First bet struck on what is likely to be a busy day Small stakes e/w Lucky 31 on Barry Geraghty's 5 rides at Kempton with the following reasoning: 12.50 Zip Top - Jollyallan and Sempre Medici have both jumped like the proverbial Skoda to date and this will be fast and furious with little room for error. Zip Top is sure to be well forward for this, connections are not averse to throwing one in at the deep end if they think it is good enough. Zip Top's 2nd to Camelot in the Racing Post Trophy is a long time ago but I think it demonstrates he has more speed and class than this lot and at around the 6/1 mark he offers a bit of value in a tight market. 1.25 River Maigue - Barry Geraghty really talks up his chances on his ATR blog and I think trip, track and going will suit him down to the ground. 2.35 Sign Of A Victory - all about speed, class and fluent, economical hurdling and I expect him to get a lovely tow into the race in Faugheen's slipstream before zipping past him after the last. 3.10 Wishfull Thinking - now 11 years old but Pip Hobbs charge was so impressive when landing the Peterborough Chase last time out and could well be seen to even better effect at this trip. I can't help thinking back to Edredon Bleu all those years ago, springing a 25/1 shock and I wonder if we might see something similar today?? 3.45 Theinval - Nicky Henderson's 4YO was turned out very quickly last time to get in a race with no penalty after winning a conditional jockeys handicap at Kempton in November. He is probably the 2nd least expost horse in the race (after the Pipe horse) but this does look a bit of a lottery.
You know I'm right about Valseur Lido Bob - Mullins even sent him out between Cheltenham and Punchestown to make sure he was too knackered to get any closer to his darling Faugheen
Have a great day Nass, be interested to know how you compare it to the festival in terms of the day out, crowd, facilities etc.
As well as having a punt on Cue Card 8/1 earlier in the week the other bet I'm having today is Coneygree 9/2. That'll do for me fellas, have a good one!!
In the King George I've changed my mind over and over again and though I've backed Cue Card ante post for Cheltenham I've decided to leave him alone today and keep the faith with Menorah and also had a little bit on Al Ferof, done rev fc too
Happy Christmas everyone All about Al Ferof for me in the King George Saphir du Rheu can give STD a double Purple Bay can go close in the Christmas Hurdle
morning folks.i really like zip top in the first at kempers,6/1 is a nice price.You can make a case for nearly every entry in the old king george but i took some of the 33/1 on offer for wishfull thinking during the week.i'm off to play a footy tournament so will hopefully catch the big one later.
Morning all hope all enjoyed the festivities yesterday. while you all post about kempton I will be backing some of todays lesser meetings, and one stands out a bit at 14s in a 4 horse race at Wolverhampton the 415 sees RED STRIPES go against the favourite again . Last time they run the fav was only 3.5l in front at the same track and distance .The big head scratcher is the 20lb swing in the weights in reds favour , then there is the stand out single ride for Hayley Turner which I am sure she would not waste boxing day for one race fee . The race is worth 6K so im sure she knows she has a top chance having been on red stipes in the previous mentioned race. This has win bonus writen all over it and 14s is huge. good luck all who play.
Morning all- hope you have had a wonderful Christmas yesterday. 2.00 Kempton: Carraig Mor 12/1 e.w Alan Kings novice chaser is having just his 7th race of his career and after a very promising start, he hasn't quite hit the heights perhaps expected. He is a lovely, strong travelling horse who will stay 3m and should appreciate a nice flat Kempton track IMO. You look at the likes of Coneygree (Future Gold Cup contender IMO) who really is a thorough stayer and forges on up the Cheltenham hill, and you can see the big difference between styles. He dug in very well to land a 3 runner event from Southfield Theatre last time out and that suggests he might be on an improving upward curve over fences. Saphir De Rheu is a lovely animal but 11/10 is very short and he isn't obviously well in front of these on hurdles form like the last few winners were (Dynaste/Grands Crus etc), so I'm siding with the value on Alan Kings runner. 2.35 Kempton Sign of a Victory 7/1 I can't be confident of victory but I am super-confident that this track will bring out a career-best performance for this horse. He won a good- not very good or great- handicap hurdle at Ascot. But he won it on the bridle, could have quickened away but had a pretty easy race, which bodes well for this. He will definitely be suited by the ground, he has loads of pace and reminds me a little of My Tent Or Yours in style, so Kempton will be his track. I don't know for sure just what level he can run to. He is rated 150 after that Ascot race- I think Kempton can bring out another 7lb improvement in itself, let alone if he has a lot more left under that bonnet, so he could in theory run up to a level where he is still with Faugheen coming to the straight. However, Faugheen could be something special. IF he has the pure raw pace to gallop these into submission around Kempton, we might be looking at another Istabraq. He won't be stopping at the finish but his hurdling could be an achilles heel and so could Kempton- this is a speed horse track and he has to prove himself on one, but you cant say he has looked short of any pace! If he dominates like a machine around here, and hurdles fluently, then maybe he is a monster after all. However, I believe that his skills would be better suited up in trip eventually, and it's why at this stage I'd be willing to have a go at taking him on. I do really like him though and have no qualms if he dots up again tomorrow! 