The Channel 4 cameras are at Cheltenham for their New Year's Day card and the consistent Perfect Candidate (12.45) deserves to get his head in front having run well in defeat in both starts so far this term.
Fergal O'Brien has his string in excellent form having saddled a couple of winners from his last three runners and the selection was beaten less than 4L behind Sausilito Sunrise here back in November. The younger pair Beg To Differ and Alternatif are both open to considerable improvement although they represent the yards of Jonjo O'Neill and David Pipe and neither could be described as being in a rich vein of form at present.
The Grade 2 Dipper Novices' Chase will be a real test of stamina in ground described as heavy by clerk of the course Simon Claisse although that was last year! Blaklion, Seeyouatmidnight and Volnay De Thaix are respected but the vote, in a vintage renewal, goes to Aubusson (1.20) who receives weight from a number of the principles and is ridden by Grade 1 winning jockey Lizzie Kelly who cannot claim her 5lbs allowance on this occasion.
Village Vic has won all three starts for Philip Hobbs so this season including a valuable handicap over C&D last time; he has been raised 8lbs for that effort but has nothing in hand of Tenor Nivernais at the revised weights.
A chance, however, is taken each way on Little Jon (1.55) who lost all chance when making a bad error at halfway behind Village Vic last time and, with an 8lbs pull, is taken to reverse the placings. He is 12/1 at BetVictor and must go close if avoiding the type of calamitous error that marred his latest run.
I'm sure there is more to come from Batavir in the Handicap Hurdle for David Pipe but the stable form is a concern and he is overlooked in favour of bottom-weight Singlefarmpayment (2.30) who took a modest Southwell maiden over 3m last time in the manner of a progressive young stayer. Nico De Boinville looks a significant booking for the yard of Tom Lacey and the runner up at Southwell Westren (rather than Western) Warrior won by no less than 30 lengths at Lingfield just before Xmas.
I am surprised to see the mare Aurore D'Estruval contest the Relkeel Hurdle rather than a listed Mares' only contest at Sandown on Saturday. The latter hasn't been seen since winning that aforementioned Sandown contest 12 months ago but is a personal favourite and must go close albeit taking on the boys.
World Hurdle winner Cole Harden (3.05) is better on faster ground and a chance is taken on Top Notch stepping up in trip to 2m 4f for the first time for Nicky Henderson and David Bass who replaces regular partner Daryl Jacob who is currently sidelined. The selection finished runner up in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last time and the form was franked when the winner was just touched off in the Ryanair Hurdle at Punchestown over Xmas.
There is a valuable card at Musselburgh and Karl Burke saddles a rare runner over jumps courtesy of Pearl Castle (2.10) and the 6-y-old has been running well on the level of late and reverts to timber with a good conditional (Finian O'Toole) taking off a valuable 7lbs.
For all your racing odds check out BetVictor.com and have a very Happy New Year
