Morning, all. Merry Christmas! The stand-out fact for me is that today we have 14 NH heats and none, I say none, have attracted a double figure field! Despite this Plumpers looks a better than average Monday card with a couple of races looking interesting.
Dear old Stick has already flagged up Thunderstorm in the ‘lucky last’ and Pip Hobbs’ candidate looks very well treated off just 93. Even more intruing to me though is the novice chase at 1.00 in which Mr Henderson unleashes Oscara Dara. Despite being almost 8 this one has had his problems and only seen the racecourse 5 times but he has been most promising in these heats the highlights being a novice hurdle romp, a 4th place behind Darlan in a Grade 2 at Aintree and a nice win at last terms Punchestown Festival. Looks to have the potential to be very good over the big ‘uns and the Bass boy rides today (don’t think of this as a negative, people, as remember the same pilot rode Sprinter Sacre on his fencing bow). However, in Cantlow (already rated 138) the old boy faces a formidable rival on his fencing bow and I won’t be getting involved at odds of 8/11. It should be pointed out that the winner of the 1.00 qualifies for a £60k bonus should he follow up at the Cheltenham Festival so all runners will be trying that little bit harder today, methinks.
In summary then I will be keenly watching both Oscara Dara and Thunderstorm closely but at the current odds won’t be getting involved. Should the old regular readers wish to do the old double, however, it’s currently paying 100/30.
Good luck all.
