News from the North(ern) Hemisphere

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Confirmed 10 go in the Grade 2 Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow.

It's turned much milder here but the ground at Prestbury Park looked definitely Soft this afternoon. ILLICO DES COTTES has been backed in from 7s to 11/2 (the weight of my £10 each way bet no doubt). It's an interesting race with a mixture of fairly experienced novices and some much more lightly raced types open to any kind of improvement and very much in the "could be anything" file. 

Bit of housekeeping - we have the Long Walk at Ascot next weekend and then on Boxing Day the floodgates open with stellar cards at Kempton and Leopardstown. The former is a two day fixture but the Boxing Day card is generally considered the best outside Cheltenham featuring the mid season championship races for the staying novice chasers (the Kauto Star), the hurdlers (the Christmas Hurdle) and the staying chasers (the King George).

In ireland, Leopardstown opens its four day Christmas meeting on what the Irish call St Stephen's Day with championship races for the speed chasers and the novice hurdlers. Over the four days all the jumping divisions will have championship races.

Throw in a Grade 1 at Limerick and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and it's a busy post-Christmas period up here as it no doubt is in New Zealand.

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A nice drop of rain in southern Britain has left Ascot Good to Soft, Soft in places ahead of the weekend's big meeting.

Ten have been entered for the Long Walk Hurdle over 4850m which is the mid season championship race in this division. Old stagers like CHAMP, PAISLEY PARK and DASHEL DRASHER are in the mix as you might expect but despite what happened at Newbury there are some younger staying types emerging. Current favourite is WEST BALBOA from the Skelton yard who has won his last two at Aintree and now moves from Grade 3 to Grade 1. Money has come for CRAMBO who has been backed from 10s to 3s but he's really only a handicapper and I can't quite see him finding the level of improvement needed to take on some of these.

CHAMP won this in 2021 but was third last year when the race was run at Kempton on Boxing Day. I think first time up is the time to catch him and back at Ascot I take him to see off his old rivals PAISLEY PARK (winner at Kempton in 2022) and DASHEL DRASHER. 

Another possibility is BOTOX HAS who has always promised to be decent at this trip and won a Grade 2 at Wetherby in early November. He looks a sporting each way bet at 7s and the other interesting runner is the 4-y-o BLUEKING D'OROUX who won the Grade 2 over 3900m at the last meeting. The extra distance is an unknown and I just think he might need another year before he's ready for the big time.

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Before I get too excited about Boxing Day jumping, it seems Meydan is starting its 2024 Carnival in 2023.

Friday's card has two Group 2 races - the Al Rashadiya on the turf over 1800m and the Al Maktoum Mile on the Dirt.

Godolphin have four runners - two from Charlie Appleby and two from Saeed Bin Suroor. William Buick has chosen the sole 3-y-o in the race. MEASURED TIME, who has a bit to find on the numbers and was turned over at 4/9 in a 2000m Listed at Kempton at the beginning of November. He had looked very good at Newmarket bossing a handicap but this is much deeper waters.

Top rated is REAL WORLD who was unplaced in the Ganay and returned with a decent fourth in Bahrain which was his best effort for a while. OTTOMAN FLEET placed three times in Group 2 company here last winter and last time won the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont which is obviously decent form though hard to evaluate. ALFAREEQ isn't getting any younger but won the Jebel Hatta and was seventh in the Turf on World Cup night - that puts him right in this. GOEMON is a decent horse in Bahrain but this is very different. It's not a race in which I'm going to play but give me $20 of @scooby3051's cash and I'd put it on ALFAREEQ.

The Al Maktoum Mile looks at the mercy of the ex-American galloper ISOLATE who is now with Doug Watson. Having been placed in sprints he was stepped up to 1600m and was highly impressive in the Godolphin Mile on World Cup night. If he brings that to the table, he wins. The veteran ROYAL AMBITION has the one stall but I'm not convinced for all he won a Group 3 at Jebel Ali in March.

Needless to say, the prize money will have plenty of British and Irish runners coming over - the Group 2 races have a first prize of £115,000 which isn't shabby by European standards.

 

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Early entries through for Boxing Day and I'll talk a lot more about these races in the coming days.

At Kempton, the ground is Good to Soft - nine have been entered for the Kauto Star for the staying novice chasers. GIOVINCO, who was arguably outstayed by STAY AWAY FAY at Sandown, might find the sharper ground and better ground more to his liking.  Just six line up for the Christmas Hurdle for which CONSTITUTION HILL is 1/10. Eight have been put in the King George for which ALLAHO is 6/4 favourite but with BRAVEMANSGAME, GERRI COLOMBE and SHISHKIN all likely to run this is going to be a belter.

In ireland, 11 have entered for the Grade 1 novice chase over 3400m at Leopardstown where the ground is Good to Soft, Soft in places. FACILE VEGA is 1/2 and one of five Mullins entries against three from the Gordon Elliott yard.

Final declarations due on Sunday.

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The pace quickening as Christmas approaches but before we get there, a busy weekend with the two-day Ascot Christmas meeting starting tomorrow.

The ground has dried to Good to Soft.

Just four go in tomorrow's Grade 2 Noel Novices Chase over 4000m. They probably aren't world beaters but are closely matched. Favourite is DJELO who has won both his chases for the in-form Venetia Williams yard but these races were over 3200m and the longer trip is a question as he was well held when tried over hurdles. MIGHT I was beaten in a three horse race at Newton Abbot and won a match at Exeter when the saddle slipped on his opponent so I'm not sure.

The one I like is KANDOO KID who did it well in a Newbury handicap last time and this progressive type, for all he has a little to find with DJELO and MIGHT I on the ratings, is clearly improving fast.

All ten stand in Saturday's Long Walk and this Grade 1 prize looks a trappy heat. I've talked about it earlier and I like BOTOX HAS who looked a good each way bet at 7s and now looks even better at 10s. I just fear the ground might have dried too much but we'll see.

Looking ahead to Boxing Day and news has come through GERRI COLOMBE will miss the King George at Kempton and go against GALOPIN DES CHAMPS at Leopardstown.

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Looking ahead to Wednesday (27th), another very busy racing day up here with big meetings in England at Kempton, in Wales at Chepstow while it's day two of the Leopardstown and Limerick Christmas meetings.

