Racing Chat - Saturday 30th December

[The Brigadier]

Newbury 1.15

The first of five races covered by ITV at Newbury this afternoon is this 2M 92 yard class 3 Handicap Chase. A case can be made for most but it’s the Jeremy Scott trained The Russian Doyen that catches my eye. A course and distance winner three starts back in February 2022 off of a handicap mark a pound higher he probably needed his latest run, his first for 621 days, when finishing a 14 1/2L fourth again over course and distance at the beginning of the month having run well to two out before running out of puff. With that run behind him he should run a nice race with Harry Cobden an interesting jockey booking (he was on board when winning here in February 2022).

 

THE RUSSIAN DOYEN 1 point win @ 5/1 William Hill

 

Haydock 1.25

The Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase run over a stamina sapping 3M 4 1/2F is an open contest with all six of the competitors holding a chance of sorts. Stakes should be kept to a minimum with possibly top weight Fortescue the one to be with. Henry Daly’s nine year old has slipped to a handicap mark 5lb lower than his last winning one, which came at Ascot in February 2022. He wasn’t disgraced following a 238 day absence when fourth of 10 (beaten 6 1/2L) to Nassalam in the Coral Welsh National Trial Handicap Chase at the beginning of the month. The winner hacked up in the big race earlier in the week and with Hugh Nugent claiming a valuable 3lb can run a big race.

 

FORTESCUE 1 point win @ 11/2 BetVictor

 

Newbury 1.50

Just six line up for this 2m 4 1/2F class 2 handicap hurdle. Dan Skelton’s top weight Get A Tonic was very impressive when winning over course and distance at the beginning of the month when making all to win at a seemingly unfancied 28/1 by 7L from Anyharminasking with one of today’s rivals Irish Hill back in 7th and seemingly held here (although he does sport first time blinkers and is 10lb better off at the weights). With similar tactics likely to be employed by Harry Skeleton he can go in again despite a 8lb rise in the weights.

 

GET A TONIC 1 point win @ 9/4 William Hill

 

Taunton 2.10

This 2M 104 yard listed mares’ novices’ hurdle may be fought out by Harry Derham’s Queens Gamble and Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Casa No Mento. It’s hard to split the pair but slight preference is for the latter who is actually officially rated 6lb superior to his rival. Twiston-Davies’s mare is unbeaten over hurdles following easy success’s at Market Rasen and Hereford this season. Assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies was very bullish of the horse’s ability going forward stating that she was the only horse able to work with the now retired I Like To Move It. She wouldn’t want the ground to get much softer than it currently is but she can beat the equally promising Queens Gamble.

 

CASA NO MENTO 1 point win @ 2/1 bet365

 

Newbury 2.25

A decent sized field of twelve have declared for the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase which has an open look about it. A case can be made for several especially Kerry Lee’s Atlanta Brave who ran well at Exeter last time but its Shanty Alley who may well represent some each way value here. Trained by Ben Case he is 5lb lower than when running a stormer in this race last year in finishing second, beaten 3/4L by Grumpy Charlie when attempting to make all. He probably needed his latest run at Catterick back in November, his first for 202 days and a further 2lb drop for that run is welcomed. Jack Quinlan takes the ride for the first time and off of a nice mark looks each way value.

 

SHANTY ALLEY 1 point each way @ 14/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Taunton 2.45

A tricky five runner handicap hurdle run over just short of three miles is up next with each of the quintet holding a chance of sorts. Harry Derham is making a name for himself in the training ranks and has as good a chance as any with his Game Winner. He has run twice over fences this season without setting the world alight and reverts back to hurdles here in first time cheek pieces. A winning novice hurdler last season he may still have some improvement to come and with Paul O’Bren on top can take this winnable race.

 

GAME WINNER 1 point win @ 9/4 Betfred

 

Newbury 3.00

The day’s feature race is the 2M 4 1/2F Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle which has attracted a decent sized field of nine. Paul Nicholls has won this race for the last three years so his Captain Teague (he also saddles Farnoge)has to be respected but it’s the Nicky Henderson trained Willmount that appeals the most. Unbeaten in an Irish point to point and two bumpers when in the care of Neil Mulholland, he made a scintillating debut for his new handler when winning a novice hurdle over the minimum trip in November, coming home 13L clear of his field having jumped slickly. This is a totally different type of race but he oozes class and will be well suited by the extra half a mile today under Nice de Boinville. He can strike here with Captain Teague and Jonjo O’Neill’s Johnnywho live dangers.

 

WILLMOUNT 2 points win @ 13/8 BetVictor

 

Newbury 3.35

We conclude racing at Newbury today with this 2M 6 1/2F Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with eight horses going to post. Jamie Snowden is having a good season with the likes of Ladbroke Trophy winner Datsalrightgino and appears to have a solid chance here with six year old Passing Well. He stepped forward from his chasing debut to win a similar race to this at Lingfield at the end of November by a length from Heva Rose who’s won since. A 3lb rise for that victory may not be enough to stop him from following up in a race that may not take much winning.

 

PASSING WELL 1 point win @ 5/1 bet365

 

[White Feather]

Bangers And Cash 16/1 PP - 14:25 Newbury

Moon Hunter 14/1 PP - 15:35 Newbury

2 x singles - Each Way Double