GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his top 10 eyecatchers from the past week’s action, which includes a horse that could be capable of landing a hat-trick of wins in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February.
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BALLYBEG BOSS (third, 2m1.5f handicap chase, Bangor, Friday, December 15th)
Donald McCain has a good recent record with his handicap chase debutants and BALLYBEG BOSS, who was having his first run over the larger obstacles, was sent off as the 4-1 third choice in the betting for the Corbettsports Handicap Chase at Bangor last Friday. Brian Hughes had him in touch with the leaders on the inside rail but that was clearly the slowest part of the chase track, and the race was cued up for those who challenged late/wide. He briefly looked dangerous when switched away from the ‘swamp’ but it was too little too late and he had to settle for a 22.5-length third. This was still a fair effort under 12-00 and he can be supported next time.
FORWARD PLAN (won, 3m handicap chase, Doncaster, Saturday, December 16th)
FORWARD PLAN looked outclassed when a 25-length sixth behind stablemate Blackjack Magic in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton last month, but Anthony Honeyball’s 14-1 shot actually did best of those to come from off the pace and was racing from 7lb out of the handicap proper. The seven-year-old bounced back to land the bet365 Handicap Chase at Doncaster last Saturday, taking his record in handicaps at Class 2 level or lower to 221211321 (4-9). They only jumped ten of the 18 fences thanks to the low sun but he will still be of interest if returning here for the Sky Bet Chase next month.
FUGITIF (won, 2m4.5f handicap chase, Cheltenham, Saturday, December 16th)
Hindsight’s a wonderful thing but it now seems blindingly obvious that the best guide to the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup was the Paddy Power Gold Cup, run at Cheltenham last month. The winner and runner-up from that race – Stage Star and Notlongtillmay – were missing this time but the third/fourth renewed rivalry and they filled the first two places, with FUGITIF reversing the form with Il Ridoto in a fantastic finish. The wining margin was only a short head, but Fugitif deserves extra credit for coming from off the pace when the next three finishers were described as ‘led’, ‘prominent, pressed leader 7th’ and ‘pressed leader’. The winner now has form figures of 1812241 (3-7) when racing over fences in fields of ten or more runners.
FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (third, 2m handicap chase, Cheltenham, Saturday, December 16th)
FUNAMBULE SIVOLA seemed to be the only Venetia Williams-trained runner who didn’t win over the weekend but there was encouragement from his 15-2 third to Madara (see below) in the Quintessentially Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old rarely wins this early in the season and seems much happier on flatter tracks than Cheltenham, especially Newbury and Doncaster. He’s landed the Game Spirit Chase, run at Newbury in February, in each of the past two seasons and will be of obvious interest in that race again, especially of the ground rides good or faster.
FURZIG (fourth, 1m4.5f handicap, Newcastle, Saturday, December 16th)
Richard Fahey’s veteran FURZIG can usually be relied upon to run his race granted a big field on the all-weather and he rewarded each-way support with some bookies when a 33-1 fourth of 12 in the Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap. He was beaten by a little over eight lengths but fared clear best of those to come from off the pace and will benefit from a stronger gallop next time. His record on the all-weather in fields of ten or more runners now reads 31126204 (2-8).
KODEBREAKER (3rd, 8.6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, December 18th)
It paid to be close to the early pace in division one of the 8.6f Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday night in which Advantage (‘in touch with leaders’) was in ‘position A’ on the shoulder of the front-runner before going clear inside the final furlong to record a comfortable win over Pallas Lord (‘in touch with leaders’). The three-year-old winner might prove capable of following up if he runs under a penalty at Southwell on Friday but he’s unlikely to be much of a price and I’m more interested in third-placed KODEBREAKER as a future bet. Michael Herrington’s four-year-old travelled well in rear from his tricky stall 10 draw and stayed on well when switched to the far rail in the straight. Having the reassurance of a rail to race against could be the key to him, as his record when drawn in stall 1 stands at 311120 (3-6) for a profit of £14.50 to a £1 level stake at SP. He’s lost all 35 starts when drawn in stall 2 or above.
LET’S GO AMIGO (fifth, 3m handicap hurdle, Taunton, Thursday, December 14th)
It paid to race wide on the hurdles course at Taunton last Thursday, especially by the time of the finale – the 3m Christmas Meeting 30th December Handicap Hurdle. The winner, 7-2 favourite Gyllen, raced widest of all and there were a few eyecatchers who took the ‘swamp’ route, including Kim Bailey’s 8-1 shot LET’S GO AMIGO, who was always towards the inside under Ciaran Gethings. The five-year-old probably did too much too soon in the first-time visor and his eight-length fifth was a useful effort in the circumstances.
MADARA (won, 2m handicap chase, Cheltenham, Saturday, December 16th)
MADARA was nibbled late at big prices prior to unseating his rider in the 2m handicap chase won by Dancing On My Own at Cheltenham in late October and wasn’t disgraced over the same track and trip the following month, finishing just over six lengths behind Triple Trade when a 16-1 sixth of 11. The Sophie Leech-trained four-year-old is not the biggest and proved suited by the small field when landing the Quintissentially Handicap Chase last Saturday. Facing just six rivals, the 9-1 poke tracked the strong early pace towards the inside rail before taking up the running just after the last fence, staying on well up the hill to score by three lengths and change from 5-2 favourite In Excelsis Deo. This was obviously a big step in the right direction but I’d be wary of backing him at short odds in a big field next time.
MILAN BRIDGE (won, 3m1.5f handicap chase, Plumpton, Monday, December 18th)
MILAN BRIDGE had caught the eye when fourth at Huntingdon on his debut for Sarah Humphrey in late October and his subsequent last-of-seven finish at Leicester was easily forgiven as he jumped out to his left on the right-handed track. The switch to left-handed Plumpton saw him gain a first win for new connections when sent off at 10-1 for the 3m1.5f G.E.White & Sons Agricultural Buildings Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old jumped well and showed a willing attitude to repel several challenges, suggesting that there could be more to come, especially on a sound surface.
SAMATIAN (sixth, 3m handicap hurdle, Taunton, Thursday, December 14th)
SAMATIAN, a stablemate of Let’s Go Amigo (see above), also took the ‘swamp’ route in the 3m Christmas Meeting 30th December Handicap Hurdle at Taunton last week and his 20-length sixth is easily excused. He too raced closer to the early pace than ideal and should find another race in the near future. He only went down by half a length in a 14-runner handicap hurdle at Warwick last New Year’s Eve and a return trip to that venue could suit.
10 To Follow – Andrew Mount’s Horses To Follow For The 23/24 Jumps Season
The 2023/24 Jumps Season is underway and we’ve got all our team to give their ’10 to follow’ for the NH season. GG’s chief tipster Andrew Mount is the next to give his selections, which include two runners from champion trainer Paul Nicholls yard, as well as last season’s Irish Grand National winner. BYKER (Charles…
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