Hot on the heels of Binocular’s Christmas spectacular at Ascot on Saturday the bookmakers were busily talking up his chances as a Champion Hurdle certainty, and with Cheltenham still three months away his current general price of 6/4 is short enough (7/4 biggest with Boylesports), but isn’t it great to have another potential superstar on the scene?
Nicky Henderson’s four-year-old put the issue to bed in a matter of strides on Saturday, and with AP McCoy never having to go for his stick you get the impression there was plenty left in the tank against proper opposition. Brilliant.
What’s even more remarkable is that Binocular might face his biggest challenge for hurdling’s greatest prize from a horse who stands in the same yard – Punjabi. You could say Henderson isn’t so much facing an embarrassment of riches in this department as wallowing in them.
The classy five-year-old is the pick of the field for Boxing Day’s Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park (2.05pm), and I’ll be happily snapping up the 13/8 with Boylesports.
He has some vital experience under his belt having almost taken the Totesport Trophy under top weight, run a six length third to Katchit in last year’s Champion Hurdle, before heading on for the Punchestown equivalent where he scored a cosy three length victory over former champion Sublimity.
More evidence came on the Flat at Sandown and Newmarket; back to back wins on the level understandably earning a summer holiday after a fruitful campaign.
With the Henderson team in such extraordinary form he was a confident selection to take the re-arranged Fighting Fifth at Wetherby a couple of weeks back, and he duly delivered in a good heat with Sublimity, despite having to knuckle down in workmanlike fashion on ground that wouldn’t have been ideal.
Snap Tie and Pierrot Lunaire can give him most to do, but Punjabi is a confident selection to take the Christmas Hurdle honours.
Anyone heading down to Kempton will be in for a treat, with the King George VI Chase just 35 minutes later the star attraction at the Sunbury track (2.40pm).
While I’m more than happy to take a relatively short price about Punjabi there’s no way I’ll be getting involved with Kauto Star at 6/4, despite reports he’s in good nick as he attempts to land the race for the third year running.
French bred horses don’t always train on into the later stages of their careers, while Kauto’s shown an alarming tendency to race lazily in his races.
Defeats at Cheltenham, Aintree and Haydock add fuel to the argument he’s not the force of old, and while master trainer Paul Nicholls is adamant any talk of the dying of the light is in his words ‘bollocks’, I’m still happy to shop elsewhere for a selection in the race.
Argumants still rage on about whether or not he would have won the Betfair Chase had Sam Thomas not been unseated – I’m far from convinced.
His short odds mean there’s a value to be had elsewhere in the field, and there’s some decent opposition to choose from.
Let’s face it – if Kauto Star runs anywhere near his best he wins with ease, and he destroyed them 12 months ago, but keep your fingers crossed for a masterclass from one of jumping racing’s true stars safe in the knowledge that if he is to be beaten you’ll trouser enough folding stuff to buy up the entire contents of the Argos warehouse in Croydon in the January sales.
What’s more, by finishing second or third him at the right price, you’ll still walk away with a tidy profit. Therefore the answer to the King George puzzle could be an each way bet on Our Vic at 11/1(Sportingbet).
Making his seasonal reappearance David Pipe’s 10-year-old has a cracking record fresh, and while it can be argued that he faces a near statistical impossibility since no horse has won the King George on their first run of the season for 20 years, records are their to be broken and he has the class to carry him into the reckoning against a mixed bunch.
Imperial Commander is a handicapper stepping up massively in class, Voy Por Ustedes is short enough at 7/2, while the jury is still out on comeback horse War Of Attrition as he steps back up to three miles.
Our Vic meanwhile has been trained specifically for this contest, finshed second in the race 12 months ago in a creditable display, ran second to Knowhere in the Letheby & Christopher, excelled in winning the Ryanair, and then crucially lowered Kauto Star’s colours in an Aintree thriller in the Betfair Bowl off level weights. The blinkers David Pipe fitted for his last two runs eked out a vast improvement.
I can’t see the price lasting too long – snap it up while it’s still there.
Less than 24 hours later all eyes will be on Chepstow for the Coral Welsh National, a race in which I expect Irish raider Notre Pere to make a splash at 12/1each way with Paddy Power.
Trainer Jim Dreaper is bullish about his prospects.
The seven-year-old stays longer than the mother in law and enjoyed big race success in Navan’s Troytown Chase five weeks ago. As long as Halcon Genelardais runs to keep the weights down he has strong place claims in the Christmas marathon.
Have a great Christmas and Good luck!
Boxing Day Tips
2:05 Kempton – Punjabi to win 13/8 with Boylesports
2:40 Kempton – Our Vic 10/1 each-way with Sportingbet
Saturday 27th December
2:05 Chepstow (Welsh Grand National) – Notre Pere each-way at 12/1 with Paddy Power
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago
