Boxing Day Racing Tips

[Guest]

Nick Grant previews Boxing Day's action, including the King George meeting at Kempton, with tips for every race across 12 cards. Too many races

DOWN ROYAL: 12.25 Tammys Hill, 12.55 Mackeys Forge, 1.25 Whiskey And Red, 2.00 Los Amigos, 2.30 Killshallago, 3.00 Speed Dial, 3.30 Lots Of Memories

FONTWELL: 12.20 Pharaon De Touzain, 12.55 Evella, 1.30 Umadachar, 2.05 Pass The Time, 2.45 Quapriland, 3.20 Beware Chalk Pit, 3.50 On The Move

FFOS LAS: 12.35 Accordingtopalm, 1.10 Kusadasi, 1.45 Royal Mile, 2.20 Firebird Flyer, 2.55 Character Actor, 3.30 Mortimers Cross, 4.00 Top Gamble

HUNTINGDON: Abandoned

KEMPTON: 12.50 River Maigue, 1.25 Monarch's Way, 2.00 Dynaste, 2.35 Countrywide Flame, 3.10 RIVERSIDE THEATRE (NAP), 3.45 Henry Hook

LEOPARDSTOWN: 12.20 Ned Buntline, 12.50 Expanding Universe, 1.20 Blood Cotil, 1.50 Mobile Sizer, 2.20 Jacksonslady, 2.55 Arvika Ligeonniere, 3.30 Bose Ikard

LIMERICK: 12.35 Umpact, 1.05 Noble Pageant, 1.40 Mikael D'Haguenet, 2.10 Killcara Boy, 2.40 Futuramic, 3.10 Tristram Shandy, 3.45 Quickpick Vic

MARKET RASEN: 12.25 The Society Man, 1.00 Qalinas, 1.35 River Dragon, 2.10 Overyou, 2.45 Billy Cuckoo, 3.20 Life Long

SEDGEFIELD: 12.10 Smadynium, 12.40 Deise Dynamo, 1.15 Riskier, 1.55 River Dragon, 2.30 Tahiti Pearl, 3.05 Phase Shift, 3.35 The Bold Lord

TOWCESTER: 12.45 Todareistodo, 1.20 Be All Man, 1.55 Monty's Revenge, 2.30 One For The Boss, 3.05 Grouse Lodge, 3.40 Keep The Cash

WETHERBY: 12.35 Roi De Garde, 1.10 Jameel, 1.45 Helpston, 2.20 Ski Sunday, 2.55 Mcmurrough, 3.30 Chicklemix

WINCANTON: 12.30 Shady Lane, 1.05 Thundering Home, 1.40 Ballyallia Man, 2.15 Holywell, 2.50 Rolling Aces, 3.25 Rody, 3.55 Monderon

WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.40 Boxing Shadows, 2.10 Majuro, 2.40

Mistress Shy, 3.15 Tight Knit, 3.45 May Boy, 4.15 Desert Vision, 4.45 Jeer

[Statto]

I start the day with a very good chance of a winner in RIVER MAIGUE (12.50) in the two mile novice hurdle.

This is a horse that we’ve always thought plenty of and I certainly didn’t come away disappointed after his hurdle debut at Cheltenham in mid-November when he pushed Dodging Bullets to the line.

That one’s got a mark of 150 which at the outside places this horse in the high 130s at least and Dodging Bullets is going into the Christmas Hurdle later in the afternoon – which is some call for a novice but gives you an idea of how highly Paul Nicholls rates him.

River Maigue will be fine around this track, certainly has the gears for it and will cope with the ground OK – it’s the first race of the day so it’s the best the ground is going to be.

Of the opposition, I was second on New Year’s Eve in the Cheltenham Festival Bumper and he’s certainly a horse with pace. For him there might be a question if the ground rode very soft.

[Statto]

Barry G

The last race on the card, a 2m 5f handicap hurdle provides my only ride outside of Seven Barrows, VALID REASON (3.45) for Dean Ivory.

This will be my first sit on him but having had a look at his run style I get the impression that this move back up in trip over a flat circuit might just play to his strengths. We’ll see.

[mayo]

A few Irish ones from Pat Keane - he knows the time of day



Monday morning at the water cooler

back home

1


Cotil can collect in Juvenile Hurdle

By Pat Keane

Monday, December 24, 2012

Willie Mullins’ Blood Cotil can land the Grade 2 Q8 Oils Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

The ex-French horse made a spectacular start in this country at Fairyhouse last month and it will be disappointing should he fail to build on that.

