Tuesday 31st December 2024
1.00 Uttoxeter: 2025 Uttoxeter Annual Membership Now Available Handicap Hurdle: I’ve got three selections on New Year’s Eve and the first of which comes within the 1.00 at Uttoxeter which is a Class 3 handicap hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. I like Haarar here for the team of Sam & Jonathan England. He’s a dual-winner over hurdles as well as tasting success on the flat, and he posted his best effort to date within handicap company over hurdles last time out when second of eight at Haydock earlier this month. He was hampered by a loose horse on that occasion and still rallied in the closing stages, he’ll contest this off the same mark and if he gets a smoother passage can get one better. The extra furlong and ground should also suit. Haarar – 3/1 (Win)
2.14 Lingfield: Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap: It’s over to Lingfield for my second selection and the 2.14 which is a Class 4 handicap on the all-weather over seven furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Batal Dubai in this for Jack Morland and Daniel Muscutt. He ran well on his stable debut earlier this month at Chelmsford when finishing fourth of seven and just two lengths behind the winner. The handicapper has been kind and dropped him a further pound for that run, meaning he’ll contest this off a mark that’s six pounds lower than his last winning one. He’s a nice price here and if he’s to progress from his latest effort he could well have a big say. Batal Dubai – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 place firms)
2.20 Warwick: Poundland Handicap Hurdle: My third and final selection of the afternoon comes from Warwick and within the 2.20 which is a Class 4 handicap that’s contested over three miles and two furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Land Genie here for the all-conquering team of Dan & Harry Skelton. He ran his best race to date within handicap company earlier this month at Exeter when second of eleven and three-quarters of a length behind the winner. He stayed on strongly that day and given he’s been outpaced in previous races this sort of distance is likely to bring out further improvement. The yard have plenty of winners around here and I think that this is another live contender. Land Genie – 13/8 (Win)
