Jumps racing ~ 21st December

[NeilM]

I've cut and pasted from my blog. An interesting novice hurdle for the shortest day of the year. Once again, it is a pity to see a Graded race with so few runners- we don’t get this on the flat and although ground and the weather plays a big part it isn’t like these races come out of the blue. However, with only four runners and a prize of over £17,000 to the victor- and place money that equals the win prize in a lot of the all weather stuff- it is worth taking a closer look. All are distance winners with Puffin Billy the early favourite, seemingly on the basis that trainer Oliver Sherwood holds him in high regard: the CD next to his name is somewhat misleading as that was a bumper rather than over the Ascot hurdle course. This is perhaps something for the BHA to address because a casual punter may be heavily influence by those letters. However, he hasn’t come of the bridle in any of his three starts- two of them bumpers- and has to be respected: he clearly gets the distance and the booking of Geraghty is a big plus. A question hangs over whether he can take the ground though, which brings us on to Meganisi. Another runner for the currently potent Rebecca Curtis/AP McCoy combo, he is the only horse with winning form on heavy ground and beat the tasty Aaim To Prosper at Newbury in a better time than Puffin Billy managed in his maiden hurdle only the day before, franking the form of his victory over Kings Lad back in May. The trainer/jockey combo is a tempting one and this son of Galileo looks like a really solid chance, especially with cheekpieces on. These two look set to dominate the betting- Bathcounty, ridden by Felix de Giles, is taking a huge step up to Class 1 company here, having lost the maiden tag LTO at Stratford. Admittedly by 27 lengths to Sirius Chestnut, he has a solid record of improving form at that level but this looks like a big ask. Last but not least, Up to Something for the usual Noel Fehily/Charlie Longsdon combo: he did very well indeed in his first three bumpers, and won his maiden hurdle well at Uttoxeter. He drops back in trip after his last two starts over further which resulted in a second and being pulled up: I certainly expect him to get the better of Bathcounty here and as he has the best form in purely technical terms- albeit at a lower class- he could very well get the better of the top two. Verdict: Meganisi looks a winner, comes from a proven combination, can take the ground and has interesting breeding. Puffin Billy is well regarded by the trainer and although a good bumper win may struggle against the more experienced horses. On pure figures, it looks like Meganisi and Up to Something can take the top two places. 1pt win Meganisi (7/2 Betfred, BOG), 0.5pt reverse forecast Meganisi/Up to Something. Total investment 2pts.

[Jimmy2shoes]

Re: Jumps racing ~ 21st December

I've cut and pasted from my blog. An interesting novice hurdle for the shortest day of the year. Once again, it is a pity to see a Graded race with so few runners- we don’t get this on the flat and although ground and the weather plays a big part it isn’t like these races come out of the blue. However, with only four runners and a prize of over £17,000 to the victor- and place money that equals the win prize in a lot of the all weather stuff- it is worth taking a closer look. All are distance winners with Puffin Billy the early favourite, seemingly on the basis that trainer Oliver Sherwood holds him in high regard: the CD next to his name is somewhat misleading as that was a bumper rather than over the Ascot hurdle course. This is perhaps something for the BHA to address because a casual punter may be heavily influence by those letters. However, he hasn’t come of the bridle in any of his three starts- two of them bumpers- and has to be respected: he clearly gets the distance and the booking of Geraghty is a big plus. A question hangs over whether he can take the ground though, which brings us on to Meganisi. Another runner for the currently potent Rebecca Curtis/AP McCoy combo, he is the only horse with winning form on heavy ground and beat the tasty Aaim To Prosper at Newbury in a better time than Puffin Billy managed in his maiden hurdle only the day before, franking the form of his victory over Kings Lad back in May. The trainer/jockey combo is a tempting one and this son of Galileo looks like a really solid chance, especially with cheekpieces on. These two look set to dominate the betting- Bathcounty, ridden by Felix de Giles, is taking a huge step up to Class 1 company here, having lost the maiden tag LTO at Stratford. Admittedly by 27 lengths to Sirius Chestnut, he has a solid record of improving form at that level but this looks like a big ask. Last but not least, Up to Something for the usual Noel Fehily/Charlie Longsdon combo: he did very well indeed in his first three bumpers, and won his maiden hurdle well at Uttoxeter. He drops back in trip after his last two starts over further which resulted in a second and being pulled up: I certainly expect him to get the better of Bathcounty here and as he has the best form in purely technical terms- albeit at a lower class- he could very well get the better of the top two. Verdict: Meganisi looks a winner, comes from a proven combination, can take the ground and has interesting breeding. Puffin Billy is well regarded by the trainer and although a good bumper win may struggle against the more experienced horses. On pure figures, it looks like Meganisi and Up to Something can take the top two places. 1pt win Meganisi (7/2 Betfred, BOG), 0.5pt reverse forecast Meganisi/Up to Something. Total investment 2pts.

You should put up the ''time'' and the ''course'' fella.