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A big week of punting ahead with some terrific action at Ascot, Chepstow, Kempton and Leopardstown with a plethora of Group One races on offer, mixed with extremely tough and competitive handicaps.
The first of which comes at Ascot on Saturday, with The Ladbroke Hurdle on a card that is set to have Nicky Henderson’s heavy artillery unleashed, including the promising Simonsig. The Ladbroke Hurdle was won last year by Raya Star for Alan King, and he has the current ante post favourite in Balder Success, beating the tough juvenile Hollow Tree easily last time out at Haydock. He looks unexposed, has course form and loves soft ground, and is sure to be a leading player. Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have been mopping up Saturday cards so far this season, and have two leading fancies in Ranjaan and Cash and Go, but a stable that burst into form last Saturday was Emma Lavelle’s. Wins for Highland Lodge, Court In Motion, Easter Meteor and Caught By Surprise all winning valuable prizes. Her next dart to throw is CLARET CLOAK who ran a stormer to finish third when punted off the boards last time out over course and distance, tiring late on. Dominic Elsworth will likely be back on board, and is another enjoying a purple patch, riding for Emma Lavelle, Mick Channon, and Paul Webber. His record for the last six rides reads 161122 – and is in good fettle.
We all know what the real highlight of Christmas is, and it isn’t listening to your nan bring back her sprouts via the rumblings of the methane soaked sofa. No, one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar is, The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, a race that Kauto Star has dominated since the turn of the millennium, winning a record breaking five times. Paul Nicholls has his half-brother Kauto Stone, but he isn’t in the same league. Versatile performers such as Captain Chris, Hunt Ball, The Giant Bolster and Champion Court don’t look to have the class to win a Grade 1 Chase over three miles.
Riverside Theatre and Long Run of Nicky Henderson head the market, but stablemate FINIANS RAINBOW is well worth a punt at bigger prices. The Champion Chaser won over two and a half miles at Aintree, and the step up in trip will suit, as long as it doesn’t come up too soft. GRANDS CRUS is another over-priced horse due to a poor performance last time out on soft, but won The Feltham Chase over course and distance in a quicker time than The King George. Both horses he beat that day are unbeaten with Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth winning five graded races since. Both could end up dropping down in trip for The Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March, and with BetVictor’s Non Runner-Free Bet offer, look well worth a punt in that market too.
The Welsh National has been the plan for TEAFORTHREE ever since winning The National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March. He showed tremendous guts and tenacity to battle back, and after being headed after trying to make all. The ground was probably on the quick side for him then, and the mud at Chepstow will play in his favour. He has had two runs to get him fit, and jumped extremely impressively both starts at Cheltenham and Newbury. Everything is in his favour, and he looks an extremely good bet.
Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival looks an absolute cracker, with a host of Grade 1’s, and that will probably throw up a host of contenders for Cheltenham glory, with the two mile novice hurdle being a particularly strong looking renewal. The Lexus Chase is set up to be a great renewal, with Tidal Bay, Flemenstar and Hidden Cyclone being stand out entries, but the horse with everything in his favour is SIR DES CHAMPS. Willie Mullins superstar lost his unbeaten tag last time out to Flemenstar, but fitter, stronger and over a better trip, he should be cherry ripe for three miles around Leopardstown under Davy Russell.
Ladbroke Hurdle – Claret Cloak 1pt EW
King George VI Chase – Grands Crus 1pt Win & Finians Rainbow 1pt Win
Welsh National – Teaforthree 3pts EW
Lexus Chase – Sir Des Champs 2pt Win
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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