DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY DECEMBER 27
2.20 LEOPARDSTOWN
PINOT GRIS (best price 8-1) won apologising in the first-time blinkers at Naas last time out and with the same headgear retained for the second time, Gavin Cromwell’s inmate rates a strong choice to have a say in the outcome.
Described by his handler as a lazy sort at home, the four-year-old grey probably needed something to focus his mind a little more after tossing away a golden opportunity in the Lartigue Hurdle previously and based on his performance at the Kildare venue, he could well be a reformed character.
The way he travels in his races will always give him the chance of getting the job done at the business end and that’s one of the main reasons why his morning odds can’t be scoffed at, especially from an each-way perspective.
PINOT GRIS – 1-point each-way@8-1
2.50 CHEPSTOW
A race with a rich tradition with many winners going on to Gold Cup glory later in the season but this this year’s renewal looks a far cry from those of yesteryear and, as a result, it looks well within the capabilities of MONBEG GENIUS (best price 13-2), who is one of the few in the field with an element of class to his form.
Although beaten on merit by Fontaine Collonges at Haydock last time out, he impressed with the way he travelled through majority of the 3m2f journey and when you add into the pot, he was forced to race around the inside on the swamp, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding’s performance deserved to be marked up.
Interestingly, Hitiki, who was pulled up having trod a similar passage at the Merseyside venue went on to bounce back to his best next time out at Exeter last week and working on the premise the son of Shantou will improve accordingly, he can further enhance his unbeaten (3-3) career record at today’s venue.
MONBEG GENIUS – 1-point each-way@13-2
3.00 LEOPARDSTOWN
MIDNIGHT OUR FRED (best price 11-1) hasn’t been out since winning with a good deal of swagger at Gowran Park back in October but with connections seemingly content to keep their powder dry with a view to arriving here fresh with Philip Rothwell’s gelding, their patience could well and truly be rewarded.
Despite racing over a trip way short of his best and without a run for 146 days, the seven-year-old was nicely backed to make a winning seasonal return and after travelling sweetly throughout a well-run affair, he duly delivered the goods with some aplomb.
Not only did he post a useful overall time figure in winning by 14 lengths, but his final circuit time was also three seconds faster than the smart Visionarian, who landed the Grade 2 over the same C&D half an hour earlier and that data suggests the son of Finsceal For was fully deserving of his rating adjustment to 128.
Entered up in two races at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting a few weeks later – a place where he had gone particularly well in the past – he presumably missed those engagements in order to come here fresh, and having already proven he can handle a big-field handicap on more than one occasion, everything looks set fair for this consistent performer to put himself on the map at this level.
MIDNIGHT OUR FRED – ½ point each-way@11-1
3.25 CHEPSTOW
DR T J ECKLEBURG (best price 6-1) arrives here in good shape having defeated subsequent Newbury winner, General Medrano, in determined fashion at Haydock last time out and having gone well on his two previous visits to today’s venue, the son of Lawman won’t be too far away from providing his local handler with another big winner at this meeting.
The six-year-old cruised into contention on the run down to the third last at the Merseyside venue and even though he had his unassailable-looking margin cut down in size by the runner-up in the latter stages, he always left the impression he had plenty left in the tank if required.
Placed in a couple of hot Class 2 contests over today’s C&D last season, he now finds himself two grades lower, and even though he faces two improving types in the shape of King Of Tara and David’s Well, he rates a confident choice to more than hold his own against the novices.
DR T J ECKLEBURG – 1-point each-way@6-1