Bumper Boxing Day 2019

Welcome on Arseonlineracing’s Bumper Boxing Day 2019. This website has NO affiliate links & is 100% Independent. It is curated 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….

This is the first days racing since December 21st & the folk who work in the industry deserve their break as it is now non stop until the end of the season. No less than 11 meetings today in the UK & Ireland, so it’s a very busy time for yard staff, loading runners to go to Wincanton, Wolverhampton, Kempton to Huntingdon & Wetherby….

We cannot promise to cover every meeting, but we do have some thoughts for you today…

As usual with our racing blog posts, Charlie will lead the way, our King George VI thoughts in the middle & Rich will have the final Word….

Charlie –

12.50 – Vegas Blue – Nicky Henderson has won this race 4 times in last 8 renewals, he has 2 darts this year Fred and Vegas Blue. My preference is for Vegas Blue having only had 2 runs and won both, with the first of those victory’s coming at Bangor over 2m and 145y, beating It’s Probably Me by 3 lengths. Was then sent to Huntingdon and won again beating Wynn House by 4 lengths. Looks a very capable horse who seems to keep on finding more when asked, and another bold display looks likely today.

Win Advised

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1.55 – Slate House -Won at Cheltenham in October over 2m 4f when beating Garo De Juilley by 11 lengths. Was then sent to Cheltenham again on the 16th November to race over 2m 4f and 44y and fell 2 out when In contention. Was then sent to Huntingdon for latest run and Slate House got back in the groove when winning again over 2m 7f and 129y, when beating Tarada by 1/2 length on the 8th December. Another bold display looks likely as long as this race hasn’t come along too soon and looks the one to beat here.

Win Advised

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2.30 – Fusil Raffles -Had won and placed 2nd in France before making switch to 7 Barrows, has been very professional in both starts on UK soil winning both with relative ease. First of those wins came at Punchestown on the 4th of May when Fusil Raffles won a Group 1 Hurdle at first time of asking beating Fakir D’Oudairies by 2 and 3/4 lengths over 2m. Next run came at Wincanton on the 9th November and Fusil Raffles won again beating Grand Sancy by 3/4 of a length over 1m 7f and 65y in a Grade 2 Hurdle. With those wins under the belt Fusil Raffles looks the one to be on in this race although stablemate Epatante could be biggest danger.

Win Advised

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King George VI Chase.. Kempton.. 3.05… Our Thoughts…

Charlie – Cyrname -Has won last 3 starts for trainer Paul Nichols and is also 2 from 2 here. The wins this year have came at Ascot over 2m and 58y and the 1st of those was a 21 lengths demolition of Doitforthevillage who was beaten by 21 lengths. The next victory came over 2m 5f and 8y and was another demolition job beating Waiting Patiently by 17 lengths. Most recently beat Altior by 2 and 1/4 lengths over 2m 5f and 8y on the 23rd November. Has had time to recover from that race and should go well again here but faces another tough rival in Lostintranslation who has won last 2 starts and Clan Des Obeaux who won this race last year. My preference is for Cyrname to take the spoils here giving Paul Nichols another welcome winner.

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Rich – Footpad…. Was unbeaten during his debut chase season in 2018 but fell on return last November 2018 and was a 1/2 length runner up to Simply Ned in a Grade 1 Chase at Punchestown and was off till March 2019, when heading to the Cheltenham Festival, sadly finishing 26 lengths 8th of 12 to Frodon in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase.
Back to winning ways when landing a Thurles 2m 6f Class 1 Listed Chase from Mala Beach by 10 lengths on season return on November 21st…

 

Final Word with Rich –

Thanks Charlie, was nice to get a couple of winners on Saturday to take us nicely into this festive period….

Kempton – Soft, Good to Soft in Places….

12.50 Novice Hurdle… Class 2… 2m….

Getaway Fred…. Beaten runner up on race course debut at Exeter in a 2m 1f Class 4 Maiden Hurdle, when bumping into Hang In There, who won by 7 lengths and has since won The Sharp Novice Hurdle, Grade 2 at Cheltenham on October 22nd. Getaway Fred was a 3 length winner on  November 20th when landing a Class 4 Novice 2m Hurdle at Chepstow…..

1.55 Kauto Star Novice Chase… Grade 1… 3m….

Slate House… 2 wins from 3 runs this season having had a second wind operation in the close season. Won on season return at Cheltenham in the October meeting, when taking a Class 2 2m Novice Chase by 11 lengths and was travelling well when falling 2 fences from home in the Grade 3 Gold Cup Handicap Chase(2m 4f) at the November meeting at Cheltenham.
Made up for that by landing the odds at Huntingdon, Taking the 2m 7f Class 3 Novice Chase by 1/2 a length from Tarada…

2.30 Christmas Hurdle… Grade 1… 2m..

Fusil Raffles… C&D winner when making UK race debut in February when winning the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle by 9 lengths. Off till May, then travelled to Punchestown to run in the 4YO Champion Hurdle 2m Grade 1 beating Fakir D’Oudaries by 2 & 3/4 lengths.
Made it 3 wins from 3 starts on November 9th, when landing the Wincanton Grade 2 Elite Hurdle 1m 7f from Grand Sancy by 3/4’s of a length….

Leopardstown… Yielding

2.20 Novice Chase.. Grade 1… 2m 1f…

Fakir D’Oudairies…. 2 wins from 2 starts since going chasing at the start of this season, having finished runner up in the Grade 1 Doom Bar at Aintree & The 4YO Champion Hurdle in May to Fusil Raffles. Landed the odds on Chase debut when taking a Navan 2m 1f Beginners’ Chase by 3 lengths from Melon & making it 2 from 2 on December 1st by winning the Drinmore Chase by some 22 lengths….

That is everything for you today folks… Thanks for popping by & we hope you are having a fantastic Christmas…

All the Best – Charlie & Rich