23rd-Dec-2017

Unowhatimeanharry sets the standard here.  He was a little disappointing last time in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, but he was giving 6lb to Beer Goggles, and the winner may be an under-rated horse who was allowed an easy enough lead in front.

Unowhatimeanharry won this race in the fog last year, and there is every chance that he will bounce back.  However, he is almost 10 years old now, and there has to be a small chance that this is the start of a decline.

I am taking a chance on old friend Sam Spinner at 8/1.

Jedd O’Keeffe’s horse was seriously impressive when we had him on side in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day.  Joe Colliver was very good on him, he didn’t have a good position when they lined up first, so the false start was a positive.  He was able to adopt a better position in the standing-start line up and he got away well.  After that, it was all plain sailing.

He got into a lovely racing rhythm in front, and he just came further and further clear in the home straight.

Of course, this is a major step up in class, that was a handicap and this is a Grade 1 race, but his revised handicap rating of 155 puts him within 5lb of the second highest rated horse in the race, Lil Rockerfeller, and that gives him a chance, because he still has significant potential for progression.

He is only five and that was just his sixth run over hurdles and just his eighth run ever.  In those eight runs, he has never finished outside the first two.  He has won five, a bumper and four hurdle races, and he has been second three times, in a bumper and two hurdle races.

Also, when he ran in that Haydock race, he was racing over three miles for the first time, and he seemed to really appreciate the step up in trip.  He has the potential for a fair bit more now over staying trips.

He goes well on soft ground, and there is a chance that he will get an easy enough lead today.  If he does, he could go very close.

SAM SPINNER WON (ADV 8/1, SP 9/2)