Saturday's Meetings Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 11:30-3:22p.m. Doncaster N/H 7 Races 11:50-3:15p.m. Cheltenham N/H 7 Races 12:05-3:35p.m. Hereford N/H 7 Races 12:12-3:42p.m. Newcastle A/W 8 Races 1:45-5:30p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 8 Races 4:15-7:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
1.30 Doncaster-Misty Bloom Each Way @ 13-2 [Ladbrokes] 3 places Looks a bit of value with the extra place & Bog
to get rid of the jockey? It’s the big target for the first part of the season. More money than 5 of the Cheltenham races on the same day and a bonus available too.
Tomorrow we will see if Porticello has a chance in March. I'm not very optimistic if he hasn't improved his jumping a lot.
Evening, team. Hope everyone tickety-boo. You have to say disappointing field sizes at Doncaster tomorrow. Not one of the seven contests makes it into double figures. And there is almost £175k in prizemoney available! No strong opinions re Cheltenham but I do think SONG FOR SOMEONE (3.00) has been underestimated by the market at current odds of 5/2. The 6YO put up a stonking effort on his return, at Ascot last month, finishing 2nd to Buzz when giving Lieutenant Henderson's charge 6 lbs. Song For Someone also won this event last year and is, in total a 3-time Grade 2 winner. Think he will prove too strong for tomorrow's 'International Hurdle' opponents. Good luck all.
Doesn’t look a strong renewal the top weight is in good form but the Irish raiders aren’t here for the scenery with good course form and getting weight I’ve lumped on some of yesterdays profits so playing with the bookies money, which is always nice. I might even treat myself to a bottle of that Chablis tonight if it obliges.
Too friendly interests me in the 2.40 at Donny I’ve been avoiding Skelton like a virus but Bridget gives me confidence.
Cheltenham 13,15 Torpillo 11/1 e/w bet365, others 10/1. All three places 13,50 Zanza 14/1 e/w four places with Lads and Boyle, 12/1 five places with WH, PP and sky 15,00 Heaven Help Us 10/1 e/w three places with WH, Lads and Coral Doncaster 14,05 Lucky One 11/1 e/w bet365 three places, WH 17/2 four places Fairyhouse 13,02 Britzka 11/4 Good luck all.
1.50 Cheltenham - The Racing Post Gold Cup Handicap Chase (registered as the December Gold Cup) - Grade 3 Not quite the richest pot of the day (the International Hurdle pays just over 5 grand more to the winner) but one of those big Saturday handicaps with nearly 75 grand to the winner and some pretty smart horses on the roll of honour - Flyingbolt (1965), Pendil (1973), Fondmort (2002), Exotic Dancer (2006), Poquelin (2009 & 10) and Frodon (2016 & 18) to name just a few of them. That list of winners shows that Paul Nicholls is to be taking seriously here, he is the leading trainer of winners of this race (Unioniste his other winner) with 5. His entry this year, Lalor, is one of 6 previous course winners in the field (5 of them C&D winners - more of them later) and moved to Ditcheat from Kayley Woollacott over the summer. After a breathing op he ran a really good race on yard debut, finishing 3rd in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and the form has since been franked by Protektorat. He has been nudged up a couple of pounds by the assessor but still ought to be right in the mix and is a general 7/1 third fav this morning. Shorter than him are two of the aforementioned C&D winners and pretty much joint favs - Fusil Raffles and Midnight Shadow. Fusil Raffles was a fortunate winner of the Charlie Hall when Shan Blue came to grief but this shorter trip is much more this ball game and he did really well to get within 6 lengths of Bravemansgame when trying to concede 12lbs at Market Rasen. He has a couple of novice chase victories at Cheltenham to add to his fine 2nd in the Golden Miller (beaten 3 lengths by Chantry House) and underfoot conditions are sure to suit him. Midnight Shadow just held on in the Paddy Power and, having been raised 7lbs for that fine effort, looks vulnerable here to me. Of the other 3 C&D winners, Cepage runs for the 4th time in the race but his race record of 24P seems to be trending in the wrong direction; Sirah Du Lac had a pipe-opener over hurdles and is back to just 2lbs above his last winning mark; Coole Cody won the 2020 Paddy Power and was giving a bold sight from the front when falling at the 2nd last and he enjoys a 5lbs pull with Midnight Shadow - he will no doubt try and serve it up to them from the front. Of the rest, Zanza was my selection in the Paddy Power (finished 6th) but was found lacking for speed at the business end of the race and I can't see him turning that round with those in front of him today; Dostal Phil finished strongly in 4th in the Paddy Power but the yard have had a miserable December with just 2 winners from 33 runners; Francky Du Berlais has had a busy year and may be in need of a rest; Deyrann Du Carjac has been dropped 4lbs after a moderate 11th in the Paddy Power but still looks to have plenty to do; Farinet could be absolutely chucked in for the in-form Venetia Williams but has not been seen since March and is up against some in-form and race-fit rivals and is short enough in the betting; Beakstown ran a decent race at Aintree to be 3rd but that performance didn't scream "December Gold Cup winner" to me; Bottom weight Topofthecotswolds is another who has had a busy year and seems to be searching for form. All things considered, I think Lalor is the most likely winner here. Clearly the move to Ditcheat has revitalised him and he finished really strongly in the Paddy Power. He has a 5lbs pull with Midnight Shadow and might well be ridden a little more handily today, given how well he stayed last time. Fusil Raffles and Coole Cody can fight out the minor honours. 1. Lalor 2. Fusil Raffles 3. Coole Cody
I was siding with Sirah du lac but the form of Venetias string is strong and I think Cepage could be serving it up 2 from home. I backed lalor lto and was expecting a better performance. I’m still none the wiser.
