Rory Delargy provides today's Punting Pointers and has three bets across the Boxing Day meetings.
Racing Betting Tips: Thursday December 26
1pt e.w Es Perfecto in the 12:45 Kempton at 8/1 (General - 1/5 1,2,3) – min 13/2
1.5pts win Spillane’s Tower in the 2:30 Kempton at 10/3 (Hills) – min 3/1
0.5pts e.w Good Boy Bobby in the 1:35 Wetherby at 9/1 (General - 1/5 1,2,3) – min 15/2
On a personal level, I’m happy to take a chance that Leader In The Park wasn’t 100% on his chase debut at Cheltenham and he has always looked like a horse who would outstrip his hurdles form when put to fences, so I backed him early in the week; he’s now shortened up, however, and both of us had two against the field when we put our heads together, with ES PERFECTO the solid option from an each-way perspective.
We expected him to be the shorter price of the pair given he was placed in this a year ago under a hold-up ride which didn’t really suit on the day; he got it right from a reduced mark here on his return to show that this C&D suits ideally, and with the handicapper raising him to a mark just 2lb higher than when second to Ginny’s Destiny at Cheltenham last November, he ought to go well again.
The other positive for Es Perfecto on second glance is that while hold-up tactics aren’t usually favoured here, plenty of his rivals would prefer to dominate, and that might well see the race falling into his lap. We’d be disappointed if he doesn’t hit the frame.
The clear choice in an interesting King George is SPILLANE’S TOWER, second to Fact To File in the John Durkan Memorial on his return having won the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase over 3m1f at Punchestown on the spring. He is fully effective at shorter but clearly stays this trip and makes much more appeal than the others at the head of the market, all of whom have something to prove in terms of trip, wellbeing or current form. On the other hand, Spillane’s Tower arrives on the back of a career-best effort and has been brought along to peak now and in the spring.
The Real Whacker is the only other runner we could back, and the ground has come in his favour, for all he might be best when able to dominate. He’s a smashing jumper on a sound surface but struggles in the mud and his stable has come right back to form in recent weeks, making him the potential surprise package, for all the unfancied pair of the French raiders could also be underrated, and we are looking to have Spillane’s Tower with those three in exotics to see if we can’t scoop the lot.
1:35 Wetherby - Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase 3m 45y
Some Scope badly needed his first start of the season at Cheltenham, looking unfit beforehand, but he shaped a lot better in the Rehearsal at Newcastle last time, fading from two out after holding a chance, and he should be spot-on fitness-wise, while that form was franked when The Changing Man went very close at Ascot at the weekend. Callum Pritchard takes a useful 7lb off his back, the ground should be ideal, and he has solid claims, albeit with the market moving in his favour.
Another with a decent chance on recent form is GOOD BOY BOBBY who has form figures at Wetherby which read 11411, including a win in this race in 2021. He’s a veteran these days but was back to form when 7½ lengths second of 7 to Cloudy Glen at Haydock last time. A repeat of that gives him every chance and odds around 9/1 look generous.
Spike Jones did well to win at Lingfield given he didn’t get the best of runs in the latter stages, but it wasn't much of a race, with the odds-on second running below par again on his next start, and he’s susceptible to anything with a bit of improvement to come.
I much prefer the claims of Hidden History, a ready winner at Lingfield last February and that form of that race has worked out well, with the runner-up winning three time since. He wasn’t seen after that until finishing seventh on his reappearance at Chepstow where he wasn’t beaten far, and two of those that finished in front of him that day have won since. Like many of Chris Gordon’s this season, he would have needed that first start of the year and whilst a mere repeat of it would give him a chance, he ought to take a step forward from that fitness-wise and makes plenty of appeal with that in mind.
1.47 Market Rasen - Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase 3m 3f 123y
The Lincolnshire National isn’t quite the race it was, but it’s usually a good betting medium and that looks the case again. O’Connell probably ought to have won this race last year having travelled best that day and traded very short in the run, but maybe hit the front a bit too soon and was run out of it, beaten a length which was enough to see him out of the frame. A winner at Carlisle last time, he should get a quiet ride from Theo Gillard here and will be picking them off in the final mile. As long as he’s delivered late, he appears the one who sets the standard.
Preview posted 0855 GMT on 26/12/24
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