Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I have one for the tracker.
My betting blues continued Sunday. I tipped Steel Ally in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell. I expected him to go close despite having a bit to find on ratings. He did everything I’d hoped and looked the most likely winner—until the final 50 yards. You always want a selection to win but I can’t fault the horse or my reading of the race. It’s been a challenging month but best to get the bad run out of the way before Cheltenham.
Only five runners went to post for this year’s National Sprit Hurdle won by greats like Comedy Of Errors, Birds Nest, Baracouda, and Beech Road. The race has lost its shine in recent years. I remember when it was run on a Monday, back when midweek jumps racing had real quality. Nowadays, everything revolves around Saturdays, Cheltenham, and Aintree. The sport isn’t better for it.
We almost had a valuable Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on Monday, but 23mm of rain waterlogged parts of the track. That put an end to it. The Stayers' Handicap Hurdle had already been rescheduled from January 5th after another weather-related abandonment.
Future Winners
We’re just two weeks away from the Cheltenham Festival. I’ve started looking at the Festival handicaps and already have a couple of big-priced selections in mind. The weights come out for the Festival handicaps tomorrow. While most will be predictable based on current Official Ratings (OR’s), some won’t. I can’t wait!
Katate Dori was seriously impressive in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase. Naturally, he’s now on the radar for one of the Cheltenham Festival handicaps. A word of caution, though—he had a tough race here. Connections may wait for Aintree.
Across the Irish Sea, Saturday’s Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse provided key clues for the Aintree Grand National. Even with I Am Maximus a morning non-runner, it was an informative race. Nick Rockett beat Intense Raffles by ¾ length, getting 3lb. Looking at the Grand National weights, Intense Raffles will be 15lb better off. No surprise if he’s high on many punters' shortlists for Aintree.
I was also taken with Minella Cocooner, who finished fourth. Last season’s Bet365 Gold Cup winner put in his best run of the season, despite the race not being run to suit. He’s been lined up for a big spring handicap chase—possibly a Bet365 Gold Cup repeat or the Grand National. My gut says Aintree. He’s one for the Grand National shortlist if he does head there and is a general 33/1.
Just one tracker horse this week, from Chepstow on Saturday:
One for the Tracker
Just one for the tracker this week, from Chepstow on Saturday:
Javert Allen – Jane Williams
Javert Allen made a strong impression despite narrowly losing his unbeaten chase record. A winner at Chepstow and Newbury, he jumped well and set a strong gallop with Sans Bruit. He had that rival beaten three out but may have gone for home too soon, getting caught a short head by the patiently ridden Dr T J Eckleburg.
His jumping remains a real asset, and while he'll go up in the weights, there's another win in him before the season is out. He’s not entered at Cheltenham, but the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree would be a logical target for this prominent racer.
In Wednesday’s column, I’ll be looking at Saturday’s Morebattle Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets!
John