He cruised through the contest, Ruby Walsh only had to let out an inch of rein in the straight and Blood Cotil did the rest, winning by 17 lengths.

Dessie Hughes’ Our Conor, smart on the flat, has produced two excellent efforts to score at Navan and Fairyhouse, but faces a tough task conceding the selection 3lbs.

The Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase looks a match between Arvika Ligeonniere and Oscars Well.

Arvika Ligeonniere was quite brilliant when running his rivals into the ground in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and is obviously going to take some pegging back.

But Oscars Well, a high-class hurdler, has a solid chance of causing a minor upset. He took a bad fall at Punchestown, but showed no ill-effects when putting up a fine performance to win easily at Navan.

Noel Meade’s Ned Buntline is the fancy in the opening Bookmakers’ Bar At Bewleys Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle.

He looked a star of the future when taking a Naas bumper, but then failed to justify short-priced favouritism on his jumping debut behind Bright New Dawn at Fairyhouse.

Ned Buntline can only, however, come on for the experience and dropping back two furlongs in trip is a plus.

Willie Mullins’ The Paparazzi Kid, beaten by the useful Moscow Mannon at Navan, can land the Q8 Oils Maiden Hurdle.

At Limerick, Mullins’ Mikael d’Haguenet, who finally got his act together over fences at Punchestown, has to be the choice in the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase.

[mayo]

Ruby

I’d love to be at Leopardstown on Wednesday to partner Arvika Ligeonniere in a Grade 1 novice chase, but cannot be in two places at the one time.

He gave me a terrific feel when winning the Drinmore in a canter at Fairyhouse and think he is made for two miles round Leopardstown.

I know plenty of people fancy Oscars Well, but if Jessica Harrington’s horse can get by Arvika Ligeonniere then more power to him.

Dessie Hughes’ Our Conor is the one to beat in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle, having done all that has been asked of him so far.

But Willie Mullins’ ex-French horse Blood Cotil greatly impressed me when winning first time up at Fairyhouse and I feel will be too good for Our Conor.

I’ll be at Leopardstown on Thursday, where there are certainly a couple of other things worth mentioning for the week.

On Friday, for instance, in the Lexus, we are going to finally find out whether Flemenstar will stay three miles.

This is going to be some test of Peter Casey’s charge, especially now that Sir Des Champs stays at home from the King George to take him on.

I’m looking forward to riding Back In Focus on Friday in a Grade 1 over fences. Trip, ground, track just about everything will be perfect for him. s

Hurricane Fly, who has come out of his win at Punchestown in good nick, runs on Saturday and promises to be my highlight of the Christmas.

Oh, and my bet of the week is Sanctuaire in a Grade 2 over fences at Kempton on Thursday, even though I won’t be there to ride him.

[mayo]

The 2012 Christmas Festival gets under way at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and the highlight of day one is the Racing Post Novice Chase.

Arvika Ligeonniere has already struck at Grade One level, having destroyed his opposition in the Drinmore, but drops back to two miles one and has to take on Oscars Well, who put a Punchestown mishap behind him when scoring at Navan.

Baily Green was second in the Grade Two from which Oscars Well departed, and the field is made up of Benefficient and Dylan Ross.

Grade Two honours are up for grabs in the Q8 OILS Juvenile Hurdle and Willie Mullins' French import Blood Cotil, so impressive at Fairyhouse, gets weight from Our Conor, who struck at Grade Three level at the same venue at the expense of the reopposing Stocktons Wing.

Another of Mullins' Gallic recruits Urano couldn't quite start with a bang when touched off at Thurles but strives to go one better in the opening Bookmakers Bar At Bewleys Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle (12.20), where the Noel Meade-trained Ned Buntline lies in wait.

The champion trainer is responsible for The Paparrazi Kid in the Q8 OILS Maiden Hurdle although, like rival Operating, he has developed a touch of seconditis, and both are vulnerable to exciting bumper winners Anonis and Expanding Universe.

A decent prize goes to the winner of the Racing Post All You Need For Irish Racing Handicap Chase and Instant Impacked goes for a hat-trick against Fairyhouse scorer Lead Kindly Light and Jackonslady, who chased home the ill-fated Cristal Bonus in a Down Royal Grade Two on her most recent NH appearance.

