Plenty of top racing action is still to unfold over the festive period, with the ITV7 being worth £10,000 on the 27th December. Here are our selections for Friday’s competition across the seven races.
Race 1 – 1.40pm Chepstow – Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
The British-based runners are headed by Opec and Hot Fuss, with the former likely to give a good showing from the front. However, she might be vulnerable to French raider NIETZCHE HAS, an entire booked for stud duties, but one who was runner-up at Grade 1 level in France, a nation from which a number of the top juveniles in Britain and Ireland are usually imported. He would only have to match the best of his previous form to be a strong favourite for victory here.
Race 2 – 1.55pm Kempton – Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Nicky Henderson made it 1-0 in his personal battle against Willie Mullins when Constitution Hill beat Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle and the weight SIR GINO receives as a four-year-old from Ballyburn could just be the difference. It may be his chase debut, but he is reported to have schooled well and won the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle with minimum fuss, which is usually a stumbling block for horses of his age. With Lossiemouth having looked below par, there are slight fears as to whether Ballyburn will perform to 100%.
Race 3 – 2.10pm Chepstow – Coral ‘Daily Rewards Shaker’ Handicap Hurdle
Woodie Flash and Madaket look the most open to improvement after both placing at Newbury last time, but a chance is given to the veteran DANS LE VENT, whose two runs since a mammoth 573-day break have been perfectly respectable over trips too short. The handicapper has given him a real chance off 123 over this trip, and his price here is representative of his 11 years of age, rather than his chances at the weights with Isabel Williams taking off another 3lb.
Race 4 – 2.20pm Leopardstown – Spinal Injuries Ireland Handicap Hurdle
Although Ethical Diamond showed promise enough on the flat to potentially build upon his mixed juvenile hurdling form in top company, stablemate BATMAN GIRAC is of greater interest. He was sent off a 7/4 favourite on his stable debut in a Grade 3 last year, but though he disappointed, he did also finish within ten lengths of the winner in Grade 2 and Grade 1 company thereafter. He may have been hit and miss, but he could well develop into this season’s horse if he were not the finished article last season, as he clearly carried a reputation with him at home.
Race 5 – 2.30pm Kempton – Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
There could be more to come from Sans Bruit with Bryony Frost back on board, so he is worth an eye on as the likely front-runner. However, MARTATOR beat him by an ever-increasing margin at Ascot last time out, and the runner-up from that contest has won since. Venetia Williams’ charge is on a serious roll after five successive victories, and his run of wins may well extend to six even in this deeper handicap.
Race 6 – 2.50pm Chepstow – Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase
This thorough examination of stamina should be exactly what the mare GALIA DES LITEAUX thrives on. Her trainer Dan Skelton outlined this as the Christmas target even prior to her run in another big handicap, the Coral Gold Cup, in which she finished seventh. She was staying on well at the finish that day, has been dropped 2lb, and has often shaped like she will win a big handicap at some point in her career.
Race 7 – 3.08pm Kempton – Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Handicap Chase
Frero Banbou finally recorded a win when upped to 3m in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last time out, but his overall profile does not suggest he will suddenly become a winning machine. Preference is for HIGHSTAKESPLAYER, who is two for two over course and distance, and is worth forgiving a poor run at Newbury last time. His only two blots over fences have come at that track, with all of his other five runs coming on right-handed tracks, on which he has always run well.
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