Short and sweet this week as I write this between sherries on Christmas Day and I call that dedication to the cause! Not everything in the World of horse racing is about betting and this afternoon (Boxing Day) we have a superb meeting from Kempton in front of a packed Grandstand with two stand out races worthy of a passing mention.
Both race could be seen as battles between generations with the Christmas Hurdle at 2.40pm UK time the first of the two contest over two miles (3200mtrs) where top rated The New One takes on upstart six-year-old Yanworth. This is one of those races where you wonder if it is time for the old guard to stand aside and allow the next generation through to stake their claims to Championship honours at Cheltenham in March, but then again The New One was ridden up with the pace on his return to action and was so impressive that Nigel Twiston-Davies shelved plans to go novice chasing and will now aim him at the Champion Hurdle for this season and I have a sneaky feeling that he will be the one to come out on top this afternoon.
Amazingly, that race only heads the undercard at Kempton with the King George VI Chase at 3.15pm the one we are all awaiting with fascination. Three miles (about 4800mtrs) awaits a small but select line up of a frankly disappointing five runners with one trainer (Colin Tizzard) responsible for the two at the top of the market in Cue Card and Thistlecrack. In the one corner we have a seasoned ten year old with twenty-six runs over fences for elven wins five seconds and two thirds, including a victory in this race last season, and in the other a novice with three runs over fences – all of them as the winner. Cue Card has been there and done that (as they say), and has the prize money to prove it (£1.2 million to be precise), and is also looking to win leg two of a million pound bonus treble (all he needs is this race and the Gold Cup in March), so connections have good reason to be here, but what about his market rival? A top class stayer over hurdles, he won the World Hurdle in March as he pleased and was deeply impressive, but the decision we have to make is whether or not his chasing career is hype over substance? Three race so far have seen victories by four lengths, three and three quarters, and eight, all heavily odds on and to be honest, beating very little in the process. Admittedly he can do no more than rout those that dare to take him on, but on form he still has a lot to prove, and with the trip here the easiest three miles in the Country he may not get the chance to bring his stamina in to play. It seems a race best watched to be honest, but I can see Silviniaco Conti taking them along early at a fast pace drawing mistakes out of his inexperienced rival before Cue Card pounces in the home straight to win head in chest, but if that isn’t the case I’ll be taking my crystal ball back for a refund but none the poorer as I cannot see a value angle to have a bet today.
Never one to let you down, I do have the one bet this week but you will have to wait until Tuesday afternoon at Limerick in Ireland. My colleagues atMyracing.com tell me that the Maiden Hunter Chase at 2.45pm (times subject to change at this stage) will hopefully go to Dimple assuming they allow him to take his place in the final line up. Pretty poor over hurdles when trained in England he has been a revelation recently in point-to-points with threw wins in a row and he will be spot on for this afternoon and will be my only bet in the next few days.
Back to the beers now………and good luck one and all.
