10th-Dec-2021

I am backing Diesel D’Allier here.  I think that he should be shorter than he is, I think that he should be clear favourite by a fair way.

He was impressive in winning the cross-country race at Cheltenham’s November meeting in 2019 when he was with Emmanuel Clayeux off a mark of 125, and he ran well at a big price to finish fourth to Easysland at the Festival the following March.

He was beaten six times in France after that, but he proved his liking for this course when he returned there in November, and ran a big race to finish third behind Back On The Lash off today’s mark of 137.  He looked a likely winner when he hit the front at the second last, but lack of a recent run probably told as he faded on the run-in.

That was his first run in 208 days, and it was his first for Richard Bandey, so he was entitled to tire.  It wasn’t that he disliked the finishing hill, as he climbed it with enthusiasm when he won at Cheltenham in 2019.

He should progress from that run, and that gives him every chance of reversing places with Back On The Lash and Singing Banjo.

He may have more to fear from Plan Of Attack.  That was Plan Of Attack’s first run over the course, and he could progress from it, but he really didn’t seem to enjoy the varied obstacles.  He lacked fluency, and there is a good chance that he will lack fluency again today.  My hope is that we will get him back at a conventional track at some point in the future.  I still think that he is an under-rated horse.

Midnight Maestro is interesting, he was weak in the market before he ran a big race to finish second to his stable companion Shady Operator in the Risk Of Thunder Chase over Punchestown’s banks last month.  You know that he will have been well schooled, given that he is trained by Enda Bolger, and he is a player, but he is short and this will be his first run at this cross-country course.

DIESEL D’ALLIER WON (ADV 9/2, SP 6/1)