At Kempton, there are two Grade 2 races - the Wayward Lad for the speedy novice chasers over 3200m is really for those not good enough to run in the Henry VIII at Sandown. Ten have been entered including MASTER CHEWY who won a Newbury handicap last time and NICKLE BACK who has been running over further. The Desert Orchid also 3200m is a handicap for the older speed chasers. BOOTHILL was a late scratching from the Tingle Creek and the better ground will be a big help.

At Chepstow, it's Welsh National day but the Grade 2 is for the 3-y-o hurdlers over 3200m. This used to be a Grade 1 but has been downgraded. BURDETT ROAD has looked the best British juvenile hurdler this campaign and was impressive at Cheltenham last time.

Willie Mullins has five of the seven entries for the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Chase over 3400m at Leopardstown but Henry de Bromhead has the favourite in CAPTAIN GUINNESS with GENTLEMAN DU MEE perhaps the best of the Closutton runners (it's in County Carlow).

MUllins has seven and Gordon Elliott five of the sixteen in the Grade 1 over 3400m for the novice hurdlers.

 

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A very busy Boxing Day (or St Stephens Day as it is known in Ireland) and with the weather kind we're set for a full book of meetings.

The main venue in Britain is Kempton where the ground has dried to Good, Good to Soft in places for a  six race card featuring three championship races.

Six go in the Kauto Star over 4800m for the staying novice chasers. Three dominate - HERMES ALLEN made a convincing start to his chasing career at Newbury but this is obviously a big step up though he was a Grade 1 winner over hurdlers. He faces a stern challenge from GIOVINCO was arguably outstayed by Stay Away Fay on the heavy Sandown ground. I thought GIOVINCO jumped well and on this quicker ground I think he'll give HERMES ALLEN a real race. Into the mix we have a fascinating raider from across the Channel in IL EST FRANCAIS (as if you needed to be told). He's unbeaten at Auteuil which is a real jumping test albeit the other way round. He wouldn't be the first French horse to take to the Kempton fences like a canard to water and the quicker ground might also be right up his ally (or boulevard).

I'm with GIOVINCO but this is going to be a real treat.

The Christmas Hurdle probably won't be as exciting. CONSTITUTION HILL is 26 lbs in front of these on ratings and is 1/10 - the ground will be fine and as long as his jumping holds up he wins. RUBAUD won the Adonis as a novice and we know the track and ground are ideal and while I could see him chasing home CONSTITUTION HILL at a respectable distance, that's all.

The KIng George also has six and is a really deep race - FRODON, who has placed twice in this , is the 50/1 outsider this year. HEWICK fell two out when third in the Gold Cup and followed up in the Oaksey at Sandown but his run in the Galway Plate was moderate and I think on this flat track and decent ground they'll be going plenty fast enough for him.

THE REAL WHACKER won the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham but was well behind when pulling up on his seasonal reappearance albeit over just 4000m in a handicap. Again, I'd have concerns over the track and the ground.

SHISHKIN is the conundrum here after his mulish antics at Ascot. Trainer Nicky Henderson has expressed concern over coming here without a run but the trip, track and ground should be absolutely ideal. If he'd had a run I'd fancy him but he's a character and he could just throw it all in again. 9/2 basically prices in his quirks but it's not for me.

BRAVEMANSGAME won this last year and had L'Homme Presse beaten when the latter blundered away his rider at the last. This season, BRAVEMANSGAME was beaten by Ahoy Senor at Wehterby which was okay but there was some disappointment when he was beaten in the Betfair. I was left with two thoughts - was it too soon (3 weeks) after a hard race at Wetherby and did last year's Gold Cup bottom the horse? We'll know more after this - conditions look all right but I just wonder if he will be able to lay up or whether he'll be on full throttle from too far out.

That leaves ALLAHO, who hasn't been beaten since losing out over 3200m at Punchestown in April 2021. His performance over this trip at Punchestown in April 2022 was hugely impressive but he was out all last season with a problem. He returned in style at Clonmel last month but this looks an ideal option for him. 6/4 isn't a price I'd be playing but I think to be blunt in a field with plenty of questions he was fewest to answer.

Apologies for overlooking it but there's actually a fourth Grade 1 in Britain on Boxing Day and that's at the new Aintree meeting which has been created to give a counterweight to Kempton for the north and a strong second meeting for television coverage. The Tolworth, previously run at Sandown on the first weekend of January, has been re-named the Formby and is the feature. The ground at Liverpool is Soft and ten go in the 3200m feature hurdle. It looks a wide open heat - Gordon Elliott sends over FARREN GLORY, the Royal Bond winner, and he has a huge chance. KAMSINAS won a Grade 2 at Haydock last time and did me a nice favour. We have a French raider in this one as well - the filly, JULY FLOWER, who was second in a Grade 1 at Auteuil. She could be anything and top trainers Alan King (FAVOUR AND FORTUNE), Paul Nicholls (JACKPOT D'ATHOU) and Nicky Henderson (JANGO BAIE) all bring strong representatives.

At Leopardstown, the ground is Yielding and FACILE VEGA faces just three opponents in the Grade 1 for the novice chasers and is 1/3 to win. 

Selections:

Kauto Star: GIOVINCO

Christmas Hurdle: CONSTITUTION HILL

King George: ALLAHO

Formby Hurdle: FARREN GLORY

Paddy's Rewards Novices Chase: FACILE VEGA

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While the Christmas roast beef is cooking, time for a quick review of the past weekend up here.

Ascot staged its traditional two-day Christmas meeting on surprisingly decent ground - Good, Good to Soft in places. The Friday card featured the Grade 2 Noel Chase for the intermediate novices at 4000m. Only four went to post and in the end favourite DJELO was just too good for these putting in a strong round of jumping and having too many giuns for KANDOO KID who ran with credit in second. The winner could go for the Marsh at Cheltenham or possibly the Brown Advisory but stamina has yet to be proven.

Saturday's card was full of Christmas cheer as you might expect and a very decent Grade 1 in the Long Walk, the midseason championship for the staying hurdlers over 4800m. This was very much a clash of the generations with the younger brigade consisting of race favourite WEST BALBOA, the unlucky Haydock runner CRAMBO and the promising 4-y-o BLUEKING D'OROUX taking on the veterans CHAMP, DASHEL DRASHER and PAISLEY PARK with the first and last named set to turn 12 on January 1st and DASHEL DRASHER just a year younger.

Long Walk Hurdle: 

This was a fascinating race - they went a steady gallop so not perhaps the test of stamina you might have expected and on the home turn only GOSHEN could be ruled out with all the others having some sort of chance.

