A very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to everyone from Russellform.
Horses running from our main list to follow
Ascot 1.40 – Oscar Park and Special Envoy
Ascot 2.15 – Amour Multiple & Altilhar
Ascot 3.30 – Bertie May & Shoreacres
Haydock 12.20 – Regal Heights, Khasab & Niaid de Missalot
Haydock 2.30 – Cloudy Lane
Horses running from our “dark horses” list
Ascot 1.40 – Chief Dan George
Ascot 3.30 – Uffa Fox & Washango
Haydock 1.30 – Nom de Guerre
Haydock 2.30 – High Chimes
Russellform Ramblings
Fundamentalist looked a sure fire future star when winning 4 of his first 5 starts, including the Royal and SunAlliance Hurdle at the 2004 Festival when he beat the favourite Inglis Drever. He has rather lost his way since and is on a 13 race losing sequence. He looks to break that run in the Ascot 12.30. It is hard to say how much of his old ability he retains but he should at least have the ground he likes as all his career wins have come on good ground. He has shown some encouraging signs in his last couple of runs but his jumping does tend to let him down. I would like to see him back in the winner’s enclosure.
Another horse that should appreciate the Ascot going is Henry Daly’s Alderburn in the 1.05. He missed the Betfred at the end of last season with a chipped bone in his knee but should be right for this having already had one run this term. He has his trip and ground, acts well on a right handed track and has a good record with McCoy on board. He should be there or thereabouts. Harris Bay won nicely over course and distance last month and goes best on a sound surface so is another to consider.
If ever a horse deserved to land a big prize it is Special Envoy. He has twice come to grief at the last hurdle with the race in the bag and last time he ran a more than creditable second to the ultra resilient Inglis Drever. He lines up in the 1.40 which looks a very competitive affair. Oscar Park was in contention in that race won by Inglis Drever when he crumpled on landing at the penultimate hurdle. He won the Pertemps Final at the Festival last season getting the better of the one eyed Material World after a mighty battle. He is each way value. Hardy Eustace is obviously top class and is as tough as old boots. He is attempting a distance half a mile further than he has ever won over before and although he may well stay I think he is worth taking on if he is going to be short.
Chief Dan George was a bit disappointing when beaten in that Inglis Drever race but he is almost certainly better than that and he both stays and acts on the prevailing going. He wears a first time visor and should not be left out of the calculations. The enigmatic Black Jack Ketchum will no doubt have his supporters but he has appeared not to relish a fight in the past and the winner of this will probably have to dig deep. This is tricky. My heart says Special Envoy as he clearly deserves a big win. I would be inclined to go for something at a bigger price each way with Oscar Park my favoured option. Lyes Green could also run well at a big price.
Plenty of national hunt horses are more at home when there is plenty of juice in the ground so when the going is likely to be on the firm side it usually pays to look for horses with form on a sound surface. George Moore likes to target the big handicap hurdles and he runs Altilhar in the Ascot 2.15. He is high enough in the weights but has a turn of foot and most importantly he has won twice on good to firm on the flat. He is a course and distance winner and Jamie Moore has a 50% strike rate when riding him. He is my selection for the 2.15.
The 3.30 looks a decent bumper. Bertie May won 2 bumpers last season and looks a really nice type. He is trained by Kevin Bishop who also handles Ashley Brooke. Although he is penalised for those wins he has a very capable conditional in Darren O’Dwyer taking off 7 lbs. I am not sure about the horses’ ability to handle a firm surface though. There is plenty of opposition including Noble Alan who absolutely flew home in a maiden bumper at Newcastle last month. That was on good to firm as well so he is definitely one to consider. All About Trigger ran well in third in a bumper at Uttoxeter in November. He is well related and is likely to come on for his debut run. This looks a race likely to produce plenty of future winners.
All 3 of our runners in the 12.20 at Haydock have something to prove. Khasab was a bit of an unlucky loser on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham but was then pulled up on his return to Prestbury Park. The ground was deteriorating that day though and I think he is worth another chance. Niaid de Missalot was a beaten favourite on his last run but may have failed to get the trip and tomorrow the 20 furlongs could see him in a better light. Regal Heights is well thought of by connections but his wins have mainly come when the mud was flying so I am more inclined to side with Khasab and Niaid de Missalot.
There is an interesting line up for the Tommy Whittle Chase at 2.35. 8 of the last 10 winners have carried 11 stone or more so it would be unwise to rule out the top weights. Rambling Minster heads the weights and comes here on the back of a win in the Borders National at Kelso. That was only 13 days ago and there is a danger that this race might come a bit soon for him. Jaunty Times is a big horse that takes a bit of getting fit so he should be all the better for his first run of the season at Cheltenham where he was 4th last month. He has come down the weights a little bit and comes into the reckoning. High Chimes and Cloudy Lane were 4th and 5th respectively over course and distance last month and they may well hold the key to this race. I would give slight preference to Cloudy Lane on this occasion and he is the selection. Aztec Warrior is another in this race that commands respect but his win have come in small fields and I wonder if that is the key to him.
Nap of the day
Ascot 2.15 – Altilhar Today’s triviaAround 7.70% of runners fell or unseated their riders over the chase course at Ascot last season. What’s in a name?
Cryptic runs in the 1.30ay Haydock. Cryptic means “I conceal” in Greek.
ahorse 