Away from the spotlight of Kempton, Mark Howard has three best bets for Boxing Day including a handicap debutant for Jonjo O'Neill at Wetherby.
Kempton and Leopardstown will grab all the headlines over the weekend but I have elected to head to Wetherby and Wincanton on Saturday in pursuit of some value.
Following a couple of quiet campaigns, Rose Dobbin has enjoyed a productive first half of the season with 13 winners on the board and very much on course to surpass her personal best of 25 tally achieved during the 2017/18 National Hunt season.
The lightly raced EAGLE DE GUYE may provide the Northumberland based handler with another success in the staying novices’ handicap chase at Wetherby (12.20) on Saturday.
Third in his only Irish point for Sean Doyle two and a half years ago, the Buck’s Boum gelding went through the sales ring for £66,000 a few days later. The six year old was then absent from the track for 682 days due to injury and, while he failed to shine in three subsequent starts over timber, he shaped much more encouragingly at the A1 track this month.
Switched to fences and contesting a novices’ handicap chase over two miles three, he kept on in the closing stages suggesting a step up in trip wouldn’t go amiss. Beaten a dozen lengths by Light Flicker, his jumping was good and the runner-up that day Road Warrior has consolidated the form since. Eagle De Guye has been dropped two pounds and it will be disappointing if he can’t be competitive and reward each-way support off a mark of 91. The in-form Sean Quinlan maintains the partnership.
Adrian Heskin returns to the saddle for the first time since breaking his arm at Market Rasen on the 19th November with the Irishman booked for four rides at Wetherby. Three of which are trained by Jonjo O’Neill, including KILBROOK who makes his handicap debut at 2.40.
The five year old looks attractively treated off 122 and has undergone wind surgery since his last appearance at the track 73 days ago. Like Eagle De Guye, the Water gelding learned his trade in the Irish point sphere finishing runner-up on his only start before being bought by the Jackdaws Castle outfit for £78,000. A half-brother to the Listed chase winner Huntsmans Son, he ran some good races last season finishing third in a bumper at Chepstow before filling the same position in a two miles novice hurdle at Newbury.
Placed behind the likes of Make Me A Believer, Everglow and Sir Valentine, he was then on the sidelines for 342 days. Back in action at Wetherby in October and stepped up in trip, he couldn’t match the finishing kick of the now 135 rated Valleres but still ran well in second. The combination of a longer trip and a breathing operation will hopefully extract more improvement.
Eleven runners line up for the 0-120 Mid Season Handicap Chase over two and a half miles at Wincanton. KEEP MOVING won over the same course and distance a little over a year ago and Philip Hobbs’ eight year old has dropped to a favourable mark following four subsequent defeats.
Well held on his first two outings on quick ground this Autumn, he ran much better last time in a 0-125 handicap at Exeter when staying on over an inadequate two miles one. Beaten eleven lengths by Saint De Vassy, he will be much more at home over this trip and is reunited with Sean Houlihan who steered him to that win in November 2019. The Linda’s Lad gelding is proven in testing conditions and his stable continue in decent form with seven winners during the last fortnight.