Happy New Year tries for a four-timer in the Download The Free Racing Post Mobile App. Handicap Hurdle, while Blackmail, Bose Ikard, Rough Justice and Saffron Wells all attempt to atone for letting favourite-backers down in the Donohue Marquees INH Flat Race.

[Statto]

1.25 – William Hill – Download The App Novices“ Handicap Chase (CLASS 3) (4yo+ 0-130) Winner £6,882 CH4 2m4f110y

8/8 – Aged 7 or younger
7/8 – Had won between 0-1 times over fences in the UK
7/8 – Placed 1st or 2nd last time out
6/8 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
6/8 – Officially rated between 119 and 125
5/8 – Carried 11-8 or more
5/8 – Winning distance – 6 lengths or more
5/8 – Placed favourites
4/8 – Winning favourites
4/8 – Won by a French bred horse
3/8 – Won last time out
3/8 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
2/8 – Ridden by Richard Johnson
2/8 – Raced at Kempton last time out
The average winning SP in the last 8 years is 5/1

[Cooper]

Ned Buntline and River Maguie go in : )

Gary O Brien

Christmas may have come and gone for another year but for racing enthusiasts the festive season is really only just beginning as the opening day of the Leopardstown Festival forms part of a domestic triple-header.

Condtions are sure to be testing at all three venues but as usual the County Dublin track looks set to boast the best surface for an exciting seven-race card that features a whole host of promising types. The headline act is the clash of Arivka Ligeonniere, so impressive on his return to action in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairyhouse earlier this month, and former top hurdler Oscars Well in the featured Racing Post Novice Chase at 2.50 and purely on value grounds the latter getst he vote. Jessica Harrington’s charge put the memory of a heavy tumble at Punchestown behind him when sauntering home at Navan eighteen days ago and might just be better suited by today’s distance than his big rival.

The latter’s trainer Willie Mullins as usual has a whole host of chances to look forward to, and Urano can get him off to a flyer in the 2m maiden hurdle for four year-olds. Just touched off by the highly-regarded Ally Cascade at Thurles on his Irish debut, the triple French bumper winner faces another formidable rival here in the shape of his conqueror’s stable-companion Ned Buntline but the latter has to bounce back from an odds-on defeat on his own jumping bow at Fairyhouse a day later and might have to settle for the runner-up berth once again.

Our Conor’s absence from the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle due to a bout of coughing looks to have all but presented the €27,625 to Mullins’ impressive Fairyhouse scorer Blood Cotil, and owner Rich Ricci could also be celebrating following the featured Grade 2 novice chase at Limerick as Mikael D’Haguenet is the clear form pick after finally getting his head in front at Punchestown earlier this month. Impressive Gowran Park scorer Umpact also looks worth following in the opening race of the festival there.

The pick of the fare at Down Royal in terms of quality is the opening hunters chase, in which Cheltenham hero Salsify is reopposed by old rival Tammys Hill – who beat him when they clashed at Wexford last time. It should be a lot closer on this occasion but with conditions perhaps more in his favour Liam Lennon’s stable star might just be able to confirm his superiority on that occasion.

Selections
Leopardstown
12.20 Urano (7-4, Skybet, sportingbet, William Hill)
12.50 Expanding Universe (3-1, general)
1.20 Blood Cotil (1-2, general)
1.50 Dibella (33-1, sportingbet)
2.20 Tadhg (14-1, totesport, Betfred, Coral)
2.50 Oscars Well (7-4, Boylesports)
3.20 Saffron Wells (6-1, Boylesports, Coral)

Limerick
12.35 Umpact (6-4, bet365)
1.05 Kilcrea (7-4, Skybet)
1.40 Mikael D’Haguenet (8-11, Stan James)
2.10 Ponmeword (9-2, BetVictor)
2.40 Appletime (4-1, Boylesports, BetVictor)
3.10 Ciarans Oscar (12-1, totesport, Betfred, Coral)
3.45 Quickpick Vic (1-2, general)

Down Royal
12.25 Tammys Hill (4-1, William Hill)
12.55 He’llberemembered (15-8, general)
1.25 Take A Shot (6-1, bet365)
2.00 Maccas Lad (12-1, general)
2.30 Totally Couture (4-1, Boylesports)
3.00 Speed Dial (10-3, William Hill)
3.30 Caesar Milan (9-2, totesport, Betfred, totesport)