Racing Chat - Friday 1st December

[The Brigadier]

Newbury 1.15

The first of five races shown by ITV from the Berkshire track is this 2 mile 69 yard fillies juvenile hurdle in which the Irish raider Wodhooh will be hard to beat. Trained by Gordon Elliott she’s three from three over hurdles so far with victories at Listowel, Punchestown and Down Royal. She got the better of a Joseph O’Brien previous winner by a neck (18 lengths back to the remainder) at the latter 20 days ago and that should be good enough to defeat the British contingent who have been plying their trade around some of the lesser tracks over here in the last coupe of months. She’ll be short but it’s hard to look beyond Wodhooh.

 

WODHOOH 2 points win @ 4/6 bet365

 

Newbury 1.50

Just six line up for this 2M 4F Grade 2 novices’ chase with four of the sextet having already jumped a fence in public. One of the two who haven’t is the Paul Nicholls trained Hermes Allen who won the Challow Hurdle here a year ago. By all accounts he jumps fences brilliantly and having won first time out last season by a wide margin has plenty going for him. He’s the highest rated hurdler of the six and can make a winning chasing debut. There will be plenty of pace on here with the likes of the selection, Nickle Back and Tightenourbelts all happy front running. The last named impressed last time on his chasing debut and could be the one to chase the selection home.

 

HERMES ALLEN 1 point win 11/8 William Hill

 

Newbury 2.25

A competitive nine runner class 2 2M 4F handicap chase where Paul Nicholls’s Kandoo Kid can run a big race. He improved plenty for his chasing debut at Warwick when going down by a neck to Galop De Chasse over course and distance at the last meeting here. The pair pulled 32 lengths clear of the third, who was Our Jet who won in the week at Kempton to frank the form. A 6lb rise for that fine effort looks acceptable and he can take this from the Jonjo O’Neill runner Iron Bridge who has won first time out the last three years.

 

KANDOO KID 1 point win @ 7/2 bet365

KANDOO KID & RAMO 1 point each way double @ 7/2 (1/5 123) & 4/1 (1/5 1234)bet365

 

Newbury 3.00

The feature race of the day at the Berkshire course is the 3M Long Distance Hurdle. It appears to be between the front three in the betting as the other trio have plenty on at the weights today. Paisley Park has a good record in the race but is rising twelve years of age now whilst the highest rated Dashel Drasher is maybe the biggest threat to Nicky Henderson’s tough mare Marie’s Rock. She’s shown top form over the last two years including when runner up to Sire Du Berlais at Aintree last April when last seen. She’s still unexposed at three miles and with her stable in such fine form is hard to oppose in a race which the stable won last year with Champ.

 

MARIE’S ROCK 2 points win @ 10/11 William Hill

 

Newbury 3.35

A dozen staying hurdlers line up for this 3M class 2 handicap hurdle. Venetia Williams has her string in fine shape and can take this with her stout stayer Ramo. He made a winning seasonal debut over a trip that was on the short side for him at Ludlow earlier this month under Miss Lucy Turner, form which has been franked since by the subsequent victory of the runner up Midnightreflection. Charlie Deutsch takes over now and a 5lb rise looks reasonable. Nicky Henderson’s Hyland did it well at Cheltenham and drying ground suits him. He looks a big danger to the selection.

 

RAMO 1 point win @ 4/1 bet365

 

[black rabbit]

Flight Deck                                       3 00 Nby/                  1/40th  of a pt win      25/1

Frero Banbou                                  2 25 Nby/                  1/40th of a pt win        7/1

Edited December 1, 2023 by black rabbit