Hello & welcome to arseonlinetips. A 100% independent racing website brought to you by 2 racing enthusiasts from either end of the British Isles. Charlie hails from Glasgow while Rich is from the Isle of Wight, miles apart but united by the sport of kings…
Where do we start after a fantastic days racing on Boxing day??? I think congratulations should go to Paul Nicholls & Harry Cobdon with the fantastic winner of the King George Chase…. While it was nice to see Thistlecrack run a corker too….
While some of you head back to work, there is still plenty of racing and today is no different, so let’s crack on & see what we have for you today… Charlie has his selections while we go Head to Head in the Welsh Grand National and then Rich will have the Final Word, so lets get started….
Charlie –
Rocku -Recently changed yards to D Skelton and finished 3rd on debut for new trainer at Market Rasen last time out over 2m7f some 5 lengths behind The Manuscript. Steps back up in distance to 3m 26y today and with that run under the belt is sure to improve for new connections in a very winnable race.
Win Advised
.
Princess Salamah -Made a fair impression on debut at Kempton over 1m when making late headway to run on for 3rd after looking quite green in early stage, with normal progression should fair better here with that run under the belt and Ralph Beckett could get the win here at second time of asking.
Win Advised
.
Head to Head….
Chepstow… 2.50 Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase… Grade 3… 3m 5f 110yds..
Rich … Looksnowtlikebrian… Arrives here on the back of 2 wins from 2 starts since making seasonal return on October 18th, when landing a 3m C3 handicap chase by 1 length at Carlisle before returning to the same venue when stepping up in trip to 3m 2f to land a C3 handicap chase on November 4th by 10 lengths, steps up in trip again today and looking for 3 wins on the trot…
Charlie … Vieux Lion Rouge – Has been a tad disappointing of late although has only had 3 runs in 2018, first of those was at Ascot in February and finished 4th over 3m. Next up was the Grand National at Aintree when Vieux Lion Rouge finished 6th. Went back to Aintree in December after having wind surgery and finished 2nd over 3m 2f. Normally has cheekpieces on but they are replaced by blinkers today and that could do the trick.
Well that’s the Welsh National out the way it’s time to move on to The Final Word and you can read Rich’s thoughts below.
Final Word with Rich….
Thanks Charlie, yesterday never went the way either of us though so we just have to dust ourselves down and go again….
Chepstow… Soft…
1.35… Juvenile Hurdle… Grade 1 3YO Only…. 2m…
Adjali… Was a 13 length winner on UK hurdle debut at Market Rasen on December 6th when landing a C4 2m Juvenile Hurdle. The French bred runner goes for Nicky Henderson, who won this race last season….
The DANGER could come from Quel Destin who is a two time Grade 2 winner already in the UK and like Adjaili is French bred. He landed the JCB Trial Grade 2 2m hurdle at Cheltenham on November 17th before taking the Summit 2m Grade 2 hurdle at Doncaster last time out on December 15th…
2.10 Handicap Hurdle… Class 2… 2m 7f 131yds…
Another Emotion… A 6 length runner up on season return in heavy going at Sandown on December 8th in a C2 handicap hurdle, won on 2nd start back in April….
Kempton…. Good to Soft…
1.20 Wayward Lad Novice Chase… Grade 2… 2m…
Kalashnikov… Is 2 from 2 in this sphere and steps up from |Class 3 company today. The former Supreme runner up was a facile 18 length winner last time out at Plumpton when landing a C3 novice chase on December 3rd and now takes his chance at the top table. He receives 5Lb from Dingo Dollars who was a last time out winner and Maria’s Diamond, who was also a last time out winner receives 7Lb from Dingo Dollars, after winning a Mares’ C1 Listed race to take her chase total to 2 from 2, the only danger to Kalashnikov is himself….
2.30 Desert Orchid Chase… Grade 2… 2m…
Altior…. Was not at his best to sweep past Un De Sceaux at Sandown to land the Tingle Creek by 4 lengths on seasonal appearance, he now has to defend his unbeaten record of 16/0 in both hurdles & chase runs under rules and like Kalashnikov can only beat himself… Front running Special Tiara was 3rd on seasonal return at Cork on December 9th while Sprededek was a 1& 3/4 length runner up in a C2 handicap 2m 1f chase at Ascot in November and neither are in the same class as Altior….
Leopardstown… Good…
1.15 Sugar Daddy Chase… Grade 1… 2m 1f…
There are at least 3 or 4 in with a shout in this race so lets have a look at them…. Top Rated at 166 is Footpad, was unbeaten in his first year chasing when landing the Arkle at Cheltenham and then the Ryanair at Punchestown. Footpad made seasonal return on November 10th but fell when back in 2nd and more is expected today…
Ballyoisin was a 23 length winner on November 11th to take his total to 3 wins from 3 chase runs in 2018 when landing a Grade 2 at Navan…
That takes us to Great Field, who like Footpad was unbeaten in his debut chase season of 2017, when landing the Ryanair at Punchestown but only made 1 appearance between April 2017 & March 2018, when landing the Webster Chase Cup at Navan & like Footpad, fell on seasonal return after 3 fences at Cork on December 9th in a race that was won by Castlegrace Paddy, who was 5th to Footpad in the Punchestown Ryanair but landed the Cork race by 16 lengths…. As I say anyone of these could win, but if the Footpad we know from last season turns up it could well be the two ton green that lands the spoils from the green & gold!
That is everything for you today folks, apart from a huge thanks to everyone who read yesterdays blog and our King George IV Chase History/Stats article, we really appreciate your support…
All the Best – Charlie & Rich
arseonlineracing 