Friday’s cross-country race looks sure to go ahead, though Cheltenham will favour fast horses this weekendFans of cross-country races at Cheltenham, among whose number I count myself, will be pleased to learn that there is no evident threat to Friday’s race. The cross-country race scheduled for November’s race-meeting had to be abandoned because the going was hard in places after a dry autumn and it remains fast but, crucially, not quite as fast. Continue reading...
Messire Des Obeaux (2.25)makes much more appeal than Ballyandy at the odds available in the Winter Novice HurdleDisappointment first thing this morning for jumps fans in the west country, as Exeter’s excellent card on Friday afternoon, which was due to include The New One’s debut over fences among other points of interest, has succumbed to overnight frost. The first day of Sandown’s Tingle Creek meeting has survived the cold, however, and the Grade Two novice hurdle over two-and-a-half miles promises to be one of the most significant contests of its kind this side of Christmas.Ballyandy, last year’s Festival Bumper winner, seems sure to set off as the favourite despite having failed to land either of his two starts over hurdles...
Gold Club (5.15) is an interesting contender for the sprint handicap at Chelmsford, as he attempts to reverse recent course-and-distance form with Pearl Spectre and Dutch Golden AgeThe action is down to three cards this afternoon after Wincanton, to no-one’s great surprise, succumbed to overnight frost following an inspection at the track this morning. Temperatures were down to -7C overnight and it was a similar story at Exeter, which is due to race on Friday. The meeting there, which is due to include the Harry Dutfield Novice Chase with a £22,500 prize fund, is also now subject to an early inspection. Related: Horse racing tips: Thursday 1 December Continue reading...
Douvan’s odds for the Tingle Creek have crashed but we still don’t really know if he’s coming or notIt’s all very exciting that Douvan’s odds for the Tingle Creek have crashed, suggesting as it does that the talented young chaser will be turning up at Sandown on Saturday. But, as Tony Calvin has pointed out on Twitter, this market move may mean nothing at all. Continue reading...
All-weather racing at Newcastle might be a safer option for form students than a couple of tricky-looking jumps cardsIt’s one of those days when, even as a jumps fan, I find myself feeling rather doubtful about my chances over the sticks at Lingfield and Southwell. Perhaps it’s because they’re essentially all-weather tracks that are only playing at jump racing for the afternoon. Continue reading...