DASHEL DRASHER had, as usual, raced close to the pace and PAISLEY PARK had been able to hold position better than in some of his races. BLUEKING D'OROUX was also in the front as was CRAMBO and if we've learnt nothing else from racing we know off a steady gallop it's hard to make ground when everyone else is quickening so those further back, like CHAMP, were trying to make ground up hill as the pace was quickening.

With those behind struggling to close the gap (and ultimately failing), the front three took the last as one but it was CRAMBO and PAISLEY PARK who quickened ahead and it was a real battle in the final 200m with CRAMBO just getting on top in the final 50m to win by a short head.

PAISLEY PARK has run well in this on so many occasions and this was another  blinder from the veteran - I don't think he's up to Cheltenham these days but he's still a very good staying hurdler who owes his connections nothing. DASHEL DRASHER came home third, beaten six lengths. The ground was probably plenty quick enough for him and he'd have preferred a stronger gallop. The other veteran, CHAMP, did the best of those off the pace coming home fourth, beaten nine lengths. This was his day and conditions were perfect and he jumped well but he couldn't quicken off a slow gallop up the final hill.

 BLUEKING D'OROUX ran with great credit and he's the one for the future - next season he could well be the new dominant force in the staying ranks while BOTOX HAS also ran well though again slower ground would have been a help. The favourite WEST BALBOA as very disappointing finishing last of the ten.

The winner has jumped from handicaps to the top table in one go and displayed plenty of courage. Is he the best British hope against the Irish in the stayers? Probably but we still have the Cleeve at the end of January when I imagine some of these will re-match. The acid test will be the end-to-end gallop of the Stayers rather than this more tactical race. There's not many who can quicken off the strong gallop at Cheltenham - whether CRAMBO is one remains to be seen.

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Though not officially a Carnival meeting, Meydan's card on Friday was a sharp notch up in quality and featured two Group 2 events.

Both produced easy winners - ISOLATE was very impressive in the Mile on the Dirt while in the Al Rashadiya over 1800m on the grass, the sole 3-y-o in the field,. MEASURED TIME, ridden by UK champion jockey William Buick, absolutely bolted up by four lengths and clearly whatever ailed him at Kempton is history and this was more like the promise of his Newmarket handicap win.

OTTOMAN FLEET ran third with ALFAREEQ fourth behind the outsider ERZINDJAN who ran fourth in the Jebel Hatta over the course and distance which seems ideal.

The Carnival starts officially on Friday January 5th with the opening card featuring the Group 2 Zabeel Mile. 

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Lots to talk about from this afternoon's action but as a wise man once said "tomorrow's just another day" - except it isn't with another busy afternoon of racing in Britain and Ireland.

Leopardstown stages day two of the Christmas Festival with two championship races on the card. Just five stand in the Paddy's Rewards Chase for the experienced speed chasers over 3400m. Willie Mullins saddles four but it's Henry de Bromhead's CAPTAIN GUINNESS who is favourite at 6/5. He won the Fortria at Navan on seasonal re-appearance as he had in 2022 after which he chased home BLUE LORD in this race, ENERGUMENE in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham and JONBON in the Celebration at Sandown. That's good company and with none of those top notchers running this may be his chance to win a deserved Grade 1.

Top rated is GENTLEMAN DU MEE but he's an inconsistent type. He was well behind CAPTAIN GUINNESS in this race last year but in February won the Dublin beating BLUE LORD. He then swerved Cheltenham and Aintree but was only fourth at Punchestown to ENERGUMENE beaten about the same distance CAPTAIN GUINNESS was at Cheltenham so make of that what you will. He hits the odd fence which further tempers conficence. The best of the Mullins contingent may be DINOBLUE but he's never raced outside Grade 3 and has plenty to prove in my view.

Mullins also saddles four in the Grade 1 for the novice hurdlers over 3200m. However, this time it's Gordon Elliott who has the likely favourite in DOWN MEMORY LANE who has gone the traditional Irish route of Point, Bumper, Hurdle wining all three without coming out of third gear. He could be anything but so could DADDY LONG LEGS, a French import who placed at Saint Cloud over 2400m on the level and bolted up on hurdles debut. Mullins does so well with these ex-French gallopers and I take DADDY LONG LEGS to prevail.

In England, Kempton stages its second day of racing and while it's fair to say it's nowhere near today's quality, it's also less busy and a much more enjoyable day for the racegoer. The Grade 2 Wayward Lad over 3200m for the novice chasers looks a match between NICKLE BACK and MASTER CHEWY and I'm with the former who ran well in defeat at Newbury. The Desert Orchid sees BOOTHILL seek to further enhance his reputation and th,is ground will be ideal. ELIXIR DE NUTZ is a fine chaser but normally plies his trade in top handicaps and beat MASTER CHEWY at Newbury. For a surprise, try NUBE NEGRA who hasn't run on ground this quick for a while and will love it - he was second in this last year on soft ground and beaten miles in the Tingle Creek on heavy but this will be much more to his liking.

BURDETT ROAD has looked the top English juvenile hurdler and he should win the Grade 2 Finale at Chepstow.   

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Boxing Day is one of the big racing days in England. The main meeting is at Kempton, not far from Heathrow Airport, where nearly 30,000 turned up on a mild and bright winter's day. The ground had dried to Good after one of the most benign Christmas periods, weather wise, for many years.

Three Grade 1 championship races starting with what was once called the Feltham but is now known as the Kauto Star after the ex-French galloper who went on to win two Gold Cups (2007 and 2009). Six went to post but the race looked between just three - GIOVINCO, who had chased home Stay Away Fay at Sandown, HERMES ALLEN, who had made a sparkling start to h,is chasing career at Newbury and the French raider IL EST FRANCAIS who had looked very good winning two round the very different Auteuil track.

Kauto Star Novices Chase: 

As impressive a performance from a novice as I have seen for many years. IL EST FRANCAIS was brilliant and loved the track and the ground. He was quick into and way from the fences and whether he could translate this to Cheltenham, I don't know but on a flat track he's just superb.

HERMES ALLEN didn't run or jump badly but he was blown away by a better horse, beaten 11 lengths. KILBEG KING outran his odds and for a blunder at the last might have been in the mix for second. GIACOMO's jumping fell apart under the onslaught and he was well held when pulling up at the top of the straight.

