Racing Chat - Friday 15th December

[The Brigadier]

Cheltenham 1.15

The first of five races screened by ITV today is this 2M 1F class 3 handicap hurdle. Nicky Henderson’ hard to train Doddiethegreat makes his handicap entrance off of a tempting mark of 131 and having made a winning re-appearance following a 746 day absence at Ascot three weeks ago looks the one to be with. He’s un-beaten in winning two bumpers and twice over hurdles and remains an exciting prospect with Nico De Boinville, who’s ridden him on all four career starts, on board today. As long as he doesn’t ‘bounce’ he maybe too good for his twelve rivals.

 

DODDIETHEGREAT 1 point win @ 7/2 William Hill

 

Cheltenham 1.50

A decent sized field of thirteen line up for this mares only 2M 4 1/2F handicap chase where it maybe worth chancing Lucinda Russell’s six year old I Am Gonna Be. She made a promising stable/chase debut following a switch from Michael Scudamore’s stable when runner up to Everyday Champagne at Ayr in November having made an early mistake. With that experience under her belt she can run well each way in this competitive handicap.

 

I AM GONNA BE 1 point each way @ 10/1 BetVictor 1/5th 1234

 

Cheltenham 2.25

Venetia William’s veteran is so well handicapped nowadays that he must be considered for this 2M 4 1/2F class 2 veterans handicap chase. Now eleven years old he’s fallen to a mark some 17lb lower than his last win which came at Chepstow in January of 2021 when winning by fourteen lengths. He may have needed his latest run (his first for 371 days) when finishing a well beaten fourth of 6 at Warwick in November and in first time cheek pieces is worth persevering with for one last time for his in form stable.

 

CEPAGE 1 point each way @ 15/2 Paddy Power 1/5th 123

 

Cheltenham 3.00

Thirteen line up for the 3M 5 1/2F Cross Country Handicap Chase in which Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s seven year old Gesskille can prove his stamina and further his Grand National claims by scoring on his first venture over these unique cross country obstacles. He’s already won a chase at Auteuil and the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree this season at 2M 6F and 2M 5F but finished runner up in last season’s Becher Chase over 3M 2F at Aintree so there is every hope that this trip today wont be a hindrance to this progressive chaser who will be ridden today by Henry Brooke.

 

GESSKILLE 1 point each way @ 9/2 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Cheltenham 3.35

We finish the Cheltenham card with a ten runner 3M class 2 handicap hurdle. Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, who have a big chance of taking the previous race with Gesskille have a solid chance here also with their progressive White Rhino. He’s won four of his 6 starts since going handicapping and may still be ahead of his handicap mark. A comfortable winner at Carlisle in October on his re-appearance he ran a stormer over 2M 5F here on the old course at the last meeting going down by 3/4L to American Sniper. This will be his first run at three miles which hopefully will unlock some more improvement under Henry Brooke.

 

WHITE RHINO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365

 

[black rabbit]

Yes Indeed                                                           1 30 Bng/                1/20th of a pt win     7/1

Plesant Man                                                        6 30 Sth/                  1/20th of a pt win     8/1

 

 

P/L        + 173.85  pts

Edited December 15, 2023 by black rabbit