Punters have been all over Dysart Enos in the opener at Cheltenham today and as much as I respect her ability I think she has her hands full today trying to beat the boys. Beat The Bat is the form horse in my eyes but has to give a penalty to horses like SPIRITS BAY who I think could be quite smart. He stormed up the Sandown hill on hurdle debut to finish second behind the highly rated Southoftheborder who hasn't franked the form but the third placed horse Classic Anthem won very cosy last week off a mark of 114. Nigel Twiston-Davies has had the selection entered in some good races recently which have been called off but I think this race is a nice opportunity for him and the stiff finish will really suit.
Loyal readers will know I'm a fan of HERMINO AA but his chasing career hasn't taken off like I thought it would. His confidence may be dented and although he may only be here for a confidence boosting spin, his hurdle form last year would give him a right chance in a weak race. The favourite looks an obvious one but the rest have their own questions to answer so at 12/1 I'm willing to take a chance.
Cheltenham 12.05 – Spirits Bay
Cheltenham 3.35 – Hermino AA
Saturday
It's a good day of racing tomorrow and I'm hopefully off down the road to Hereford for their Christmas meeting where I will be backing HEVA ROSE in the Mares Handicap chase. Venetia Williams' improving mare hosed up on her reappearance this season before finding the progressive Passing Well too strong when bidding to follow up under a penalty. That form is strong and I'm confident she is still ahead of her mark.
Up at Doncaster, COASTGUARD STATION returns to his favourite track and with Brian Hughes booked to ride Henry Oliver will be looking for a big run. He ran better than the bare result at Cheltenham last time as he was unsuited by a definite pace bias that day. With such good course form here I can't see him having any problems here and he should be the one to beat.
In the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham I think FUGITIF is as solid an each way bet that there is tomorrow. Currently 8/1 he looks a solid proposition given his incredible course form. He may have flattered to deceive a bit last time but he followed a hot early pace in what looked like one of the stronger renewals of the Paddy Power Gold Cup that there has been in recent years so I'm happy to forgive him a tame finishing effort on what was his seasonal debut also. That should have blown away the cobwebs and I make him a confident bet tomorrow.
EASY AS THAT certainly didn't have a tame finishing effort in the Paddy Power as he stayed on powerfully to finish 6th which was a result no one could foresee when they were down the back. 20 lengths detached off the leaders, Charlie Deutsch clearly thought about calling it a day but with minimal riding, the horse continued to plug on and ended up not too far off the placed horses. It was an effort which screamed ‘step up in trip' and that is exactly what Venetia has decided to do tomorrow. The trip is unknown but he has a lovely racing weight and will be given every chance by his rider who continues in red hot form.
Doncaster 12.15 – Coastguard Station
Hereford 1.00 – Heva Rose
Cheltenham 1.50 – Fugitif
Cheltenham 2.25 – Easy As That
