Welcome 2020, A Happy New Year to you all.
It's a seven race card today, the feature events are a pair of Grade 2 contests, the Dipper Novices Chase and the Relkeel Hurdle which are both run over a trip of 2m 4f.
Going -- Soft.
Here are our selections for the New Year Day card;
12:15 -- 2m 4f 56y Novice Hurdle (Listed)
6 Runners.
Happy New Year and we start the season at Cheltenham with a listed hurdle for novices, a field of only six have been declared and are headed by Nigel Twiston-Davies' REDFORD ROAD already a winner of three races including most recent success here in December. Nicky Henderson saddles two in this small field and expect WELSH SAINT to get the better of GRAND MOGUL while the only 4yo in the line up PROTEKTORAT (Dan Skelton) might need little more time for his owners who include Sir Alex Ferguson but has filled the runner up spot on his last two tries.
Result:
1. IMPERIAL ALCAZAR 3/1
2. Protektorat 15/2
(Amended result, after stewards enquiry the placings were reversed).
12:50 -- 3m 2f 70y Handicap Chase.
10 Runners.
A nice stayers handicap chase next, the popular chaser COGRY heads the weights, and the 11yo showed he still has the will to win last time beating Rock The Kasbah by a short head around here last month. Venetia Williams' horses are in great order this time of year, COMMODORE will love soft ground although a step up in class. The unlucky one here is DOING FINE who "won" his last race at Sandown which was then declared void although riders that were given bans over Christmas managed to get those rescinded on appeal.
Result:
1. DOING FINE 11/2
2. Cogry 4/1
3. Like The Sound 33/1
Nice win for connections of Doing Fine having been robbed of their last race at Sandown.
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| LOSTINTRANSLATION WINNING THE 2019 DIPPER CHASE |
6 Runners.
A race won last year by Lostintranslation and we might see another exciting novice this time with CHAMP owned by JP McManus and named after Sir Anthony McCoy. With limited opposition looks likely to be a short price with MIDNIGHT SHADOW the one most likely to give him something to think about. A race to watch and enjoy.
Result:
1. MIDNIGHT SHADOW 4/1
2. Break The Dream 20/1
Champ fell 2nd last fence, had not jumped at all well today made several mistakes
14:00 -- 2m 4f 127y Handicap Chase (Grade 3).
12 Runners.
A dozen chasers aiming for the near £40k winners cheque, LALOR was considered a star in the making when winning the Arkle trial here and hasn't really hit those heights since but capable of landing a decent handicap and certainly weighted to do so for Kayley Woolacott. One of my successful horses in last year or two has been MISTER WHITAKER a festival winner here and last seen on the course in April however can run well and indeed win first time up after an absence. Support for either of the younger horses MAGIC SAINT (Paul Nicholls) or POKER PLAY (David Pipe) would be interesting as they need a better handicap mark to get into some of the festival handicaps in March.
Result:
1. OLD GRANGEWOOD 12/1
2. Saint Calvados 8/1
3. Lalor 20/1
Thrilling race, 3 way photo at the end of it all
14:35 -- 2m 7f 213y Handicap Hurdle.
14 Runners.
Yes it's MITE BITE being given a run over hurdles having unseated at Aintree before Christmas in the race won by Native River, might be a confidence boost with surroundings to suit but did have a tendency to wander around and giving plenty of weight to these is no easy task. BEWARE THE BEAR won here last year but another who seems bit too much weight on his back so we're going with the pair SKANDIBURG (Olly Murphy) and ANYTIME WILL DO (Dan Skelton) against the field in an interesting contest.
Result:
1. SKANDIBURG 3/1
2. Rapper 13/2
3. Kilbricken Storm 8/1
Good win, stormed clear at the last. Mite Bite nice confidence boost with clear round
15:10 -- 2m 4f 56y Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2).
6 Runners.
The second of our Grade Two contests is the Relkeel Hurdle, only a small field again sadly, six line up WILLIAM HENRY and JANIKA represent Nicky Henderson, but the one to side with for me is EMITOM from Warren Greatrex who chased home Champ at Aintree and prior to that effort had won five on the bounce. Summerville Boy returns to hurdles having been chasing this season, might need this after a fall last time out while Roksana is the other course and distance winner in the line up and did win the mares hurdle at last years festival so is respected.
Result:
1. SUMMERVILLE BOY 10/1
2. Roksana 7/2
15:50 -- 1m 5f 209y Open NH Flat Race.
16 Runners.
We end with a listed class bumper event, bit better than we usually see of this type and the largest field on show today. Has also attracted couple of runners from France, fair play to them for coming over with Gavina and Genola from trainer Alain Couetil.
Nicky Henderson has strong 3yo's for these contests and with his GRAND ROI having already won a race at Wincanton by 15L is likely to be a strong favourite here while I'd also have a place interest in AUDACITY Won 16/1.
Result:
1. AUDACITY 16/1
2. Ocean Wind 9/1
3. Genola 8/1
Results will be updated here later today, and the rest of the New Year fixtures will feature events from Kempton Park on Wednesday nights as well as all the cards at Pontefract on the flat, and the bigger 2020 Festivals from Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and Galway amongst many others to enjoy.
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