The winner ran 2.7 seconds below standard clocking 5 minutes 51.30 seconds for the 4800m. However, the plan this year seems to be the French Gold Cup in June but it's very likely he'll return for the 2024 King George and if we get similarly decent ground, the top chasers are going to know they've been in the race.

Just five went to post for the Christmas Hurdle and this looked a veritable penalty kick for CONSTITUTION HILL making his seasonal re-appearance. He went off 1/12 to follow up his facvilr success in last year's renewal:

Christmas Hurdle: 

We think of these wins as routine from this horse but of course there's a huge amout of preparation.

Once again, his hurdling was brilliant and RUBAUD set up the race nicely but from two out, CONSTITUTION HILL was just in a different league. He won by nine and a half lengths and though the race time was nothing special - they went pretty steady, indeed thr sectionals were slower than the 4800m chasers half an hour earlier. 

The plan is to go to Cheltenham for the Trial before the race proper in March. I've never seen him come off the bridle let alone face a serious challenger and for all STATE MAN will try to put it up to him why should he do any better than last year?

On then to the King George - again, a small field but with plenty of depth. ALLAHO, the dual Ryanair Chase winner, was just sent off favourite over last year's winner BRAVEMANSGAME and the enigmatic SHISHKIN who was 4-4 at Kempton.

KIng George VI Chase: 

 An incredible and incident-packed race and I dread to think what HEWICK traded in running. The effusive Shark Hanlon, his trainer, was front and centre of the celebrations and asserting he'd do the same at Cheltenham in March.

Was SHISHKIN unlucky? It seems he tripped over his own feet having jumped the second last in front. Would he have won? I don't know - HEWICK was finishing strongly and they had gone pretty quick even though the final time, at 5 minutes 55.30 seconds was slower than IL EST FRANCAIS earlier.

BRAVEMANSGAME just nicked second from a tiring ALLAHO on the jamstick with THE REAL WHACKER a never nearer fourth (another for whom Cheltenham and slower ground will be a big help). 

Last year's winner, BRAVEMANSGAME has now run second in all three outings this year and for me there's just the sense he left his form in the Gold Cup last season. I can't have him for the Gold Cup as he seems 7-10 lbs below where he was last year. ALLAHO clearly didn't get home - his jumping left a little to be desired - and an end-to-end 4800m exposed his limitations.

HEWICK was also well off the pace but the murderous early galloper gave this out and out stayer a real chance and he ook it under a brilliant Gavin Sheehan ride. Whether he's a future Gold Cup winner (which would be quite something for a horse who cost £800) I don't know. Some think he should be running in the National - there's no reason why he couldn't do both in theory but the Cheltenham fences caused him some problems last year and the one thing we know in a Gold Cup there is literally no room for error.

Up at Aintree, we had the inaugural running of the Formby Novices Hurdle which was previously known as the Tolworth and run at Sandown. The move certainly improved the size and quality of the field with the Royal Bond winner FARRON GLORY sent off favourite in front of the French filly JULY FLOWER.

Formby Novices Hurdle: 

Better luck for Nicky Henderson as JANGO BAIE, despite drifting like a barge in the market, held off the late challenge of FAVOUR AND FORTUNE with the front two well clear of pacesetter CANNOCK PARK. JULY FLOWER was a bitter disappointment but FARRON GLORY was still travelling strongly when falling two out and as we know this horse stays 4000m it's reasonable to assume he'd have been in the finish so how much we've learnt in terms of the Supreme at Cheltenham I don't know.

At Leopardstown, the opening day of the four day Christmas Meeting saw the Racinbg Post Novices Chase over 3400m which had the 2022 Bumper winner FACILE VEGA sent off at 1/2 against the Drinmore runner up FOUND A FIFTY.

Racing Post Novices Chase: 

A dreadful day for Willie Mullins who saw a succession of short priced horses well beaten. FACILE VEGA jumped okay but looked to be carrying his head awkwardly when brought under pressure and was quikcly beaten leaving FOUND A FIFTY to score comfortably. 

We could see a very different result in early February when the two are likely to re-match but this was ominous given the number of Mullins entries this week.

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More about today's (Wednesday) action in my next but a look ahead to Thursday's racing up here which is quiet in Britain but busy again in Ireland with the third day of racing at both Leopardstown and Limerick.

Overnight rain has changed the ground at Leopardstown to Soft on the steeplechase course and Heavy on the hurdles course.

Two championship races tomorrow - the Christmas Hurdle for the stayers over 4800m is named after the late Jack de Bromhead,  son of trainer Henry de Bromhead. Just six go to post and with CRAMBO emerging as the new star on the British side of the Irish Sea, the favourite,  IRISH POINT, has a point (no pun intended) to prove. He won the Mersey at Liverpool in the spring and has always promised to be a stayer but this is his first race beyond 4000m. He last ran on Heavy in France in November 2021 when he won a Grade 1 Bumper at Saint-Cloud and the horse he beat three quarters of a length into second was none other than IL EST FRANCAIS and we all saw on Tuesday how good he has become. 

On that form, he has a huge chance and his principal opponent looks to be HOME BY THE LEE who won this race last year before running fifth in the Stayers at Cheltenham. He's decent but it could be IRISH POINT will improve past him.

Eleven go in the Savils for the open chasers over 4800m and this is if anything a stronger and deeper race than the King George on Tuesday. The Gold Cup winner from this year, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, heads the market but just as the Gold Cup has seemed to bottom the runner up BRAVEMANSGAME the same is perhaps true of GALOPIN DES CHAMPS who was third to FASTORSLOW at Punchestown last April and was third in the John Durkan over 4000m last month. We know GALOPIN DES CHAMPS goes well over this trip, track and ground and there will be few excuses if he fails but I'm happy to oppose.

GERRI COLOMBE is last season's novice now in open company. As a novice he won the Faugheen, the Scilly Isles and the Mildmay and his only defeat came at the hands of THE REAL WHACKER in that epic finish to the Brown Advisory. His first run at the top table produced a win in the Champion Chase at Down Royal and he was re-routed here from the King George but he ticks a lot of the boxes.

FASTORSLOW emerged into the big time with the defeat of GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and BRAVEMANSGAME at Punchestown and followed up in the John Durkan. This will be more of a slog and I'm not entirely convinced.

I AM MAXIMUS is held by GERRI COLOMBE on Brown Advisory form but went on to win the Irish National and exploited a quirk in the rules to keep in novice company winning the Drinmore last time but while I expect him to run well I don't think he'll be quite good enough.

In a week where all the big races have turned on a clash of the generations, the four 7-y-o dominate the five 9-y-o and it may well be we've seen the best of the likes of A PLUS TARD, CONFLATED and ENVOI ALLEN.

My idea of the winner is GERRI COLOMBE but it's the first of the two big Irish chasing championship races- the second being the Irish Gold Cup in early February.

At LImerick, the ground is Heavy for their big race, the Grade 1 Faugheen for the novice chasers over 3950m.

Just five go to post and Willie Mullins saddles both GAELIC WARRIOR and IL ETAIT TEMPS. The former was second in the Ballymore at Cheltenham before winning the 4800m race for the staying novice hurdlers at Punchestown. On chasing debut, he was very good sauntering home by 15 lengths and jumping very well. This will be a much stronger test. IL ETAIT TEMPS was fifth in the Supreme Novices and chased home Facile Vega at Punchestown but made a good impression on chasing debut and could give GAELIC WARRIOR plaenty to think about as could AMERICAN MIKE who was seventh in the Ballymore and another who looked good on chasing debut at Navan. 

[stodge]

Time to look back on Wednesday's racing highlights from Britain and Ireland.

Starting in Ireland with the second day of the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and a deluge of overnight rain left the chase course Soft and the hurdle track Heavy. Five went to post for the Paddy's Rewards Chase over 3400m and with Willie Mullins having had such a poor opening day, it seemed possible his four charges would struggle against the Henry de Bromhead runner CAPTAIN GUINNESS.

Paddy's Rewards Chase: 

With CAPTAIN GUINNESS running poorly and pulling up four out, this ended up a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins but only DINOBLUE and GENTLEMAN DU MEE ever got involved. The second made the running and this wasn't a bad effort but the winner has improved 15 lbs since last season and has made the transition from top handicap company to Grade 1. In truth, JONBON and EL FABIOLO remain the top two players in the speed chasing division and DINOBLUE needs to find another 15 lbs to live with them.

The 3200m Novices hurdle looked more open but with the Mullins team still disappointing, DADDY LONG LEGS was an uneasy favourite with support for the two Gordon Elliott runners, DOWN MEMORY LANE and CALDWELL POTTER.

Paddy Power Future Champions Novices Hurdle: 

The first and second were the only ones travelling from some way out in truth and the only ones able to deal with the near-waterlogged ground. CALDWELL POTTER is a full to Mighty Potter who was killed at Fairyhouse in the spring. Whether CALDWELL POTTER will emulate or even exceed his brother remains to be seen but clearly deep, wet ground holds no fear.

In contrast to many of his stable companions, PREDATORS GOLD ran well but DOWN MEMORY LANE was miles back in third in a race where only five competed out of ten.

Also worth mentioning on the undercard Supreme winner MARINE NATIONALE bolted up on his belated chasing debut and is already odds on with some bookies for the Arkle at the Festival.

Only five got round in the Welsh National at Chepstow which was an attritional slog which produced a wide margin winner in NASSALAM for southern trainer Gary Moore who had a fantastic afternoon with a cross-the-card treble. At Chepstow, he saddled SALVER to win the Grade 2 Finale for the juvenile hurdlers but this race was seriously devalued by the late scratching of BURDETT ROAD and it may be he and SALVER will cross paths at the end of January on Cheltenham Trials Day.

At Kempton, in contrast, the weather was much more clement albeit blustery and damp. The Wayward Lad saw MASTER CHEWY continue his rise through the ranks with a smooth win over NICKLE BACK. The winner has previously been second in a warm Newbury handicap behind ELIXIR DE NUTZ who lined up in the Desert Orchid where the favourite was BOOTHILL.

This was another dramatic Kempton stepplechase with BOOTHILL crashing out four from home and in the straight EDITEUR DE GITE, having seen off ELIXIR DENUTZ, had to repel the late challenge of NUBE NEGRA who put in a much better effort on the decent ground but this was Gary Moore's afternoon and EDITEUR DE GITE rounded off his treble. This one is decent but has had his limitations exposed at Grade 1 level so perhaps a race like the Game Spirit at Newbury in February might be more to his liking.

[stodge]

The final day of the Christmas meetings at Leopardstown and Limerick beckons tomorrow. 

At Leopardstown, six go in the Neville Hotels Chase for the staying novices over 4850m. FLOORING PORTER was a top class staying hurdler and his defeat of BROADWAY BOY in his opening chase has been well advertised but he was well held at Punchestown last time and his form is on better ground. CORBETTS CROSS looked good last time but this is a big step forward in class. 

FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU was a ready winner of the Florida Pearl last time and looks the one to be on with Noel Meade's FLANKING MANOEUVER an interesting suggestion at a bigger price (14s).

The Matheson Hurdle over 3200m has just four runners and Willie Mullins saddles three of them. The form of the stable raises a question or two but STATE MAN was the top Irish hurdler last season and looked good in the Morgiana on return. He remains the one most likely to chase home CONSTITUTION HILL in the Champion Hurdle but this is no ckewalk with the Ballymore winner IMPAIRE ET PASSE a fascinating opponent. You'd think the latter would want further but this ground accentuates stamina and thiscould be an interesting race.

Saturday sees the Challow Hurdle over 4200m at Newbury where the ground is Good to Soft, Soft in places. HERMES ALLEN won this last year so this is the place to look for your future staying chasers. WILLMOUNT is early favourite having won an Irish point, two Bumpers and a novice hurdle over 3200m last time. I'd be worried if the ground got much deeper. CAPTAIN TEAGUE represents Paul Nicholls but was turned over at odds on when trying this trip for the first time at Cheltenham and that raises questions.

JOHNNYWHO is another who has gone the Irish point, Bumper, Novice Hurdle route and could be anything. FARNOGE looks the Nicholls second string but won a warm novice at Ascot last time albeit on decent ground. 

At this distance it's a race for watching not playing.

[stodge]

On to the third day of the Christmas Festival race meetings in Ireland and starting at Leopardstown where the ground was soft, heavy in places on the steeplechase course and heavy for the hurdlers.

After a poor first couple of days, two early winners hinted at a return to form for the Willie Mullins stable. Despite that, Gordon Elliott had the favourite in IRISH POINT, a new recruit to the ranks of staying hurdlers having won the Mersey as a novice in April. This was unknown territory in terms of both trip and especially ground.

Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle: 

This was very impressive from the winner who handled the conditions really well and wasn't asked a question until after the last. ASTERION FORLONGES is, rather like DASHEL DRASHER or PAISLEY PARK in England, a veteran and he was ruthlessly brushed aside.

IRISH POINT is now one of the four jostling for favouritism in the Stayers along with the Long Walk winner CRAMBO, the French horse THELEME and TEAHUPOO, in the same ownership as IRISH POINT. It seems unlikely these four will clash before Cheltenham and while the older generation will no doubt show up in force, there's a distinct sense of a changing of the guard in this division but as to which of the four will prevail at Prestbury Park come March, I've no idea at this time.

Perhaps the feature of the whole Leopardstown Christmas meeting was the Savils which starts the road for the Irish to Cheltenham via the Irish Gold Cup in early February.  The race suffered three late and significant defections with JANIDIL scratched due to a high temperature and both FASTORSLOW and ENVOI ALLEN taken out due to the ground. The Gold Cup hero from March, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, was on a bit of a recovery mission after defeats at Cheltenham and Punchestown and now faced last season's Brown Advisory runner up GERRI COLOMBE who had impressed at Punchestown in the spring and again at Down Royal in the Champion Chase. He had swerved the King George to take on GALOPIN DES CHAMPS who was just favoured at 6/4 with GERRI COLOMBE at 7/4.

Savils Chase:  

A huely impressive performance by GALOPIN DES CHAMPS who came home by 23 lengths from GERRI COLOMBE who was beaten three out and only just held off the rank outsider CAPODANNO. You can argue the defections significantly weakened the race and there's an element of truth in that but Paul Townend decided being held up wasn't right for GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and he was travelling powerfully throughout. 

To quibble perhaps - I wasn't taken by his jumping and in the Gold Cup they'll be going a deal quicker and that will put his jumping under much more pressure. He's lost the flamboyance he displayed a couple of years ago but for me he doesn't "pop" well and I just question his ability to jump not well or safely but fluently and economically.

CONFLATED, who often runs well here, was cooked when blundering away Sam Ewing at the last while A PLUS TARD continues to disappoint. GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is now 5/4 for the Gold Cup with FASTORSLOW at 5/1 Among the British are SHISKIN at 12s, HEWICK at 16s and BRAVEMANSGAME at 20s.

Off to Limerick where the ground was heavy for the Grade 1 novice chase over 3900m named after the great FAUGHEEN. GAELIC WARRIOR was 4/7 to lead home a 1-2 for Mullins with IL ETAIT TEMPS second best at 3s.

Faugheen Novices Chase: 

This wasn't so much about the race itself as the post-race exchange of words between Patrick and Danny Mullins (cousins I believe). Apparently, Patrick on GAELIC WARRIOR told Danny on IL ETAIT TEMPS not to try to come up his inside at the second last but Danny apparently didn't hear, didn't understand or didn't want to. In truth. GAELIC WARRIOR had been jumping right throughout and it could have ended up with them both on the deck. The stewards will probably take a dim view of Patrick's post-race finger waving and he'll probably get a holiday.

GAELIC WARRIOR did this very well but the suspicion remains he'll be always better going right handed so Fairyhouse and Punchestown could be the long-term aims. IL ETAIT TEMPS ran okay in second without ever looking a serious threat to the winner. INOWAYYOURETHINKIN was beaten 15 lengths by GAELIC WARRIOR at Punchestown and halved that deficit here. He could be the one for the Brown Advisory. 

[stodge]

On to the final day of the Leopardstown (and Limerick) Christmas meetings.

Two more championship races to wrap up the four days at Foxrock where the ground improved slightly to Soft on the chase course and Soft to Heavy on the hurdles track - there's enough room especially on the hurdles track to move rails and provide fresh ground each day.

After a poor opening couple of days, Willie Mullins roared back with a treble on the third day highlighted by GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. He started the final day with BALLYBURN winning the 4000m novices hurdle by 25 lengths and immediately was cut to 4s for the Ballymore at Cheltenham.

The Neville Hotels over 4800m was the championship race for the staying novice chasers and a Mullins had the favourite with CORBETTS CROSS but this wasn't Willie but his nephew, Emmett. Willie had the third favourite in GRANGECLARE WEST while the very good staying hurdler FLOORING PORTER was second best in the pre-race betting.

Neville Hotels Novices Chase: 

Another excellent performance from a Willie Mullins staying chaser and you could imagine GRANGECLARE WEST and GALOPIN DES CHAMPS perhaps crossing paths in the 2024 Savills but that's another day. Although there were five in contention at the second last. the only one travelling on the home turn was GRANGECLARE WEST and he won this without being asked any kind of question. You'd think the Brown Advisory would be his race but they'll go quicker on quicker ground at Cheltenham but, unlike GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, I didn't see any issues with GRANGECLARE WEST's jumping and he looks an exciting prospect.

CORBETTS CROSS wasn't given the best of rides I thought - he was quite a way back and as the old adage goes, you can give weight but you can't give start and the effort needed to make up the deficit on this holding ground proved too much. I can see him giving GRANGECLARE WEST more to think about at Cheltenham though perhaps the Marsh over 4200m may be a better option.

As with many top staying hurdlers, FLOORING PORTER isn't quite as good over the fences - the two disciplines are different and the races are run at different tempos. This wasn't a bad run but it's a fair way off Cheltenham contention. I'd still give FLANKING MANOEUVER another chance but his jumping, for a Noel Meade horse, wasn't to the usual standard.

The Matheson is the big hurdle race of the meeting and while the shadow of CONSTITUTION HILL lies over this division, STATE MAN remains the best of the Irish and has been able to farm some decent races and money including this race last year. He faced an interesting opponent in stable mate IMPAIRE ET PASSE, who had beaten GAELIC WARRIOR in the Ballymore in March but had stayed over timber rather than going over fences at least this season (we saw GAELIC WARRIOR bolt up in the Faugheen at Limerick).

Matheson Hurdle: 

IMPAIRE ET PASSE tried to make a race of it though hitting the second last didn't help. To be fair, he's a 4000m horse and simply didn't have the speed to threaten STATE MAN who won his seventh Grade 1 and had a nice workout in the process. The fact remains I don't see any reason why he should get any closer to CONSTITUTION HILL than he did in March but he's clearly the best in Ireland and the second best overall. 

