Racing Chat - Saturday January 1st

[The Brigadier]

A decent afternoon’s racing with the ITV cameras at Cheltenham where the ground is soft and Musselburgh where the conditions are slightly better with good to soft the call. There’s also the Al Boum Photo romp at Tramore to look forward to. Here’s my thoughts on the eight races.

 

Cheltenham 1.25

A decent renewal of the 2m 4 1/2F Dipper Novices’ Chase. Favourite is L’Homme Presse of Venetia Williams who was impressive when winning at Ascot when well backed a fortnight ago. He’s sure to be hard to beat although at the prices I just prefer Alan King’s mare The Glancing Queen who’s looked very smart in winning both her runs over fences under Tom Cannon in listed company at Bangor and Warwick against her own sex but looks well worth a try against the males here. Alex Hale’s Millers Bank is also in with a shout but it’s the mare to trump the colts for me here. 

THE GLANCING QUEEN 2 points win @ 7/2 Bet365

 

Musselburgh 1.40

Donald McCain had three winners on this card last year and he looks to have decent prospects of another good day. He can take the 2m 4F handicap hurdle with his 6 year old Geromino who’s winning sequence was halted by the progressive Tommy’s Oscar (runs in the 2.10) at Doncaster last time out. He stays the extra trip well and with champion jockey elect Brian Hughes in the saddle can take this. Olly Murphy is not in as good a form as he was earlier in the season but his challenger here Strong Glance has claims on his latest second although he’s not a horse to trust implicitly and he’s worth taking on. Ashington is maybe a bigger threat having had a recent pipe opener on the level in preparation for this race. 

GEROMINO 2 points win @ 10/3 William Hill

 

Cheltenham 2.00

The feature race of the day is the 16 runner Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase run over 2m 4F 127yds of the new course. The most important piece of form comes from the Racing Post Gold Cup run over course and distance three weeks ago when Coole Cody beat Zanza 2L (Deyrann De Carjac 13L back in 5th). They’re weighted to dead heat today and both have claims in a wide open handicap. Venetia Williams won this event back in 2021 with top weight Aso and attempts to repeat that feat with Funambule Sivola who was runner up in the Peterborough Chase on his re-appearance and should run well here even if he does have his stamina to prove. Others with chances include Paddy Power Gold Cup 5th Galahad Quest (fallen at Aintree since), Vienna Court who was a very impressive winner here at the last meeting over course and distance but has been shunted up 12lb and the Dan Skelton trained Alnadam a dual winner at Sandown last season and probably needed his first start of the season when last of four beaten 24L to the smart Bravemansgame at Haydock. It’s a tough race but I do like the top weight Funambule Sivola even though he does have to prove he stays 2m 4F. 

FUNAMBULE SIVOLA 2 points each way @ 7/1 1/5^th 12345 Bet365

 

Musselburgh 2.10

7 go to post for this handicap hurdle run over 1m 7F 124yds. Tommy’s Oscar is on a good roll currently for trainer Ann Hamilton chasing a hat trick following success’s at Haydock and Doncaster rising 12lb for those wins with 7lb conditional Tom Midgley taking over from Brian Hughes today. He looks sure to go well although at a bigger price it’s that irresistible team of Donald McCain and Brian Hughes that catch my eye here with Fiveandtwenty who racked up a treble over course and distance last season. Things haven’t gone right for him in three starts since but he has dropped slightly in the weights and perhaps most importantly has had a wind operation since we last saw him. Irish challenger Anna Bunina is respected although hasn’t been seen for 258 days and it’s Fiveandtwenty for me today. 

FIVEANDTWENTY 2 points win @ 8/1 Coral/Ladbroke

 

Tramore 2.20

Only 6 got to post for this grade 3 New Years Day Chase run over 2m 6F and features the return of dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo who’s started his campaign in this race for the least three years winning easily on each occasion. His trainer Willie Mullins saddles 5 of the 6 runners and he should have little trouble winning this for the fourth consecutive year en route to another tilt at the Gold Cup in March. He’ll be at prohibitive odds so it’s just a sit back and enjoy race.

 

Cheltenham 2.35

A cracking 14 runner 3 mile handicap hurdle up next. The two favourites both have solid chances with Olly Murphy’s Tamar Bridge stepping up in trip here following a battling win over 2m 4F at Aintree and a rise in the weights of 6lb. The runner up that day (pair pulled clear) was soundly beaten the other day so has a few questions to answer now. Art Approval hasn’t been seen since landing a touch here at the Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting in November and he too has to prove his stamina with a 8lb hike in the weights. Pileon won well at Sandown and stays well so even with a rise of 6lb can go well today (he’s still 1lb lower than when just touched off in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at the 2020 Festival here). Others with chances include Stoney Mountain who stays well and the David Maxwell ridden Dolphin Square from the same yard as Pileon’s. A tough race with possible stamina doubts over the front pair so it’s Pileon for me each way. 

PILEON 1 point each way @ 6/1 1/5^th 1234 BetVictor

 

Musselburgh 2.50

A small turnout of only five go to post for this 2m 4 1/2F handicap chase and can go to those men Brian Hughes and Donald McCain again with their 8 year old top weight Gaelic Coast. He’s already shown his liking for this specialist track by winning two of his three starts here and had an excuse for his poor effort last time out at Newbury as he slipped on the approach to the first fence and was never travelling from there onwards. Third in that contest was the Paul Nicholls trained Amour De Nuit who, under Bryony Frost is the danger here today. 

GAELIC COAST 2 point win 4/1 Bet365

GEROMINO/FIVEANDTWENTY/GAELIC COAST 1/4 point win trixie.

 

Cheltenham 3.10

The Relkeel Hurdle is run over 2m 4F and has a warm favourite in Brewin’upastorm who was very impressive when winning at Aintree back in November. Conditions look ideal for him today and he’s the one to beat under Aidan Coleman. Only 3lb behind him on official ratings is the Paul Nicholls trained McFabulous who was actually beaten 5 1/2L by Brewin’upastorm in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell in February but is 6lb better off now. He’s a horse I’ve always liked and despite an absence of 268 days does go well fresh and re-appears here having had the obligatory Nicholls wind operation since last seen. At the prices I’ll take him to beat the favourite. 

McFABULOUS 2 points win @ 11/4 Bet365

 

[black rabbit]

Simpley the betts   2 00 che  1/4 pt win   15/1

Bobby dazzler  2 35  che  1/4  pt  win    11/1 

First Impression  2 10  muss   1/2  pt win  11/2

Tide Times  2 25 ext  1/4 pt win  10/1 

Greig  1 30  Leop  1/4  pt win   40/1  

 

 

 

 

 

 

P/L  = + 120  pts  

Edited January 1, 2022 by black rabbit