Best bet for the horse racing Monday 27th December
A cheeky Bank Holiday Monday to have a beer and a bet, happy days. Problem is most of the ones I'd want to back on Monday are odds-on! I mentioned how short some prices were for Boxing Day and the Bookies aint getting any more generous for Monday. There is a bet to be had though, and an ante-post punt for Cheltenham.
I was looking forward to seeing Kilcruit in the Grade One Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown but he won’t be running sadly. Chacun Pour Soi was also due to run in the Grade One Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at the meeting but won't now either sadly being lame.
They race at Kempton again with the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase the dish of the day there. Shishkin will run as will Greaneteen and the race looks between the pair. Personally, I think Shishkin s different class and I am a huge fan but he is well odds-on and unbackable at the 1-2 on his delayed seasonal reappearance. After a troubled start to the season Nicky Henderson told reporters on Friday morning “We’ve had a good week with Shishkin and we have decided that he will run. He schooled really well yesterday, Nico (de Boinville) came in this morning to ride him again and he worked very nicely. We’ve got to get out there, he’s in great form.” What I have done is back him for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham at the 7-4 this morning as that will go when, all being well, he trots up in this.
The price is a similar problem with the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase earlier on the card with Edwardstone also odds-on at 4-9. Even giving the field 5lb he should have too much class for them, he looked likely to run away from Do Your Job in the Stan Mellor Memorial Novices' Chase at Warwick before being unluckily brought down the last time they met. I was at the Tingle Creek meeting earlier this month when he won the G.1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase (I backed Third Time Lucki) and that was an impressive victory.
The one bet I am having on Monday goes in the Grade One two-mile Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle at 1.40 over at Chepstow. Forever Blessed is two from two so far and looks above average. An impressive winner at Ffos Las and Sandown he looks capable of making it three from three in this and I have the 5-2.
Be lucky