For those in the racing industry, a few days off over Christmas should be a welcome relief but we get so used to working every day (if you can call it work) that I felt the urge to write a Boxing Day special for you all – and it gives me a great excuse to get away from the in-laws which is an added bonus.
Disgusting news to start the article though and what sort of a World do we live in when 20 horses are shot dead for “fun” in Kentucky, and 6 stallions are slaughtered in Chile, possibly for meat? I am happy to acknowledge that the majority of my scribblings are best described as betting based (after all, that’s the majority of the audience I am trying to attract here in the UK at least), but deep down I am a horse lover who is at his happiest on a stable visit or at dawn on the Newmarket gallops, and it sickens me to think that IF the perpetrators are caught they will probably get a slapped wrist with some kind of animal cruelty charges as opposed to something more draconian like a public lynching at the very least.
With the gin remaining in the bottle for now I can at least start my form study with a clear head for a change, and with a total of seven cards in the UK plus three from Ireland, (69 races in total), it seems safe to suggest I will be cherry picking the best contests to get involved with.
Every year (and rightly so), Kempton are the focal point for National Hunt fans the globe over with the King George the centrepiece but a pretty exciting supporting card. By definition the kudos ensures the three mile chase is fiercely competitive, but where is the fun in going elsewhere for starters and I am all over Cyrname who looks the latest superstar to roll off of the Paul Nicholls production line. Only a seven-year-old, a race of this quality will be the real acid test after he defeated Altior over two miles five at Ascot, though this is his first attempt at three miles which is the main concern. If he can’t get home here then the Gold Cup will surely be off the agenda, yet he has a small field of five rivals to cope with, suggesting he can lead them all a merry dance from the front and come home alone with any luck.
Elsewhere on the same card Epatante looks the value call of the Nicky Henderson three in the Christmas hurdle due off at 2.30pm. She looked to be gong the right way when winning a competitive handicap on her return at Newbury last month and if she improves for that as expected then she will give them all a fright with a clear round in receipt of seven pounds from the geldings, assuming she handles this heavier ground as expected after her bumper win in similar conditions at Saint-Cloud when trained in France.
Moving venues to Fontwell next and local trainer Gary Moore may well have a very successful afternoon. Ignoring the short priced favourites for a change it may be worth a little each way risk on 14/1 chance Aiguille Rouge who arrives here a dual course and distance winner from this time two years ago. He was off for close to two years before pulling up on his return to action at Sandown earlier in the month and may not be the horse he once was, but on the other hand he may just strip race fit now, and off five pounds lower today and in less exalted company he could surprise them all at a decent price.
Lastly for this extra free of charge preview I am off to Ireland when all eyes will be on the debut for Gordon Elliott of the ex-French Aramax who blew away the opposition last time out at Vittel and looks a classy recruit. Bought by J P McManus he has the unbeaten Aspire Tower to beat after Henry De Bromhead’s three-year-old made all to score as he liked at Punchestown but if Mark Walsh can keep tabs on him early in the race I am hoping to see the turn of foot used to devastating effect once again to land my bets this afternoon.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Epatante 2.30pm Kempton Boxing Day
Cyrname 3.05pm Kempton Boxing Day
Aiguille Rouge each-way 2.25pm Fontwell Boxing Day
Aramax 1.10pm Leopardstown Boxing Day
Comments