Racing Chat - Wednesday 27th December

[The Brigadier]

Chepstow 1.05

Only four have declared for this 2M 3 1/2F class 2 handicap chase with the Sam Thomas trained Good Risk At All a warm favourite now dropping back to a trip that suits him better having possibly failed to stay over three miles at Cheltenham last time. He should run well but at the prices the consistent top weight First Flow may be the value play. He finished a 4L runner up to Boothill at Ascot last time out, form which has been boosted several times since and Kim Bailey’s eleven year old will appreciate any more rain that falls at the Welsh track.

 

FIRST FLOW 1 point win @ 9/4 William Hill

 

Kempton 1.20

A nine runner introductory juvenile hurdle which features the well touted Nicky Henderson trained Sir Gino who is already a top priced 12/1 for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham next March. He impressed when winning a listed race on his racecourse debut for his French trainer at Auteuil last April and has subsequently been bought privately by the Donnelly’s and put into training over here with Nicky Henderson. He’s had a wind operation since but the opposition today hardly looks that exacting and he can make a winning British debut at a meeting where his trainer does so well at.

 

SIR GINO, NICKLE BACK (1.55 Kempton) & BURDETT ROAD (2.10 Chepstow) 2 points win treble 8/15, 4/5 & 4/9 Bet Victor

 

Chepstow 1.40

A class 2 2M 7F 131 yard handicap hurdle is up next with a field of eight where I feel there is an excellent each way bet to get stuck into. Many of these can be crabbed for one reason or another but the one who appeals is the Tim Vaughan trained Bells Of Peterboro. He showed up nicely in two handicap chases on his first two starts this season over fences but was disappointing when reverting to hurdles last time but its best to forgive him that run now in a first time visor as he has such a great record in this very race and it may well be that he has been trained for this race. He ran out a very easy 22L winner of this race two years off of a handicap mark 3lb higher than todays ‘s as well as finishing a creditable third in this contest a year ago. He’s well worth chancing under Alan Johns who knows him so well.

 

BELLS OF PETERBORO 1 point each way @ 17/2 William Hill 1/5th 123

 

Kempton 1.55

A small field of just four line up for the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase run over two miles. The one to beat is the Sarah Humphrey trained Nickle Back who followed up two emphatic chase victories at Warwick and Stratford from the front by running a highly creditable 6 1/2L second to the smart Hermes Allen in a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Newbury at the beginning of the month. He’s an exuberant front runner who will more than likely set out in front and hopefully run the race out of his three rivals, the best of which may well be Master Chewy.

 

Chepstow 2.10

The 2M grade 2 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle has only attracted six runners with a very warm favourite in James Owen’s unbeaten juvenile hurdler Burdett Road. He has to shoulder a 5lb penalty for his impressive wins at Huntingdon and in grade 2 company at Cheltenham under today’s rider Harry Cobden. He should win this the with utmost of ease all be it at prohibitive odds.

 

Kempton 2.30

The 2M Desert Orchid Chase has Grade 2 status and for the first time this year is a limited handicap which has attracted six runners. Harry Fry’s Boothill arrives in top form chasing a hat trick of two mile handicap chase wins following a brace of wins at Ascot this season. He may have been a bit fortunate to oblige last time as Saint Segal was a length ahead when tumbling at the last. Only 3lb higher in the weights now he appeals as the one to beat although Joe Tizzard’s Elixir De Nutz, who is also chasing a hat trick, and Nube Negra, who will appreciate the drying ground look dangers.

 

BOOTHILL 1 point win @ 2/1 BetVictor

 

Chepstow 2.50

The 2023 renewal of the 3M 6 1/F Coral Welsh Grand National has attracted a maximum field of twenty dye in the wool stayers. Many have claims including the top weight Iwilldoit who won the race two years ago off of bottom weight but is now 13lb higher in the weights. The trial winner Nassalam is another with a shout although he has to prove his stamina. The race looks wide open and I’ll take a rank outsider to run well at a massive price with extra places. David Pipe’s Only The Bold looked a stayer going places last year when bolting up at Bangor and Hereford but has flopped three times since, twice this year back over hurdles so its impossible to be too confident about his chances but if he can get himself back to the form he showed last year he can give his trainer David Pipe his first win in a race that his father Martin did so well in.

 

ONLY THE BOLD 1 point each way @ 33/1 William Hill 1/5th 123456

 

Kempton 3.09

A valuable 3M class 2 Handicap Chase is up next with eight going to post. The form horse is arguably the top weight Tea Clipper who should go well here following two decent efforts in 3M handicap chases this winter when runner up at Chepstow and Ascot. He is only a pound higher than his latest run and there appears little depth to this contest. The bottom weight Strictlyadancer looks interesting but his trainer Christian Williams is badly out of sorts at present and can’t be fancied until he’s shows some improvement in his form.

 

TEA CLIPPER 1 point win @ 9/4 bet365

 

 

[richard-westwood]

3.00 leopard Paddy power chase 

Ontheropes  8.7 33/1 

Fakir dalene.  8.6 20/1 

Amirite.    8.4 12/1 

These three are a bit clear of rest so with limited race interests due to field sizes I'll try 3pt Ew all 3 ....and forecasts all 3