Saturday 28th December
2.00 Leopardstown: Savills Hurdle: We kick things off on Saturday with Grade 1 action at Leopardstown with the 2.00 and this is the Savills Hurdle over two miles and seven and a half furlongs. I’m with Bob Olinger here for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He’ll reoppose market leader Home By The Lee here who got the better of him in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month, however, De Bromhead’s charge is better off at the weights on this occasion and could find further improvement over the longer trip. It would be disappointing should he not get closer to the current favourite here. Bob Olinger – 3/1 (Win)
2.10 Catterick: Sky Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Next up for me is the 2.10 at Catterick which is a Class 4 mares’ novice hurdle over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Siog Geal here for Fergal O’Brien and Jonny Burke. She was placed in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham last month at the November Meeting in what was her most recent outing. That’s probably the single best piece of form on offer here and she looks like she could be a useful type moving forward. If she gets a clear round she’s the one to beat for me here. Siog Geal – 5/4 (Win)
2.55 Newbury: Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle: The afternoon’s feature race at Newbury is the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and four and a half furlongs, taking place at 2.55. I’ve gone with Bill Joyce here for the team of Jonjo & A J O’Neil who’s the mount of Jonjo Jr. He won a Grade 2 novice event at Sandown on his most recent outing earlier this month, getting the better of the potentially useful Quebecois by five lengths in the process. I think he’s a very exciting prospect and I don’t think there should be as big of a gap in the betting as there is between him and the two market leaders Regent’s Stroll and The New Lion. Bill Joyce – 4/1 (Each-Way)
3.35 Newbury: Coral ‘Pipped-At-The Post’ And Win Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase: My fourth and final selection on the day also comes from Newbury and the 3.35 which is a Class 3 novices’ handicap chase over two miles and six and a half furlongs. I’m with Inthewaterside in this for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. I think he’s a horse who’s always had potential without fully showing it on the racetrack, he was placed in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle on his final outing of last term and returned to the track when placing in a competitive affair at this track in November. The switch to the fences could well bring out further improvement from him and I think that he can go well on his chase debut here. Inthewaterside – 10/3 (Win)
