26/12/2022 – Monday’s racing tips

KEMPTON PARK

Race 2 Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1)

No2 GOSHEN
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore

GOSHEN is a fascinating addition to the staying hurdle ranks as he moves into new territory on the distance ladder. The Kingwell, Contenders and Coral Ascot Hurdle winner is yet to score at the highest level, but has a great chance of doing so if he can get three miles around one of the easiest tracks in the country. A horse with a growing public following, he was showing no signs of stopping for the latest of his successes, and can give Champ and Paisley Park plenty to think about.

Race 3 Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

No2 McFABULOUS
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden

Nicholls fires a twin assault at this prestigious race that commemorates one of the best chasers of the Millenium. His GELINO BELLO has looked a natural in his two races over fences so far, but may find stablemate McFABULOUS too hot to handle. The selection comprehensively outpointed THYME HILL at Newbury, where he was super efficient at the obstacles and came home unchallenged. If seeing is believing, he can confirm those placings and establish himself as a leading light for the RSA Chase at the Festival.

Race 4 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

No1 CONSTITUTION HILL
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville

This should be straightforward for the new kid on the hurdling block CONSTITUTION HILL, whose last two successes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the ‘ Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle at Newcastle make him look out of the ordinary and a king in waiting as far as the Champion Hurdle itself is concerned. He gets everything done with a rarely seen economy of effort and in confirming his superiority over stablemate EPATANTE can further enhance his Cheltenham prospects.

Race 5 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1)

No7 L’HOMME PRESSE (Nap)
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch

The jewel in the crown of this course’s National Hunt fixtures has attracted one of the best fields for some time. That’s because many of the old guard are not in the field, leaving the way for exciting novices such as BRAVEMANSGAME and L’HOMME PRESSE to try to stake an early claim for Gold Cup honours against established star ENVOI ALLEN.
As the winner of two Grade 1 chases in Ireland, the last-named horse needs respecting, as well as admiration for his connections who crossed the Irish Sea when the rest chose to stay at home. On form Henry De Bromhead’s gelding is the one to beat, but on this track it could pay to side with the experienced novices.

Bravemansgame let his halo slip at Aintree in April, but returned to trump ELDORADO ALLEN in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby where he was foot perfect under Harry Cobden. He destroyed AHOY SENOR in the Grade 1 novice chase at this meeting 12 months ago, and represents Paul Nicholls who has won more King Georges than anyone else.

L’HOMME PRESSE looks a doughty foe to everything, however, and greatly impressed me with the way he battled to success under a welter burden in a handicap at Newcastle. Run on ground a bit livelier than ideal, that Rehearsal Chase effort shows not only that Venetia Williams’ charge has improved, but also that he can knuckle down in a battle, as he only had a length to spare over Into Overdrive. Following rain on Friday the ground will ride softer than it normally does for a King George, and that will best suit L’HOMME PRESSE.

Prediction: 1st L’HOMME PRESSE, 2nd Envoi Allen, 3rd Eldorado Allen, 4th Bravemansgame

Race 7 No11 GREY DAWNING (Each Way)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton

A winner of both his bumper starts and impressive in a warm novice hurdle on latest start at Exeter, GREY DAWNING could have been let in lightly for his first run in a handicap, and in a race with extended places looks a banker for PAs for a trainer/jockey combo that rarely leave this fixture empty-handed.

WETHERBY

Race 4 William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase

No3 SOUNDS RUSSIAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson – Jockey: Callum Bewley

This is one of the best renewals of Wetherby’s historic Boxing Day feature I can remember. Although overshadowed by events at Kempton, it represents an equally attractive market place for wagering, and is a race to play your exotics. SHAN BLUE is going to take out a good chunk of the betting handle on his seasonal reappearance. He threw away certain victory with his late fall in last year’s Charlie Hall Chase but in a select campaign went on to run Sam Brown to half a length in a competitive Grade 3 handicap at Aintree. Key to Shan Blue is how good he is when fresh from a break.

