December 15 – Newbury – Silver Forever – 66
A good collection of mares lined up for this listed prize and it went the way of an improving young chaser who followed up her impressive debut success over the same course. A clean jumper, she also has a smart turn of foot at the end of her races and those key weapons will be much-needed attributes when she faces tougher opposition further down the line. The mares chase at the Cheltenham Festival seems the logical long-term plan.
December 16 – Exeter – Lac De Constance – 65
A competitive maiden hurdle, won in style of a potentially very smart prospect. A shade disappointing previously, a subsequent wind operation was thought a necessary manoeuvre to correct the issue and on the evidence of his performance at the west country venue, it seems to have worked a treat, Always travelling well, Dan Skelton’s gelding eased to the front after jumping two out and he only had to be nudged out to score with plenty in hand. Clocking a smart overall time, his final circuit sectionals were also the best on the hurdle track – including the following handicap over the same C&D – and with the likelihood of even more to come, this strapping, chasing type looks to have a very bright future.
December 17 – Ascot – Brave Seasca – 72
For the second time in succession, Venetia Williams’ gelding has made his way on to these pages and this time he did so at an even higher level. Impressing with his jumping at Warwick, the son of Brave Mansonnien was just as accurate at the Berkshire venue and while other made mistakes and fell by the wayside, his technique stood the test. Quicker than the 152-rated Pic D’Orhy – who landed the 2m3f handicap last on the card – in all departments. this rapidly-improving chaser remains one to keep on side.
December 18 – Ascot – Tritonic – 73
The key form line coming into this competitive handicap appeared to be the Greatwood Hurdle and while No Ordinary Joe and West Cork fluffed their lines, Alan King’s gelding was the one who ended up flying the flag for that similar contest from Cheltenham a month earlier. Noted going well turning out of the back straight, the four-year-old stayed on best of all in the latter stages to see off the persistent challenge of Onemorefortheroad and his time figure ended up being the best of his career so far to date. On the evidence of this effort and several others previously, it appears the son of Sea The Moon prefers going right handed, so while races such as the Champion Hurdle and other big handicaps going ante clockwise might not necessarily suit, he is always with considering going this way around.
December 19 – Kempton – Giavellotto – 93
Every now and then, we like to throw in the odd race from the all-weather campaign when the figures permit doing so, and this two-year-old contest at the Sunbury venue was one such race. Independent Act made sure the pace was intense right from the start and as such, it sorted out the wheat from the chaff at the business end. Once he faded in the closing stages, it was left for Marco Botti’s newcomer to come storming through to capture the prize and there appeared no fluke about the result despite his 100-1 sp. The way he galloped out through the line suggested he has bundles of stamina and he has the makings of a very stout stayer when returning to the grass next season.