Racing Chat - Friday 3rd December

[The Brigadier]

A Friday afternoon treat for terrestrial TV fans as ITV are showing 4 races from Sandown including the Ballymore Winter Novice Hurdle and Exeter have three also. The ground is likely to ride on the soft side for both meetings. 

 

Sandown 1.50

5 of the 7 runners here have already jumped fences in publics but it’s one of the fencing newcomers I like in the shape of the Nicky Henderson trained Bothwell Bridge in this 2m 4F novices’ handicap chase. A dual winner over hurdles last season he ended th season under a a loud when pulling up in the Sefton novices hurdle at the Aintree Grand National meeting. He’s since undergone wind surgery so maybe there was a breathing problem that needed to be rectified and with Nico de Boinville in the saddle can take this for team Seven Barrows. The other chasing newcomer Halo Des Obeaux of Paul Nicholls is an interesting contender along with Mahlers Promise who ran so well at Sandown last time behind a subsequent winner but I’ll take a chance with Bothwell Bridge. 

BOTHWELL BRIDGE 1 points win @ 7/2 William Hill

 

Exeter 2.05

A small field of 6 go to post for this 2m 3F novices chase with half of the field making their fencing debut today. The best in at the weights on hurdle ratings is the Tom Lacey trained Adrimel who has won a Irish point to point, a bumper and three novice hurdles. He did however pull up in both the novice hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last Spring and has questions to answer now. Preference is for the Harry Fry trained Boothill who has always been held in high regard by his shrewd trainer.  Runner up in two Irish point to points prior to winning a bumper at Kempton he blew the opposition away at Taunton on his hurdles debut and blatantly blew up when third on his re-appearance in a decent Ascot handicap hurdle won by Soaring Glory. On official hurdle ratings he’s only 4lb behind Adrimel and with the recent run under his belt he’s a confident selection today. Jane Williams’ Gladiateur Allen is making his fencing debut but his hurdles form wasn’t as good as the two principals whilst the same can be said about Champagnesuoerover. 

BOOTHILL 3 points win @ 6/4 Paddy Power

 

Sandown 2.25

Only five go to post for the feature race of the day at the Esher track but all have a chance of sorts. Kim Bailey’s Fair Frontieres came home alone in a Worcester maiden hurdle in October but that was a weak contest and he has to drop down in trip which may not be ideal. Lossiemouth has won two handicap hurdles and deserves his shot at graded company whilst Ben Pauling gave a very favourable mention to his Harper’s Brook in this week’s Weekender with his debut hurdling success boosted in the week by the success of the runner up Famous Bridge. The one I’m with though is the favourite, trained by Paul Nicholls Brave Kingdom who took my breath away with the ease of his victory at Chepstow last month on his first run for the Ditcheat team having previously been trained by Harry Whittington for owners Kate and Andrew Brooks. Gavin Sheehan was on board that day and as the owners retained jockey keeps the rude today. He’s looks sure to run a big race and is the days best bet. 

BRAVE KINGDOM 4 points win @ Evs Paddy Power

 

Exeter 2.40

A 2m 3F handicap chase which may go to the Olly Murphy trained Gunsight Ridge who will appreciate stepping up from the minimum trip to today 3F longer distance. A consistent 5 year old gelding who has yet to be out of the first 4 on 7 career starts ran really well on his chase debut at Aintree a month ago when staying on to finish third to Darling Du Large (easy winner since at Wetherby) giving the impression that he needs this type (or even further) of trip. Aidan Coleman was on top that day and keeps the ride and he can see off the opposition today with that run now under his belt. Philip Hobb’s Longshanks did well on his fencing debut at Stratford in October and comes into the reckoning along with L’Homme Presse who’s making his chase debut following a 223 day absence for the very much in form Venetia Williams - watch the market for this one. 

GUNSIGHT RIDGE 3 points win @ 3/1 William Hill

 

Sandown 3.00

Venetia William’s struck form with a vengeance last weekend winning the Ladbrokes Trophy and is a trainer to follow when she hits form. She saddles Desque De L’isle here who was a winner at Ffos Las on his re-appearance last month from Sabbathical who went on to bolt up at Fakenham 9 days later. The 8 year old gelding was stuck up an understandable 10lb for that victory and with the yard in irresistible form looks the one to be with here today. Out On The Tear is a horse I like who I believe has some movement on his handicap mark and can also run well in what amounts to a tricky 9 runner handicap chase. 

DESQUE DE L’ISLE 2 points win @ 9/4 Bet365

 

Exeter 3.15

A big turnout of 17 go to post for this stamina sapping 3m 6F 153 yds handicap chase. The race has an open look about it with Stuart Edmunds’s Young Offender amongst the market leaders. A winner on his chase debut he steps up a further half a mile today which looks likely to suit. Grace Harris’s On Call is chasing a hat trick of wins following two handicap wins over just short of 3 miles at Chepstow rising a stone in the weights and may well need to improve again to be involved here. Anything Venetia Williams runs at the moment has to be taken seriously and her representative Snuff Box is maybe worth a small each way wager. He won twice last season at Bangor and Haydock  at around 3 miles and probably needed his re-appearance run at a time when Venetia s horses weren’t really firing. This is his first attempt at such a stamina test and if he does take to it with his stable in such good form could outrun his likely big odds. In an open race and with extra places around he’s worth an interest. 

SNUFF BOX 1 point each way @ 14/1 1/5^th 12345 BetVictor

 

Sandown 3.35

Twelve go to post for the finale at Sandown - a Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier run over just short of 3 miles. One of the best handicapped horses in the field is surely Pileon who is best remembered for getting chinned on the line by Indefatigable in the 2020 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He failed to take to chasing the following season and following three modest runs back over hurdles finally showed a glimpse of his old ability when 4th at Aintree a month ago finishing a length behind Remastered who surely would of gone close to winning the Ladbrokes Trophy last Saturday but for taking a crashing fall four from home. Philip Hobbs 7 year old is now rated 7lb lower than his Cheltenham defeat back in 2020 and will be carrying my cash today with Ben Jones, who ride him that day and last time out, back in the plate here. Stoners Choice ran well last time following a break although he does have to prove his stamina for 3 miles today. Warren Greatrex saddles Mulcahys Hill who is an interesting outsider with a 633 day absence to overcome. A decent novice hurdler in his pomp he’s returning to the smaller obstacles following 8 runs over fences and if tuned up looks nicely treated some 10lb lower than when we last saw him race over timber. 

PILEON 2 points each way @ 5/1 1/5^th 1234 Paddy Power

 

 

[MCLARKE]

AW system.

Newcastle 3.10

JOMONT 11/8