I imagine STATE MAN will take in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Festival before Cheltenham. As for IMPAIRE ET PASSE, you could argue a much stiffer 3200m such as at Cheltenham might help - I'd keep him for the 4000m at Aintree and see if he can land a glove on CONSTITUTION HILL (I think he might). A 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins rounded off a treble on the final day of the meeting.

[stodge]

A few reflections on the Christmas period - five really impressive performances from both Britain and Ireland.

IL EST FRANCAIS jumped Kempton better than any horse I've seen in recent years and while we won't see him at Cheltenham this year, the possibility of a 2024 King George tilt is already making me look forward to NEXT Christmas.

CONSTITUTION HILL was superb - you could argue he beat nothing but he is just so superior to anything in the UK and the Champion Hurdle is at his mercy.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS found redemption in the Savills and it'll take a good one to lay up with him at Cheltenham. I think his jumping could still be improved but he gallops relentlessly and while the HEWICK team will argue they have a good one I remain to be convinced.

GAELIC WARRIOR looks a chasing star in the making - I'd keep him at 4000m this year for the Marsh and he could dominate the intermediate division next season.

STATE MAN may be forever cursed by being in the same generation as CONSTITUTION HILL but he remains a seriously good hurdler and for all he may be chasing home an exceptional one at Cheltenham in march thst shouldn't devalue his achievements.

Outside of them, MARINE NATIONALE was very good on ground he clearly loathed and on a decent surface at Cheltenham will take a lot of beating in the Arkle.

One slight downside - where have all the racegoers gone? Nearly 30,000 came to watch DESERT ORCHID in 1986 but that had dwindled to 19,000 in 2018 and 17,000 in 2019. In 2022 there were just 11.300 and apparently the 2023 crowd, for all the tv coverage made you think it was busy and bustling was reportedly about the same.

The Tingle Creek at Sandown has also seen numbers drift back from 12,500 in 2018 to 10,500 this year. It'll be interesting to see if this is just a London phenomenon or whether there's a continuing gentle decline. The tv viewing numbers conversely were very good.

New Years Day will be interesting - the Cheltenham crowd in 2023 was 38,000 up from 28,000 in 2022 so it may just be the weather or the mood.

[stodge]

Happy New Year to all and Happy Birthday to all Northern Hemisphere horses who turn a year older today.

The New Year starts with the traditional Cheltenham fixture which is the first of the new era of Premier Racedays. How this will pan out I'm not certain - the plan is to have the core of Saturday afternoon (2-4pm) having just two Premier meetings and a non-Premier card but that won't really happen until the spring and summer. 

With one meeting off today, we have five UK and two Irish meetings all fighting for attention. The feature at Cheltenham where the ground is Heavy. Soft in places is the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle over 4050m for which jusr four go to post. BOB OLINGER is no mug though it seems an eternity since his fortunate win in the Turners at Cheltenham in 2022 when he was clear second best when the leader fell two out. That leader was one GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. 

Back over hurdles, he had a moderate campaign last year when they tried to make him a staying hurdler but he came back in the Lismullen at Navan in November and won well. I'm not convinced this really heavy ground suits and I'd like to see him back up the win before playing at 5/4. MARIE'S ROCK won this last year but was well held by Honeysuckle in the Mares at Cheltenham before running a blinder just going down to SIRE DU BERLAIS in the 4800m Liverpool Hurdle. Her fourth to DASHEL DRASHER at Newbury sits up there with the top staying hurdle form and she could upset the favourite.

STRONG LEADER is an improving novice but his second in a Grade 2 at Ascot to BLUEKING D'OROUX wasn't franked by the winner in the Long Walk though this trip looks ideal and he's the one to be on against the two favourites.

The coming weekend is probably the quietest of the entire jumps season in the UK and in Ireland the Grade 1 Lawlor's Hurdle at Naas is the stand out on Sunday.

More on it and a mop up of the Challow and other races in my next. 

[stodge]

To mop up the last bits of 2023, Newbury staged its traditional pre-New Year meeting on ground described as Soft, Good to Soft in places.

The Challow for the intermediate novice hurdlers over 4000m is a race which usually throws up a decent one and a race dominated in recent years by Paul Nicholls who saddled last year's winner, HERMES ALLEN. He was represented this time by CAPTAIN TEAGUE who came off a slightly disappointing defeat on heavy ground at Cheltenham. He went off favourite over Nicky Henderson's unbeaten WILLMOUNT.

Challow Hurdle: 

This ended up a real slog on ground which was tacky and holding. WILLMOUNT clearly hated it and was one of the first beaten as only five of the ten runners completed.

Only four had any hope off the home turn and both LOOKAWAY and THE JUKEBOX MAN had raced close to the pace throughout with CAPTAIN TEAGUE coming into the race from three out. LOOKAWAY looked the one to be on going to the second last but CAPTAIN TEAGUE is a remorseless galloper and led on the run to the last.

The interesting one was JOHNNYWHO who was with the winner on the home turn but has sacrificed six lengths by the last only to finish just two lengths down in fourth and would have been second in another 50m. He looks an Albert Bartlett type while the second and third both ran with credit albeit whether they are Cheltenham contenders I'm not certain.

CAPTAIN TEAGUE is going to make a smashing chaser next season - whether he has the tactical speed to win a Ballymore or an Albert Bartlett remains to be seen - he relished soft ground and if it came up quicker I could see him missing Cheltenham and being put away for a novice chase campaign.

[stodge]

After another deluge today Sandown will be inspecting tomorrow morning for Saturday's card. I think they'll survive but it will be, as someone once said, a close run thing.

Meydan race tomorrow and 13 go in the Group 2 Zabeel MIle. It's not perhaps the strongest Group 2 field you'll ever see and three dominate. MARBAAN is fascinating up to 1600m for the first time. He was fifth in the 2022 Dewhurst and down the field in the July Cup so has sat at the top table. His best run as a 3-y-o was a third in the Lennox at Goodwood which is very smart form. I think the 1600m will suit and he has big claims.

REAL WORLD is a specialist miler and in 2022 chased home none other than Baaeed in the Lockinge and Queen Anne but as a wise man once said that was then and this is now. They stretched his stamina to 2000m in Bahrain and he finished a fair fourth but he wasn't at his best over 1800m last time. The hope will be a return to 1600m will help but I need to be convinced.

