Racing Chat - Monday 1st January 2024

[The Brigadier]

We start the New Year with 7 terrestrial races on ITV and I'm afraid I've a feeling that a lot of the favourites will be winning. Maybe perm some together in multiple bets. 

Cheltenham 12.55

Just the five line up for this 2M 62 yard novices’ limited handicap chase which with Full Of Light 43lb out of the handicap will only concern the other four. The pick has to be the Messrs Munir and Souede owned top weight Matata who looked one to follow when an easy ten length winner at Ffos Las on his chasing debut back in October from Cruz Control (winner since). The handicapper has had his say and stuck him up 9lb for that effort but he looks progressive and has a solid chance.

 

MATATA 1 point win @ 2/1 bet365

 

Musselburgh 1.10

The first of two races shown by the ITV cameras is this 2M 4F class 2 handicap hurdle. Last year’s winner and third Benson and Holmes St George’s should be in the shake up but the one that catches my eye is the Dan Skelton trained bottom weight In This World. This lightly raced five year old is having only his seventh career starts and if able to reproduce his last time out fifth (beaten 2 1/4L) to Go Dante at Cheltenham off of the same handicap mark can go very close under the trainer’s brother Harry who replaces the conditional Tristram Durrell today.

 

IN THIS WORLD 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365

 

Cheltenham 1.30

Five have declared for this class 2 3M 1 1/2F handicap chase where the favourite trained in the Cotswolds by Jonjo O’Neill is Inch House who comes chasing a hat trick of victories following success’s at Newbury over the last two months rising some 17lb in the process. He’s an improver and it would be no shock were he to improve again and get his hat trick up at the main expense of Cloudy Glen who finished ahead of another of his opponents Stumptown in the Ladbroke Trophy last time.

 

INCH HOUSE 1 point win @ 15/8 William Hill

 

Cheltenham 2.05

The 2m 4 1/2F Premier Handicap, the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase has attracted a disappointing turn out of just six for this £100,000 guaranteed race. Paul Nicholls’s top weight Stage Star will be hard to beat here having won three of his four starts at the track. A winner of the Turners Chase at the Festival last season he made a winning re-appearance when, despite a major blunder at the last, he ran away with the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. The handicapper has pushed him up 11lb for that victory but if he is to be a contender for the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase come March time he should be winning this under Harry Cobden.

 

STAGE STAR 2 points win @ 4/5 bet365

 

Musselburgh 2.20

A field of nine go to post for this class 2M 4 1/2F handicap chase. The horse that stands out to me here is the Dan Skelton trained, Harry Skelton ridden seven year old Frere D’Armes. He stepped forward for his re-appearance outing at Ascot when back there to run the progressive Boothill to half a length in a valuable 2M 1F handicap chase with the subsequent winner Triple Trade 2 1/2L back in third. Surprisingly the handicapper has only raised him a pound for that effort and with the extra half a mile likely to suit looks every inch the one they all have to beat here.

 

FRERE D’ARMES 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365

 

Cheltenham 2.40

A 3M class 2 handicap hurdle is up next where the days best bet runs. Sam Thomas’s Ed Keeper showed improved form when stepping up to three miles for the first time at Ascot 31 days ago and despite a 9lb rise in the weights should be hard to beat today under Sam Twiston-Davies. He looked a staying hurdler going places when booting 5 1/2L clear of Hoe Joly Smoke and even with a 9lb rise can follow up here. Bottom weight Fontana Ellissi ran well on his re-appearance and at a big price is worth a small stakes saver.

 

ED KEEPER 2 points win @ 3/1 BetVictor

FONTANA ELLISSI 1/2 point each way @ 25/1 bet365 1/5th 123

 

Cheltenham 3.15

Just four line up for the Grade 2 Dorian Engineering Relkeel Hurdle run over 2M 4 1/2F. The two principals who can battle the finish out are the Henry De Bromhead trained Bob Olinger who bounced back to form at Navan over today’s intermediate trip from 65 and the Nicky Henderson trained Marie’s Rock who may have just needed her re-appearance. She’ll be sharper now and should be hard to beat for the in form Nicky Henderson stable.

 

MARIES ROCK 1 point win @ 11/8 BetVictor

[richard-westwood]

Not liking the ground at chelt so looking elsewhere ....

145 muss 

Panjari. 8.2 

Williethebuilder. 8.2 

Caithness.  7.8 

I think williethebuilder was a tad unlucky last time ....making a few mistakes so I'm prepared to give him another chance with four places and 11/2 quote 

Williethebuilder 5pt Ew 11/2 4 places