December 26 – Kempton – Constitution Hill – 80
Billed as the big clash between the previous champion and the up-and-coming pretender, Nicky Henderson’s gelding left everyone a little reminder who’s boss and he now stands firmly back on top of the two-mile hurdling tree. Showing no ill effects from two below-par public gallops in recent times, the seven-year-old went through the well-run race with all his old swagger and when presented with the 64 thousand dollar question whether he would find as much as usual off the bridle, he provided the answer in no uncertain terms. Whether we see him again between now and Cheltenham is entirely based on his wellbeing at home but providing he is in the same sort of shape in March, he remains the one the rest have to beat. In contrast, Lossiemouth was never happy right from the start and she actually did well to stay in contention with her main market rival all the way to the line. Whether she had an off day or that is as good as she is over two miles is hard to tell but there’s no doubt she will have to raise her game significantly to turn the tables with her old rival. That said, the stiffer track at Cheltenham will play more into her strengths and even if she were to get beat a similar margin in the Champion Hurdle, that result would still be good enough to reward those who see her as a rock-solid each-way bet at her current 7-1 quotes.
December 26 – Kempton – Banbridge – 83
A stellar renewal on paper for this year’s King George and it delivered the goods in terms of a great spectacle. French raider, Il Est Francais, ensured there was no hiding place, setting very fast fractions from the outset, and it still looked like he was sure to win turning for home. Unfortunately, his petrol gauge flashed on empty at the most crucial stage of the race and in the end, he got swallowed up by Joseph O’Brien’s inmate, who proved three miles was no barrier to success. The key to the winner more than anything else was the drying ground and no doubt conditions will be the determining factor where he ends up at the spring festivals.
December 27 – Kempton – Sir Gino – 77
Ballyburn set a very high bar coming into this eagerly awaited clash but it soon became apparent that he wasn’t operating at the same level that allowed him to run a big figure at Punchestown first time out. That said, he would have done well to cope with Nicky Henderson’s inmate even at his very best and as far as chasing debuts go, there was little to fault one of last season’s top juvenile hurdlers. Having already threw his cap in the ring for the Champion Hurdle with his win in the Fighting Fifth, this was a brave call by connections, but on the evidence of his effort at the Sunbury venue, he is going to be just as good over fences and he rates a worthy favourite for the Arkle – presumably his ultimate target. As for the runner-up, he clearly wasn’t as fully effective around the sharp two miles as he was on chasing debut and it would come as no surprise to see connections aske him to stretch out over further for the remainder of the season. His quotes of 4-1 for the Brown Advisory, therefore, seem more than fair.
December 27 – Leopardstown – Romeo Coolio – 71
Once Karniquet almost departed the scene after a bad mistake at the second, Gordon Elliott’s inmate seized the initiative up front and it was a position which he never looked like relinquishing. The feature of his performance was his pin-point accurate jumping and other than the last, ironically, he gained lengths at each hurdle over his rest of the field. Despite that shuddering blunder at the last, which caused him to lose his hind end, he still posted a very smart speed figure and he now tops the tree in terms of overall performances in the two mile novice division. Likely to head straight to Cheltenham without another run, Gordon Elliott’s inmate has all the attributes of many previous winners of the Supreme and the only surprise comes from the fact he is not much shorter in the current ante post market for the curtain raiser.
December 27 – Leopardstown – Perceval Legallois – 76
As is often the case for this big field handicap chase, the race was run at a true gallop and it allowed Gavin Cromwell’s inmate to finally deliver the goods having threatened to do so many times previously. Well off the pace early, he gradually worked his way into contention rounding the home turn and staying on best all from the last, he finally wore down the gallant Midnight Our Fred, who put in a decent shift at the head of affairs. Indeed, both the winner and runner-up deserves plenty of credit in equal measures and they are worthy contenders for The Grand National later in the season.
December 28 – Leopardstown – Galopin Des Champs – 80
A cracking renewal of the Savills Chase and the winner enhanced his unbeaten record over fences at the track (6-6). Once again, Willie Mullins’ star chaser got into a lovely rhythm over a track that clearly suits his eye and although there was a moment after jumping two out Fact To File looked a major threat, he soon kicked in the turbo to turn his main market rival away. On the evidence of this display, the nine-year-old looks as good as ever and he rates a worthy 6-4 chance at present to retain his crown. In contrast, his stable mate Fact To File’s chances of turning around the tables at Cheltenham seem remote and, as a result, it’s hard to get too excited about his current quotes of 4-1. Indeed, the way he travelled for three-quarters of the journey suggest he might have brighter prospect over the 2m4f journey trip of the Ryanair and for that reason, he makes far more appeal for that contest at 5-1.
December 29 – Leopardstown – Brighterdaysahead – 80
The pre-race market spoke very much in favour of State Man despite being beaten on merit by Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana previous, but Gordon Elliott’s mare proved the doubters wrong with a performance of the highest class. Tucking in behind stable mate King Of Kingsfield from an early stage, the pair soon established a clear advantage over their rivals and as soon as the pacemaker wilted off the home turn, the daughter of Kapgarde pulled further clear with every stride. Usurping her previous best speed figure by some margin, she now has the choice of taking on the boys again in the Champion Hurdle or staying in her lane in the Mares’ Hurdle and it will be interesting to see which turns out to be the final destination nearer the time. Personally, I think it would be a travesty if she wasn’t asked to go down the Champion Hurdle route as it’s not as if Constitution Hill is totally bombproof. As for State man, he looks to be a busted flush at this stage and in any case. Joe Donnelly may have a better prospect in the shape of Anzadam.