Saturday’s racing has an odd look about it with the 3 jumps meeting at the “gaffs.”
Secret Ploy won 3 times in bumpers at top tracks and although he didn’t win over hurdles he was placed in top class company. He will need to overcome an absence of 647 days in the 12.50 at Bangor.
Raslan was beaten into second place by Warne’s Way on his hurdles debut at Fomtwell. He returns to the same track tomorrow in the 1.30.
Raslan is trained by David Pipe who saddles Classified in the 2.40. Classified was not far off the top as a hurdler and he won well over fences on his chase debut at Taunton recently. Although he will be 11 in a few days he does not have many miles on the clock. I would expect him to win this.
David Pipe also trains our only list horse running at Fontwell in the 3.40. Nobody Tells Me was 6th behind Star de Mohaison at Cheltenham on his seasonal return. I wondered if connections would send him over fences next but he stays over hurdles for the time being. His main rivals are all trained by ladies. Amanda Perrett trains Big Moment whose last run was when 6th in a big flat handicap at Windsor. Big Moment has plenty of weight but has a touch of class and the booking of Timmy Murphy is worth noting. Big Moment is also a course and distance winner.
Fenix is trained by Lucy Wadham. He only has 2 careers wins to his credit, one at this unusual track. He has run well in decent handicaps many times though. He won a couple of runs ago and as a result has gone up in the weights. Border Castle was a winner on the flat for Sir Michael Stoute but is now with Venetia Williams. He has done well over hurdles and won a Cheltenham handicap last time. I will stick with Nobody Tells Me but this is a very competitive looking affair.
Opera De Coeur (Hereford 1.10) ran so badly when pulled up last time at Uttoxeter that I hope it was just too bad to be true and there was something amiss on the day. He was very ill last year and I just wonder if that may have had a lasting effect. He likes soft and I am prepared to give him another chance. He is up against 3 decent ex hurdlers, Genghis, Trouble at Bay and Ursis. Genghis was second on his chase debut and looks the big threat.
The card at Navan gets under way with the Santa Claus maiden hurdle at 12.15. One horse to take away from this race may be Slash and Burn – Irish pundits reckon he is one for the future.
Have a great Christmas and I hope to see you again for my preview of the Boxing Day cards which will be online on Christmas Day.
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