Weekend Before the Boxing Day Bedlam

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This weekend wasn’t as good as some we have already experienced this season but there was still some interesting performances over the two days at Ascot.

 We will start with the first at Ascot which was a match race between Angels Breath and Mont Des Avaloirs, it eventually went the way of Angels Breath. He made all and won easily by 23 lengths, but unfortunately it wasn’t all good news as it came out after the race that he cut his leg resulting in in a severed tendon meaning he will miss the remainder of the season. 
The 2:30 at Ascot was the Sky Bet Supreme Trial, there as just the four runners with Ribble Valley being sent off the odds on fav he was looking to keep his unbeaten record over hurdles. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be his day as he was beat by Colin Tizzard trained Master Debonair, he made all with a slight mistake 2 from home but when he was asked kept on well to eventually win by 8 lengths. It was an impressive performance considering he was giving the other 3 runners 3lbs as well, but he looks another horse to keep an eye on for the Tizzards.

 Onto the Saturday at Ascot and the first race we will look at is the Graduation Chase, there was a sense of redemption about this race with it going to Riders Onthe Storm who was accidentally named as a non runner last week at Cheltenham. There was no fluke about his win though, he travelled strongly throughout the race before taking up the lead 2 out and going clear with ease to win 7 lengths from On The Blind Side. After this impressive performance he was he was quoted at 14/1 for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and at this moment in time you’d say he has a solid each way chance.
The Grade 1 on the card, The Long Walk Hurdle, this race lost its star attraction when Paisley Park was declared a non runner due to the ground conditions. This left The Worlds End to go off favourite an it was he who eventually won the race, he lead for most of the race before making a mistake 2 out where he was passed by the strong travelling L’Ami Serge, he went clear jumping the last but it turned out that Nico De Boinville got to the front too soon, as he quickly weakened and allowed The Worlds End to go back past and win easily. I wouldn’t be expecting any of these to be troubling Paisley Park come March in the Stayers Hurdle.
The Silver Cup Handicap chase saw Regal Encore win this race for the 2nd time with him previously winning it in 2017. He travelled well during the race tracking the leader Black Corton, Richie McLernon asked him for his effort between the final 2 fences before he jumped his way into the lead at the last, where he as briefly headed by Acting Lass only to battle back and just get the lead near home. Was good to see the Anthony Honeyball trained horse get his head in front again prior to bigger targets later in the season with his main target you’d assume to be the Grand National.
The final race of the day at Ascot and this was for me the most impressive winner of the lot, this was the Hughie Morrison trained Not So Sleepy, he made all travelling strongly throughout the race, he was asked to go a seal the race 2 out which he did with ease eventually going on to win by 9 lengths looking as if he was just going down to the start. After this connections said he would get an entry for the Champion Hurdle (40/1) he’d still have a long way to go to be a real contender for this race but there’s no saying he cant and will be fascinating to see him out again. Monsieur Lecoq also ran a massive race to finish 2nd a week after he fished 4th in the International Hurdle and will be one to keep an eye on throughout the season.

 Time for a new feature, in this I will go head to head across a few of the big meetings with someone to see who can pick the most winners. The first card will be that of the Kempton King George meeting, selections below with the NAP in bold:

 12:50;
Aaron: Vegas Blue
Sam: Vegas Blue
1:20;
Aaron: Simply The Betts
Sam: Roll Again
1:55;
Aaron: Master Tommytucker
Sam: Slate House
2:30;
Aaron: Epatante
Sam: Fusil Raffles
3:05;
Aaron: Cyrname
Sam: Lostintranslation 
3:40;
Aaron: Mr Pumblechook
Sam: Colonel Custard

 Thanks again for taking the time to read this, hope you all have a good Christmas and an even better Boxing Day with all the racing that is on, hopefully the new feature can point you in the direction of a winner or two. Will be back in a week to review the festive racing.


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