3.15 Kempton AL FEROF 6/1 I still love the form of my favourite ever race- the 2011 Cheltenham Supreme Novice hurdle. Cue Card made eyecatching headway, Sprinter Sacre went past him on the bridle, Spirit Son quickened to lead at the last, whilst Al Ferof went on to outstay them all. The class of that group of 4 has shown time and time again, with Cue Card a Arkle runner up, Ryanair winner, Betfair Chase winner, King George runner up, Spirit Son demolished good novices at Aintree before sadly becoming very unwell (R.I.P- surely would have been a Champion Hurdler) , Sprinter Sacre the greatest 2m chaser possibly ever, and Al Ferof- a Paddy Power winner off 159 when last truly looking fit and well, before winning an Amlin and placing in last years King George on return from a years absence through injury after the Paddy Power. Al Ferof to me last year never once looked himself. His stride looked short, he looked to be saving something for himself, and never once settled. That is totally unlike him. He went very flat in the King George before battling on for 3rd, was beaten miles before stamina ever became an issue in a mudbath with Harry Topper, looked awkward in the Ryanair before staying on too late, and was subsequently found to have very bad stomach ulcers. He was given time to rest and more by his owner and by Paul Nicholls, and they felt they hadn't had much time with him prior to his return in the Amlin last month. He was reunited with Ruby Walsh, who settled him perfectly and the old rhythm was there, all the ability was there, and he beat Somersby and Wishful Thinking by 7L- smartly. The most promising part of all of that this time was the way he quickened up. He never had the flat spot that dogged him last season and when Walsh pressed the button the response was excellent, galloping away by 7L and for me putting in one of his career best performances. For me, this is the Al Ferof that I expected as a chaser. His novice campaign was impressive until he took off for one at Cheltenham and hit it hard, otherwise he was battling with Cue Card and Spriner in the Arkle up the hill (possibly for 2nd), he was always expected to improve up in trip and horses who win a Paddy Power off 159 over 2m 4f at Cheltenham on soft ground are not short of stamina. I have seen Nicholls bring horses back before. Kauto Star was one of them. In 2011 he was never quickening up in his races but was keeping on, including when beaten by Long Run in the King George and Gold Cup. However, Nicholls noted that the noise that he was making that year had disappeared in 2012 and suddenly, as we were to see in phenomenal style, he quickened up and won another Betfair and a 5th King George. Sometimes, horses aren't themselves and it shows. Hopefully, Al Ferof is physically very well and hopefully Sam Twiston-Davies can settle him down and nurse him into contention. I think he is made for a King George but he has to be at his best tomorrow. A good field and hopefully a great race with no excuses.
Morning all, hope everyone is well and had a good day yesterday. Couple of bets on at Kempton (SDR and SC) but there are 3 I have spotted from the J Wade stable that could all go in again for a nice treble. All three have won there last few races so here goes. 1.10 Weth RUNSWICK DAYS 1.55 Sedg JUKEBOX MELODY 2.20 Weth SPANISH FLEET Good luck all today
Morning all hope everyone had a good Christmas. So much racing today I shall be just watching rather than betting althought will do Newton thistle (from stick LTO) and on the fringe for a short priced double Good luck to all who are betting today and enjoy the Boxing Day spectacular that is KG day
Any thoughts on the Rowland Meyrick chase today from anyone? I was quite taken by the performance of Cedre Bleu und the forum's favourite Corinthian in the Grand Sefton and, although Charlie Mann's charge definitely has his own ideas about the game, today's longer trip could be right up his street.
Afternoon All. Today's lucky 15, 12-50,Kempton Park.Sempre Medici, 1-45,Wetherby.Corrin Wood, 2-35,Kempton Park.Irving, 3-10,Kempton Park.Silviniaco Conti. Good luck to all.
Just interrupting my Winter holiday to pass on a bit of info that has come my way. I am told that POPPY BOND 10/1 Wolves 3:05 is one to be on today. I like RIVER MAIGUE for the hendo xmas machine today and will of course be cheering on IRVING. Hooe you are all enjoying the festivities.
Two go at 5 to 1 at different tracks Rhythm star looks on handy terms win bet First of never looks way to big at 14s ew
I agree. Even though Faugheen really ought to win, I'd rather back Sign Of A Victory each way than Irving who never impressed me when winning the Fighting Fifth.