While he could easily eclipse this field I’m hopeful the SOUNDS RUSSIAN can prove a third in his side. The selection ran in snatches when fourth to Noble Yeats at Aintree early this month, but can be seen in a better light competing in a fast-run race that both Shan Blue and TOP VILLE BEN will ensure. If ridden patiently he can claim lofty scalps late in the game, with INTO OVERDRIVE another that has to be seriously considered.

Prediction: 1st SOUNDS RUSSIAN, 2nd Shan Blue, 3rd Into Overdrive, 4th Top Ville Ben

Race 6 No2 KARL PHILIPPE (Nap)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Jack Hogan

KARL PHILIPPE could hardly have been more impressive when humbling some decent foes on his reappearance at this course last month and needs to be backed to follow-up. He has the same conditional taking 7lb off his back, and can make this a fourth success from his last five outings over fences.

Race 7 No5 GALAHAD THREEPWOOD (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods

GALAHAD THREEPWOOD looked all over the winner when storming to the front at Sandown, only to be grabbed up the final hill by Hugo’s New Horse. The run showed he is now a more polished operator as a jumper, and even though this is a tougher assignment he can leave with a decent cheque.

WINCANTON

Race 1 No3 TWEED SKIRT (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: James Bowen

TWEED SKIRT has missed a couple of opportunities since impressively converting on her chase debut at Kempton. She achieved that with the addition of a tongue-tie, and should be right at home round this similarly east track for a trainer who is a master with this type of individual.

Race 6 No2 UMBRIGADO
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: David Noonan

UMBRIGADO was never really travelling when returned to fences last time. It’s probably best to draw a line through that performance and to give him a chance to bounce back, as he’d scored in taking fashion on his previous outing at Newton Abbot. Noonan has plenty of experience of the selection, and partnered him to a Grade 3 handicap chase triumph at Newbury.

NEWCASTLE

Race 5 No1 SALVINO (Nap)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania

SALVINO is top weight but is entitled to be following his brave run in defeat against the smart Johnson’s Blue at Catterick. As a lightly-raced individual there should be more to come on this first visit to Gosforth Park.

MARKET RASEN

Race 2 No1 CHASING FIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen

CHASING FIRE hacked up on his debut over jumps at this course last month and looks one of the best prospects to come out of the Murphy yard. The former winning pointer can take another small step up the ladder on the way to much better things.

Race 5 No3 LIGHT EM UP NIGEL (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Martin – Jockey: David Pritchard

Several take the eye in this attractive betting heat. SPANISH PRESENT should make a good fist of it under top weight but LIGHT EM UP NIGEL is just preferred to end a frustrating run of second on only his second run in a handicap.

HUNTINGDON

Race 2 No11 SPONTHUS (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Finn Lambert

This looks a more straightforward assignment than that SPONTHUS would have faced if he’d been able to run last week. He ran a cracker on a return to the fray at Chepstow and has learned plenty from that eye taking effort.

Race 3 No10 CLEAR ON TOP
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Richard Patrick

CLEAR ON TOP jumped and travelled well before putting his recent Leicester race to bed between the last couple of fences. From his revised mark he looks in a good place from which to consolidate, and this track should suit him.

Race 7 No10 RANGE
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Finn Lambert

RANGE attracted plenty of support before chasing home Isaac Des Obeaux on his debut under Rules at Chepstow and will be more streetwise for a nightcap he can dominate.

FONTWELL PARK

Race 1 No1 GIVEGA (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Niall Houlihan

GIVEGA is the nicest horse on view at this meeting and can reward support at a tight track that should play to his strengths. He put in a dominating performance to score on debut under Rules at Lingfield and will enjoy the cut in the ground in what should prove a stepping stone to better things.

Race 3 No2 HIDOR DE BERSEY
Trainer: Tom Symonds – Jockey: Niall Houlihan

HIDOR DE BERSEY jumped well in the main on chase debut at Wetherby, only to fail to cope with Parliament Hill. He will have learned bundles from that experience and can make it a good day for his jockey, who is also booked for Givega.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 3 No1 ART POWER (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

ART POWER underwhelmed in a similar contest at Newcastle when heavily supported but beating less home than beat him. He’s too good a horse to be ignored in these conditions races, and all things being equal should outclass his rivals to record a first win on the all-weather m for almost two years.