ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN
Well, I hope you all had the most fabulous of Christmases and received all the presents you could ever want (including one or more of my books, hopefully, and if not, why not lol?), and that you enjoyed all the top quality racing on Boxing Day and beyond.
Constitution Hill did little more than prove that he still has four legs when winning the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle hard held and remains unbackable for the Champion Hurdle, but what did we all make of French chaser Il Est Francais? I have to admit I backed Hermes Allen in that contest but he was made to look positively pedestrian by the winner who clocked a time nearly four and a half seconds faster than Hewick managed in the King George. Yes he was carrying 3lb less but that was still mightily impressive for a novice and although he is now favourite for the Sun Alliance at Cheltenham, if I owned him I would go straight to the Gold Cup and save a year (I’m greedy).
Over the sea in Ireland two horses stood out to me (and the bookmakers) with Bunting landing the odds on his Limerick debut and suggest he may be the Willie Mullins Triumph Hurdle number one, while Marine Nationale barely touched a twig on his debut over fences and is now odds-on for the Arkle. Although I won’t be backing any of those named at their current prices for the Festival, this is a chance to point out that as far as I know William Hill (and possibly others) are going non-runner no bet for Cheltenham in March from January 1 in the UK, so common sense suggests you wait until then if you have a fancy you want to get on bright and early.
Lastly, many of you will know that I have a sweet spot for trainer Gary Moore who has always found time for me when needed, and trains just down the road in West Sussex. More than capable given the right ammunition, I only wish I had been at either Kempton (where he scored with Editeur Du Gite) or better still Chepstow where he took the Grade two hurdle with Salver, and the Welsh Grand National with Nassalam, both ridden by Caoilin Quinn. Knowing Gary he would have been as modest as he always is when asked about those victories, but proud as punch inside of a plan that had clearly come together.
On to the horses tomorrow…
Saturday
With the worst of the latest storm (they seem to come around like buses these days) currently centred in the North of the United Kingdom it makes good sense for me to focus my attentions in the South where we have more chance of actually having some runners. Newbury rarely if ever put on a “bad” card and that looks the case this Saturday too, despite some smaller than ideal fields for each way purposes. Backing a horse who hasn’t been seen for over a year may prove to be a silly move, but Mucuna has been so impressive with four wins from five starts in novice company that I just cannot resist, albeit to small stakes. Last seen in July 2022 when trained by Milton Harris, she strolled home by 22 lengths that day and Newton Abbot, but has moved to Anthony Charlton since and has her first start for her new handler here. A mark of 118 for her handicap debut in the 12.05pm cannot be described as generous I’m afraid, but she has any amount of potential improvement to come, and will hopefully go close at a reasonable decent price.
Although some will suggest 6/4 is a rubbish price I actually think that is a spot of value about Nicky Henderson’s Willmount ahead of the 3.00pm at Newbury though I doubt that lasts until this article gets published (sadly). An Irish point-to-point winner who was sold on for £340,000, he won both his bumpers at Doncaster for Neil Mulholland before being moved on to Seven Barrows in October to start his hurdling career. Sent off at odds of 1/3 here over two miles plus he won by 13 lengths with any amount in hand, and with the step up in trip expected to bring about plenty of improvement for the son of Blue Bresil, he is confidently expected to keep his unbeaten record intact barring mistakes.
Oliver Timms is a decent young jockey with a bright future ahead of him and I see that as a bonus ahead of the 3.40pm at Wolverhampton this afternoon, a mile plus handicap restricted to apprentice jockeys and part of the “hands and heels” series. He rides Graffiti here, a winner last time out here over a furlong further and a distance winner at Nottingham back in June. He does need a career best off this mark having been put up 6lb for his recent victory but won with any amount up his sleeve if needed that day, and arrives as the only runner with any decent recent form.
Sean’s Suggestion:
Willmount 3.00pm Newbury
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