Favourite SAN DONATO has been tried over a range of distances and way back in 2019 was third in the Poulains at Longchamp but he was eighth in the Al Quoz on World Cup night. Back to a mile he chased home LANEQASH (who did me a huge each way favour in the 2021 Hungerford when I played at 33s each way and he finished second) in a Listed at Abu Dhabi. I'm not sure how strong that form really is.

MY idea of the winner is MARBAAN and I've had a little play at 5s. 

[Craig hitchcock]

Thanks Stodge , for your wonderful previews of the last week or so, it’s well and truly appreciated.Cheers Craig 

[stodge]

11 hours ago, Craig hitchcock said:

Thanks Stodge , for your wonderful previews of the last week or so, it’s well and truly appreciated.Cheers Craig 

Thank you for the kind words, Craig.

I know UK racing may seem a world away from NZ racing (which it is) but there's a lot of similarities - great horses, great jockeys, good rides, bad rides, it's the same sport but different.

[stodge]

Catching up on some bits and pieces, Cheltenham got a big crowd (apparently) on New Year's Day though the ground was Heavy, Soft in places.

The feature Relkeel Hurdle over 4000m saw an impressive return from BOB OLINGER who won the Ballymore and the Turners in his time and has enjoyed good fortune at Prestbury Park. Held up at the rear, Rachel Blackmore brought him through quite a narrow gap approaching the last doing BREWINUPASTORM few favours but the result wasn't in doubt. MARIE'S ROCK was disappointing - she probably went too hard too early on the ground but had no answer to the winner up the hill.

The problem for BOB OLINGER is there is no 4000m hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival - he's 20s for the 3200m Champion and 25s for the 4800m Stayers but the latter looks far and away the better option and in a staying division withn some ifs and buts about it, I think BOB OLINGER could bring that bit of class.

At Meydan this afternoon, my each way on MARBAAN brought a small return as he was second to SAN DONATO who clocked a decent 1:34.46 for the 1600m (the only turf race run quicker than standard). Clearly, the form of the winner and LANEQASH at Abu Dhabi was stronger than I expected. To be fair, SAN DONATO didn't enjoy the best of runs 300m down and was value for more than the length and a half winning distance. REAL WORLD continues to disappoint.

The weather has been awful up here this week (as it often is the first week of January) but while some years it's been snow and cold this year it's been unremitting rain. A lot fell on Tuesday and we had another deluge yesterday with 34mm leading to Sandown's Saturday card getting abandoned this morning. However, there's now a complete change in the weather with much colder and drier conditions setting in.

This should mean no problens for the Grade 1 Lawlor's at Naas on Sunday where the ground is Soft to Heavy. The 4000m Novice Hurdle has attracted eight runners representing three trainers - Willie Mullins has five, Gordon Elliott two and Henry de Bromhead the other runner. The Mullins five look in the second rank of the Closutton novices - Paul Townend is on ILE ATLANTIQUE who bolted up by 19 lengths on hurdle debut at Gowran - on his last bumper win he was beaten a length by FIREFOX in a decent race at Fairyhouse. The Mullins second looks to be CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL who was an easy winner at Clonmel on hurdle debut. Both he and ILE ATLANTIQUE are in the "could be anything" file.

The aforementioned FIREFOX is 2/1 favourite - he won on hurdle debut at Fairyhouse and the horse he beat, one of the Mullins legions called BALLYBURN won a 4000m novice hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas by 25 lengths which is seriously impressive. If that can be taken literally (and heavy ground can often exaggerate superiority), FIREFOX has a huge chance but there's not much between him and ILE ATLANTIQUE and this will be an interesting event. 

[stodge]

The briefest of weekend updates as the Naas meeting was abandoned after one race due to fog. The Lawlor's will now be run on Friday (Ireland leaves plenty of room to reschedule meetings lost to the weather).

Bit of a mess really but fog isn't easy to predict - the course announced two inspections with the second at 9.30am based on a Met Eireann forecast the fog would start lifting at noon with the first race off at 12.30pm. In truth, the fog did thin a bit especially around the stands but on the far side it was still bad. Nonetheless, they ran the opening mares chase over 4000m though the jockeys came in and said the visibility was bad on the far side.

Just after the race, the fog thickened across the whole track and when stewards and jockeys went out for another look just before the scheduled off of race two (1pm), they called time on the whole card - the rule is, I think, the Judge has to be able to see the last fence and hurdle from the Judges Box and clearly by 1pm that wasn't the case.

The whole crowd was offered either a refund or to move the ticket to Friday - today was Naas's biggest crowd of the season and it'll be a financial blow but they'll survive.

[stodge]

It's very cold over here currently but some respite makes it likely the weekend cards will go ahead.

At Warwick, seven have been entered for the Grade 2 Hampton Novices Chase over 4800m. BROADWAY BOY was very good at Cheltenham and is the deserved favourite APPLE AWAY won the Sefton at Liverpool in the spring od 2023 but has yet really to impress as a chaser and this will be the acid test. GREY DAWNING was a mid race faller in the Sefton and started his chasing career with a third to the useful STAY AWAY FAY. Since then he's won well over 4000m but I think back up to 4800m will help.

STAY AWAY FAY's trainer, Paul Nicholls, saddles BRAVE KINGDOM who I saw win at Plumpton on his chasing debut after missing the 2022-23 season through injury. He followed up well at Newbury and is going to be right in this if he continues to improve.

Kempton has the Grade 2 Silvaniaco Conti over 4050m for the internediate chasers. PIC D'ORHY has proved himself one of the best at this distance going right handed. He won this last year and looked as good as ever in the 1965 at Ascot in November so is a solid favourite. EDWARDSTONE has mixed it with the top speed chasers including chasing home JONBON in the Tingle Creek last time. This step up in trip looks a wise move though he did blunder away Tom Cannon over this track. 

I'm a huge fan of BANBRIDGE who is one of the best jumpers of a fence I've seen. He won the Manifesto at Aintree on his last novice run and the drying ground is a huge plus.

At Wetherby we have the Grade 2 Towton Novice Chase over 3950m. Towton was arguably the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. The Yorkists under the future Edward IV defeated the Lancastrians in a snowstorm in March 1461. 20,000 died on the battlefield. Hopefully we'll get nothing like that on Saturday. COLONEL HENRY was a good second in the Henry VIII at Sandown and is 4/5 currently. TRELAWNE is interesting in opposition but the Kim Bailey yard is badly out of form.

More on these races later in the week.