Morning all,

Well, its less than a week to the big Boxing Day action. It’s hard to believe that Christmas Day is just five days away.  I can’t really, I say I feel very festive.

Its was a tough week for racing last week. First, we had Buzz suffering a severe season ending pelvic injury. Then we got the news that Silver Streak had been fatally injured during a routine canter and then a couple of horses lost their lives at Haydock on Saturday. It just goes to show how fragile these horses are. It remains the case this can be one brutal game.

Inside today’s main piece. I look back at two races from Ascot on Saturday. Plus, there is a selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Lingfield.

Saturday Review

All in all, a poor weekend on the punting front for Victor Value. It’s good when a tipster tells you about the successes, as I do. However, you also must be candid when things don’t go so well and a hide away which I don’t.

Annsam’s win in Saturday’s Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot was a frustrating one given I had put him up as one my trackers horses, after his run over hurdles at Newbury.  I just wasn’t convinced he wanted a strongly run 3m.  Likewise. I had given Tritonic a very favourable mention in Wednesday race preview of the Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle and yet I talked myself out of bet on him on age grounds.

The good run that began at the end of September seems to have ground to a halt. Mind you it’s been a good one and it has to come to an end sometime. Hopefully I can get back on track over the festive period.

Champ Is Back

Thyme Hill runner-up in last season’s Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle was bidding to go one place better on Saturday. Sadly, for favourite backers he had to settle for second again. Last year it was Paisley Park who beat him. This time it was Champwho was having his first start over hurdles since April 2019.  

Champ who had been keen early, seemed to be pulling double when taking it up coming to two out. Thyme Hill meanwhile who had been under pressure on the home turn had got within a length of the leader at the last. However, Champ found plenty on the run in to win by 1 ¾ lengths and ran out a decisive winner.

Paisley Park who had looked a light of his former self in both starts this season stayed on to take third. This was his best run of the season but he isn’t as good as he was.

It was first Grade 1 success for Jonjo O’Neill Jr and for trainer Nicky Henderson it was some compensation for having to withdraw the injured Buzz.

Champ is now favourite for the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. I can’t see connections returning Champ to the larger obstacles as the stayer’s hurdle division looks easier. He’s a worthy favourite for Cheltenham. Given the Long Walk form, despite missing Buzz looked a strong race. That said he will be a 10-year-old next year and you always want to take on the veterans in the Grade 1’s at the Festival.

King at Ascot

It’s been a great 2021 on the flat and over jumps for trainer Alan King. His good run continued with Tritonic landing Saturday’s big handicap the Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle.

Well suited to the strong gallop and jumping and travelling well in midfield. The 4-year-old made his challenge two out and led coming to the last and found plenty for jockey Adrian Heskin’s urging's on the run in to hold off the improving Onemorefortheroad. Like the winner the second was another to be ridden off the pace.

Garry Clermont who had looked to be going as well as anything two out, eventually had to settle for a 3 ¼ length third. It was a solid effort and he finished nicely clear of Metier in fourth. It was a much better effort by Metier after his tame finish at Sandown on his seasonal return and he would likely have preferred softer ground than he got on Saturday.

The 11/4 favourite No Ordinary Joe couldn’t build on the promise of his Greatwood Hurdle third. Like at Chetenham he was once again to keen to do himself justice and was beaten two out. He does need to settle if he’s to fulfill his potential. West Cork who had beaten him in the last time loomed up in the straight on the outside but had no more to give between the final two hurdles. He’s better than this effort and he can’t be ruled out of a County Hurdle if going there a fresh horse.

Back to Tritonic. Fifth in the Greatwood behind West Cork. Cheltenham just doesn’t suit him but he’s good horse on a flat galloping track. You would think the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury will be on the 4-year-old’s agenda provide the ground is no worse than good to soft.

Monday Racing

There’s jumps action at Lingfield and Musselburgh this afternoon and a tea time all-weather fixture at Wolverhampton.  I’m off to Lingfield for today’s selection.

Lingfield

2:00 – Seven go to post for this 2m handicap hurdle. The Dan Skelton trained, Calico heads the betting. A useful novice he’s back on testing ground but has been below par on both starts this season and I wonder how much he finds under pressure

Miss Heritage, Hudson De Grugy and Elham Valley were 5^th, 6^th & 8^th respectively in a better race at Sandown last time. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hudson De Grugy finish in front this time here although whether he wants heavy ground, I’m not so sure. Elham Valley is another who’s yet to find his best form on two starts this season. He does go in the mud though and would go close if reproducing his 2 ½ length 3^rd of 22 (off 4lb higher) in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival.

A return to soft/heavy ground is ideal for Monsieur Lecoq. The 7-year-old was only beaten a short head into second over fences at Ascot two starts ago. Before disappointing on quick ground last time. Back over hurdles and a reproduction of his best hurdle form from a couple of seasons back makes him looks a nicely treated.

Selection: Monsieur Lecoq – 5/1 – Gen.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John