Tom Stanley summarises our podcast team’s fancies for Kempton, Leopardstown and beyond!
Happy Christmas one and all! And more importantly, happy Boxing Day.
Seven Grade 1 races are previewed for you in the Matchbook Betting Podcast Festive Special plus three top handicaps including the Welsh National. That’s the only race we’re without declarations for so forgive us if anything goes up that doesn’t show up.
The 26th races are below, with the 27th races covered on a separate Insights column,
We start with the Christmas feature and a very strong Irish challenge, combined with the last two winners of the race, make this a superb renewal of the King George.
The top two in the betting are surprisingly being swerved here and both Donn and Steve are with Chantry House. He won his prep for this well, although just a two runner race, and he’s very much the new kid on the staying block, from the UK at least. Adele suggests her heart may be ruling her head but thinks last year’s winner is too big at 6.5 at the time of recording. And I’m having a win (25%) and place (75%) stab at Tornado Flyer who is worth another go at three miles.
Not the most exciting betting heat but the Fighting Fifth dead heaters go head-to-head again. Donn is with Not So Sleepy who battled back well at Newcastle. Adele is with Epatante who didn’t have the ideal preparation or conditions going into last time and this should suit a good deal better.
Just four but a race only takes two and we’ve a proper two here. Steve and I feel Bravemansgame is the bet at this track with the ground unlikely testing. He should have too much speed for Ahoy Senor, just. But Donn and Adele have been very impressed with Lucinda Russell’s horse and argue he’s the pick at the prices. Both look mighty jumpers of a fence.
Nearly a team steam here in the form of Danny Kirwan. He’s not yet lived up to his potential over fences and Steve thinks that he could still be a Graded performer in waiting. I’m with Mister Coffey who looks worth another go over further. He was disappointing on reappearance and he does go fresh but hopefully, this trip will see him to better effect.
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Adele is looking forward to seeing Top Ville Ben back over regulation fences in a race he’s won before. Donn thinks Good Boy Bobby is the pick having gone so close at Newcastle. Steve suggests Dan Skelton can work some magic off a break with Debece while I make the lightly raced Empire Steel my bet of the day at 7.5 at the time of recording.
Donn and I just about make Ferny Hollow a bet at 1.83 at the time of recording. He has the best form and should have learned a bit from that chase debut. He has to give thirteen pounds to Riviere D’etel though and Adele things that swings things in the mare’s favour.
The UK pundits all want to be on Farouk D’Alene and Steve is surprised he isn’t favourite. Donn feels Gabynako was placed in an up to scratch renewal of the Drinmore last time so he’s the right favourite. The ground should make this more of a test too and he argues that’s in Gabynako’s favour.
Best of luck!
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