DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY DECEMBER 6
1.10 NAVAN
Gordon Elliott looks to have a very strong hand in this Grade 2 and PORT AUTHORITY (best price 11-4) could well turn out to be the pick of the trio he sends to post.
It is hard to know if he beat anything of any great note at Naas on his hurdling debut, but the runner-up was strongly fancied having been unbeaten in two previous bumpers and the way he just sidled up to him before quickening right away late on suggests he might be useful.
A 16-length success and a smart speed figure to boot also went a long way to back up that view and even though jockey arrangements suggest he is very much the third string, he might, as a result, end up being the smidge of value.
PORT AUTHORITY – 1-point win@11-4
1.42 NAVAN
PADDY’S MILESTONE (best price 5-1) landed a well-orchestrated gamble over today’s course last time out and with the potential of more to come over today’s extra yardage, Stuart Craswford’s gelding can continue to make up for lost time.
The six-year-old has clearly had his issues in his short career but the engine he has was there for all to see when he powered to victory in the Tara Handicap a month ago and he appeared to win with a little up his sleeve.
If that turns out to be the case, the son of Malinas could well be up for offsetting the fact he languishes from out of the handicap (only 3lb wrong considering his pilot’s claim) and having scored over three miles previously, there are plenty of reasons to feel upbeat about his chance.
PADDY’S MILESTONE – 1-point each-way@5-1 (four places)
2.40 AINTREE
BILL BAXTER (best price 15-2) has already tasted success over these daunting fences and hailing from a stable who have made a big impression so far this season, Warren Greatex’s grey can continue the good work for the Lambourn handler.
When a trainer runs a chaser over hurdles on their seasonal bow, it usually indicates there is a bigger, more meaningful target around the corner and that very theory looked to be the case at Newbury last time out.
Despite it being his first run for 187 days, connections were keen to pump as much work into him as possible and his front running exploits were only usurped by the superior stamina of Irish National hero, Haiti Couleurs, close home.
Likely to have benefitted greatly from that outing, another positive ride can allow the nine-year-old grey to shine in an environment he knows well.
BILL BAXTER – 1-point each-way@
3.00 SANDOWN
A cracking Tingle Creek in store, almost a throwback to the good old days when there were several genuine Grade 1 performers on show, and L’EAU DU SUD (best price 11-4) rates a strong choice to topple old foe Jonbon and new pretender, Il Etait Temps.
After landing the Henry VIII here last season, somewhat fortuitously, his form rather tailed off in the spring but as we were reminded at Cheltenham on his seasonal bow, he is good as anything in this division when on-song.
Whereas his main market rival, Jonbon, failed to deliver the goods in the jumping department a month ago, the son of Lord Du Dud was spectacular throughout the two-mile journey, and he was in no way flattered by his 15-length success.
Returning to a track we know often rewards fast, accurate jumping, one would like to think Harry Skelton will have license to put his rivals to the sword from an early stage and he comes across as being very good value representing a team seemingly landing big pots for fun.
L’EAU DU SUD – 1-point win@11-4