With so much top quality racing over the festive period, there is no surprise we witnessed many quality performances along the way and we have tried to highlight the ones we believe are worthy of keeping on side.
December 26 – Aintree – Idaho Sun – 72
The market suggested Mydaddypaddy was likely to enhance his burgeoning reputation but it came as no surprise to our members that Harry Fry’s inmate was able to lower his colours and, in the process, lay down his claim to be the UK’s best two-mile novice. The five-year-old had impressive on the clock on his previous outing at Bangor and was probably underestimated in the market but there was no fluke about the performance and the time figure backed up that view (matches the time posted by Old Park Star). Up to now he has only encountered flat tracks, so how he will get on should he head to Cheltenham only time will tell, but he is a horse with an immense amount of talent and guts in equal measures and what ever his fate this season, he has a bright future. Regards the runner-up, he did more here than he had done on his two previous victories against modest opposition yet drifted out to 16-1 post-race, rendering quite ridiculous how crazy ante-post prices are nowadays.
December 26 – Down Royal – Sept Etoiles – 67
Not a race on everyone’s radar as a likely source of future winners but our rating suggests otherwise and it should be one worth monitoring closely in the short term. The winner continued the theme of the moment over in Ireland, being another novice hurdle winner for Gordon Elliott, and even though this lad probably won’t end up being a superstar, he should in no way be underestimated going forward. The runner-up, Court Compliance, is a fair guide to the level of form on offer and the step up in trip really suited the son of Doctor Dino. Emulating his stable mate, Gerri Colombe, winner of this race back in 2021, chasing will probably be game in which he excels the most. As for the rest, stable mate, Dunsy Rock, was a massive eye-catcher coming from the rear of the field to finish a never-nearer fourth, and he should be placed to good effect in a maiden hurdle next time.
December 26 – Kempton – Kitzbuhel – 73
A competitive renewal of this Grade 1 Kauto Star Chase and Willie Mullins’ grey produced a total jumping clinic, befitting the horse for whom the race was named after. Winner of his only other start over fences, this was a totally different sort of test on much quicker ground but he soon got into a lovely rhythm in front and at no stage did he ever look like relinquishing his advantage. Although he proved he stayed three miles well here, he clearly is not devoid of pace and with the stable having Final Demand as the main player in this division, it would come as no surprise if he were asked to go down a different route.
December 26 – Kempton – Sir Gino – 77
With Constitution Hill virtually ruining his Champion Hurdle prospects in one fell swoop at Newcastle and State Man out of the season, connections of Nicky Henderson’s inmate were left with the obvious option of going down the two-mile hurdle route and on this evidence, their decision looks totally justified. Always in control at the head of affairs, the son of Doctor Dino has everything flat to the boards coming out of the back straight and with good jumps at the last two flights, he maintained a healthy advantage all the way to the line. Where will see him next is anyone’s guess, but there is a strong possibility – knowing the trainer – he will head straight to Cheltenham without another run and the Champion Hurdle looks the most likely destination.
December 26 – Kempton – The Jukebox Man – 77
A stellar field faced the starter for this traditional Christmas prize and in a race for the ages, it didn’t disappoint. A four-way go heading down to the last could have gone any way and it was Ben Pauling’s gelding who proved the strongest of the quartet, battling back after being headed touching down on the run-in. Of the main players. he was the one with the most improvement to find based on our figures heading into this contest but now he has proven he can stay well in a championship run speed figure, he thoroughly deserves his place in the Gold Cup field. Of the other three, Jango Baie is easily the most talented but once again, his jumping wasn’t quite up to scratch (lost 2 lengths on the field over his fences) and he needs to get more proficient if he is to realise his full potential.
December 26 – Leopardstown – Narciso Has – 63
A totally dominant display by Willie Mullins ex-French recruit and he now finds himself at the head of the market for the Triumph Hurdle. Although his winning speed figure we awarded him is still a little way short of the mean time expected for that standard, his final lap splits were noticeably quicker than the older horse races on the hurdles course and he has the scope to keep improving. Nice type.
December 26 – Market Rasen – Japetus – 63
Nicky Richards’ inmate did a lot wrong yet still won this useful novices hurdle with a bit to spare and alongside stable mate, Upon Tweed, he rates one of the most promising young horses up the north. Despite already having experience of winning over hurdles, the son of Sea The Moon was still pig ignorant over his obstacles and a horse of less ability wouldn’t have been capable of constantly given away the advantage to their rivals. However, he has the necessary reserves stamina and ability to overcome such an impost and if he can tidy up in his jumping in due course, he is going to be a potent threat against better opposition.
December 27 – Chepstow – Mossy Fen Road – 67
Harry Derham is assembling quite a nice bunch of novices and this guy is edging towards the top of the tree. The feature of his round at the Welsh venue was his fast, accurate jumping and his technique is likely to prove a major asset when he eventually goes up in grade. Quotes of around 16-1 for the Supreme were banded around after this victory and while he certainly has to enter the conversation for a race of that nature, he still has a little way to go to realise those ambitions.
December 27 – Kempton – Williethebuilder – 67
A race that featured the likes of Indemnity, Trustintimes and Wandering Ego, three from strong form lines, but it went the way of Christian Williams’ inmate who maintained the fine recent run of the stable. Held up off the pace, he was delivered with his challenge in between the final two flights and in the end, he scored going away. Not only was his speed figure the best on the card, his final circuit was 5.5 seconds quicker than the opening juvenile hurdles won by the impressive Maestro Conti, and the form looks totally believable. In turn, he paid a handsome complement to Lanesborough, who accounted for him by eight lengths at Doncaster previously and Ben Pauling’s inmate must be worth noting when he runs next – either the Lanzarote or Betfair Hurdle.
December 27 – Leopardstown – Kargese – 69
The task for Willie Mullins’ mare was simplified when James’ Gate crashed out at the final ditch but that should not detract from her overall performance, which was still pretty impressive. Setting a swinging pace throughout, her jumping was pitch perfect for majority of the 2m1f journey and even taking into account she was eased down after two out, she still ran the final circuit three seconds quicker than the likes of Solness and Marine Nationale in the Grade 1 over the same C&D. Based on the evidence of that data, she looks to be underestimated in the Arkle market around 14-1, and if Kopek Des Bordes fails to recover from his recent troubles, she might turn out to be the stables number one come Cheltenham time. Classy mare.
December 28 – Leopardstown – Koktail Divin – 67
Similar to Kargese, the performance of Henry De Bromhead’s gelding might just have escaped the attentions of a few judges during the busy period but the data suggests this fella needs to be taken extremely seriously. His jumping was a joy to behold and it enabled him to keep taking valuable lengths off his rivals during the course of the 2m6f journey. Although his overall time was just slightly below the Savilles Chase (75), it is worth pointing out the son of Masked Marvel ran the final circuit 6.9 seconds quicker the Grade 1 three-milers and those kind of numbers make him a viable proposition for the Brown Advisory, a race cruelly pinched off the shelf of stable mate Minella Indo in recent times.
December 28 – Limerick – Final Demand – 74
Talking of the Brown Advisory, we now have a very strong favourite for the three-mile novice event at Cheltenham thanks to the display from Willie Mullins’ inmate in this Grade 1. Although probably not the deepest of races as in previous years, stable mate Jimmy De Seuil is no slouch and the fact he was a beaten docket coming out of the back straight suggested the pace the son of Walk In The Park served up was a very strong one. A beast of a horse with a great leap in him, the only question mark surrounding his prospects at Cheltenham was his below par effort in last season’s Turners, but other than that, it is hard to knock what he has done in both his starts over fences.