have the top two in Ireland (clearly) while in England CHAMP and THYNE HILL look the best of the locals - if all four turn up at Prestbury Park in March we're in for a real treat.

The feature of the Leopardstown Festival is the Savils Chase, the mid-season championship race for the staying chasers. As it's run over the same course and distance as the Irish Gold Cup in early February,  it doesn't have the contrast England has between the King George at Kempton and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nonetheless, the roll call of winners is formidable and Gold Cup favourite A PLUS TARD went off 4/7 after his demolition job at Haydock.

Savils Chase: 

Last year it was A PLUS TARD who just prevailed against KEMBOY and MELON but this time Rachel Blackmore was on the wrong side of the argument as Davy Russell forced GALVIN home in the final 20m for what had looked an unlikely victory on the home turn.

For much of the race I thought A PLUS TARD was cruising and from the second last I had expected him to clear away but Russell played a canny game on GALVIN keeping his horse wide to avoid being eyeballed by A PLUS TARD and it paid dividends. Let's not forget GALVIN won the 6000m chase at the Festival this year and the Gold Cup is often an attritional slog not so much because of the ground but because it's run at a relentless race as you'd expect in a championship race. 

GALVIN has now reached the top table but with the main English fancies blown away by TORNADO FLYER on Boxing Day, the Gold Cup looks at the mercy of the Irish. A PLUS TARD did very little wrong here in all fairness and KEMBOY, as he always does, ran a blinder at his favourite track.

The latest ante post has A PLUS TARD at 4/1 favourite, GALVIN at 6s and MINELLA INDO at 8s with the best of the home challenge, PROTEKTORAT, at 14s.

I wouldn't normally include a Beginners Chase on my list of races worth a watch but take a look at this:

Ballymaloe Beginners Chase: 

This is GALOPIN DES CHAMPS on his chasing debut and you'll have to go a long way to find an easier winner of any race. He won the 4800m Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown in the spring and you'd think on this evidence he'd ben jumping fences all his life. I imagine they'll want him to go for the 4800m novice chase championship at Cheltenham.

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None of them quite so entertaining as Pete And Dud’s Durex Handicap Stodge…….

 

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Wednesday was the last significant day of racing up here in 2021.

It was the fourth and final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and two Grade 1 races capped off a tremendous meeting. The Neville Hotels Chase was for the staying novices over 4800m. It looked pretty open before the race with RUN WILD FRED, winner of the Troytown at Navan up against this year's Albert Bartlett winner VANILLIER.

Neville Hotels Chase: 

A strong performance by FURY ROAD and another winner for Davy Russell and Gordon Elliott. He'd been beaten by BEACON EDGE in the Drinmore but over an extra 800m came into his own and put this fair field to the sword. I think RUN WILD FRED and VANILLIER did too much too early and set themselves up for a more stamina-laden challenger. 

The Matheson is the Irish equivalent of Kempton's Christmas Hurdle and is for the championship hurdlers over 3200m. Some great horses have been multiple winners of the race including HURRICANE FLY and ISTABRAQ who both won the race four times. SHARJAH had won the race three times but unlike the aforementioned has never won the Champion at Cheltenham. He faced some interesting sorts coming out of novice company including ZANAHIYR and ECHOES IN RAIN.

Matheson Hurdle: 

Not a dry eye in the house as SHARJAH battled to his fourth successive Matheson win. ZANAHIYR gave him a huge race and got much closer than in the Morgiana. Both will, I would imagine, turn up in the Irish Champion where they will face a certain HONEYSUCKLE which should be informative.

The Ballymore got a new favourite with JOURNEY TO ME an impressive winner of the 4000m hurdle for the novices.

Meanwhile at Newbury, overnight rain left the ground Soft, Heavy in places for the Grade 1 Challow for the intermediate novices over 4000m. After a spell in the doldrums, this race has found a new lease of life in recent years with CHAMP and BRAVEMANSGAME two of the most recent winners. The trainer of the latter, Paul Nicholls, has loved this race ever since winning with the mighty DENMAN back in the day. He saddled the favourite, STAGE STAR, who had impressed in two hurdle wins this season.

Challow Hurdle: 

This was a hugely impressive performance. He jumped beautifully but to use the old expression, anything he does over hurdles is a bonus as he looks a future chasing star. With  LOSSIEMOUTH running poorly you can just question the form but he goes to the Ballymore with a huge chance but that's not to underestimate JOURNEY WITH ME who looked very good winning at Leopardstown yesterday albeit in a lesser but possibly stronger race as it featured KILCRUIT, the Champion Bumper winner whose hurdling career has rather stuttered into life. 

WEST BALBOA was having only his third run over rules and he's another who looks a certain future chaser - Gordon Elliott saddled GRINGO D'AUBRELLE to finish third, beaten 10 lengths, so he'll probably have a good idea where the English and Irish form sits at this stage.  

 

 

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New Year's Day is traditionally more quantity than quality up here. There are 8 meetings in England and Ireland - former Gold Cup winner AL BOUM PHOTO returns to Tramore and a race he has won the last two years and for which he is 1/3 for a three timer.

Cheltenham stages the main English jumps meeting with two Grade 2 races - the Paddy Power Novices Chase over 4050m used to be called the Dipper and used to be run at Newcastle a few years ago. 9 have been declared and favourite is L'HOMME PRESSE who was very good at Ascot. MILLERS BANK is fractionally ahead on the ratings but he tipped up at Newbury last time and Cheltenham is, as we know, a venue which cruelly exposes any jumping limitations.

The Relkeel over 4000m is for the intermediate horses usually second season hurdlers. On paper, this looks a match between BREWIN'UPASTORM and MCFABULOUS but it's hard to forget when they clashed at Fontwell in the National Spirit the former came out on top and having won nicely at Aintree on seasonal bow it's hard to see why MCFABULOUS should turn the tables.

Further afield, the Meydan Carnival gets under way marking the formal start of the 2022 Flat campaign in the northern hemisphere. The Listed 1000 Guineas Trial is the feature on a card with two dirt races and three on the Turf. William Buick and Charlie Appleby are wasting no time and in the 1000 Guineas Trial they have SILK ROMANCE who was a clear winner of a novice at Newmarket on quick ground. It's always hard to know how they'll take to the dirt but she's drawn well enough and if she can get into a good position close to the pace should have too much for what is a largely unexposed field of fillies.

There's also a Listed sprint over 1200m on the Dirt - AL TARIQ, SWITZERLAND and GLADIATOR KING all ran well in these races last season and return for another campaign. In truth, there's little between them on the numbers and the weights.