LAST WEEKENDS RACING REVIEW
I think we can look back on last weekends action total bemusement as a lot of short priced favourites and top profile horses were either beaten or didn’t even race…
I would like to start with GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. I was rather disappointed at the time but if you watch the race again I don’t think it’s too bad of a run at this stage of the season. It was his return to action since April, and despite jumping like a fridge for the first half of the race, he was only beaten a length behind FASTORSLOW who now looks a genuine contender for the Gold Cup.
He needs to be ridden way more aggressively from the front, I think when he’s tucked in behind he can be rather unpredictable with how he takes each fence. I think he needs to be the pace setter and out from the front the whole way round where he can pop each fence at his own leisure… I hope he goes for the King George but chances are he will probably return for the Irish Gold Cup in February just before Cheltenham.
SHISHKIN stole the headlines as he refused to race down at Ascot which took the racing world by surprise. Now we all know as of lately he can put up rather questionable performances but this completely different.
Nicky Henderson has announced that he will go for the Rehearsal Handicap Chase at Newcastle this weekend. He is currently around 2/1 but off the back of last weekends mishaps and carrying top weight… I personally aren’t all that confident in him winning this race. I hope he does but its a big ask and largely depends on if he wants to race this time!!
BRAVEMANSGAME was beaten by a fair distance in the end by ROYALE PAGAILLE who was exceptional in last weekends Betfair Chase at Haydock. It proved a wise decision by Cobden and Nicholls for him to head to Ascot in which Cobden landed a 4 timer on the card, and you have to acknowledge there’s nothing Cobden could have done different there on BRAVEMANSGAME than Daryl Jacob did. He was simply just outclassed by Royale Pagaille and now has put serious question marks around his ability and whether the Gold Cup has left a rather large dent on his career.
He has being beaten now on all 3 starts after the Gold Cup and leaves alot of supporters stunned and gradually loosing confidence going forward, leading onto the King George.
You would have to be a very forgiving soul to fancy his chances come boxing day…
Horse Racing This Weekend
We welcome back with open arms the best horse in training this weekend. CONSTITUTION HILL returns to action to defend his Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this weekend. It’s safe to say at 1/6 is he nailed on to produce another memorable performance and I think I speak for everyone when I say we cannot wait to see him back on the track and will be tuning in to see him hose up and probably shorten to 1/4 for the Champion Hurdle!
The Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Friday looks like a cracking race with the field consisting of some quality horses.
MARIES ROCK leads favouritism at this stage at 11/8 but old boy PAISLEY PARK returns to action here in a bid to land this year’s renewal after just being narrowly headed by Champ in last years race.
IMPAIRE ET PASSE makes a return to action this weekend with the Hatton’s Grace his target. The Willie Mullins star remains unbeaten but now steps up into open company and it will be no easy task to roll Teahuppo over. Looks a decent renewal this year with Irish Point and Ashroe Diamond featured in the field.
Weekend Betting Tips
My first selection does come in the Hatton’s Grace and I think that ZANAHIYR 14/1 EW is tremendous value. You know you’re always going to get a true race out of Zanahiyr and has being mixing it up with the best 2M hurdlers for the last few seasons. So far this season he has won a 2M 2F and finished a solid second to a fully tuned up Bob Olinger over 2M 4F. He’s fit and well and running to a solid consistency and with some of these runners jumping up into open company from Novices fields. I think his experience could prove pivotal here and may land what would be considered ‘a bit of a shock ‘
SHARJAH 11/4 is my second selection for this weekends action. He’s taken to chasing with a real panache about himself stacking up to comfortable successes. Despite being aged 10, I think he is a quality horse and his experience he has on offer is something to be acknowledged and appreciative of within a field of this stature. Aside from LETSBECLEARABOUTIT, the remainder of the field is rather consistent and I don’t believe has the quality to serve it up to the likes of SHARJAH and LETSBECLEARABOUTIT, but it is the Mullins horse I am siding with and think he has a cracking chance this weekend in the Drinmore.
HERMES ALLEN 11/8 is my final selection for this weekends racing. Everybody knows that a Paul Nicholl’s horse will improve drastically for a fence. I think this lad will be a big success this season for the team at Ditcheat. Looking at his form last season it was mightily impressive especially his first run at Cheltenham. Then when it came around to the Ballymore, I think he was just feeling the effects of a rather difficult campaign after putting up some tremendous performances. The form of the Ballymore looks solid and continues to improve with the likes of IMPAIRE ET PASSE, GAELIC WARRIOR & AMERICAN MIKE all turning out to be subsequent winners. I think the best is yet to come with this lad and at 11/8 I think he will go off around 4/6 on the day, Cobden jocked up on top. He’s going to take some beating and could be the next star from the Nicholls yard.
2024 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Betting Tip
There will be no ANTEPOST selection in this week’s blog.
SPOTLIGHT HORSES
I am really looking forward to seeing the monster that is Constitution Hill out defending his Fighting Fifth Hurdle. He will probably win by half the track and end up a ¼ shot for the Champion Hurdle, but remove the betting aspect away from the horse and you will see something special and something that should be cherished in your memory. We are lucky to have this lad in our game.
I am eager and hoping Shishkin can get himself off to a good start ahead of the season, he is one of my favourite horses and its a real shame to see him throwing up these surprises every now and then. He has a tough task on hand this weekend but if he’s tuned up and on song, it’s a matter of how many lengths he will be clear. Hoping for a big run, up the Shishkin!
