Best bets for the horse racing on New Years day 2021
If it aint bad enough you can't go racing on New Years Day (well most of us won't be able to even owners can't go in Tier 4) Cheltenham abandoned their
New Year’s Day meeting because of waterlogging. On Wednesday a Tweet from Cheltenham’s official account reported that the scheduled card will not take place. It read: “New Year’s Day Racing abandoned. “Following 85mm of rainfall since last Wednesday, there are areas of waterlogged ground across the width of the course, and it is therefore not raceable.” With the greatest of respect to Exeter and Musselburgh their cards just don't excite me like the Cheltenham one potentially did.
They do race on the Firesand at Southwell and that is where I am now concentrating for the afternoon. Hills have priced-up early Thursday morning so what follows quotes their prices - you may want to wait and shop around.
The first race I am interested in is the 12.40 over the mile the Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Handicap. Maykir generally goes well here, twice and C&D winner, and can perhaps be forgiven his last run in December when fifth. He got a bit shuffled back in running and ended up coming widest of all, up the nearside rail effectively in the home straight, staying on late. It wasn't perhaps as bad an effort as it looks at first sight. If Marco Ghiani can keep him a little nearer the pace in this turning for home he can pass them all down the straight. 11-2 is the price with Hills. Southwell regular Geography Teacher is the obvious danger.
Stone Soldier has been in fine form since moving to Archie Watson, twice winning here at Southwell once over C&D, and he goes again in the 1.15 the 7f Bombardier Handicap. Sneaking up the weights the chestnut colt should have enough up his sleeve to get the hat-trick in what is a nice little handicap. Luke Morris rides again and the yard remains in decent enough form. Ayr Harbour and Teston are the dangers but I think they may well set it up perfectly for the selection to swoop late. 11-10 is the Thursday morning odds.
Few horses know the 5f strip at Southwell as well as Mulzim and he goes again in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap due off at 2.25. Lightly raced for a seven-year-old he simply loves it here and with Darragh Keenan taking off 3lb has a great chance of taking his record to four C&D wins. Duke Of Firenze has been around forever but was well beaten by the selection last time and his win in early December (Mulzim eighth) was a shock. Hills are 5-2. Another regular here Ustath dropping back in trip is feared most.
So there you have it, a Patent for New Years Day if that is your thing.
Be lucky
They do race on the Firesand at Southwell and that is where I am now concentrating for the afternoon. Hills have priced-up early Thursday morning so what follows quotes their prices - you may want to wait and shop around.
The first race I am interested in is the 12.40 over the mile the Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Handicap. Maykir generally goes well here, twice and C&D winner, and can perhaps be forgiven his last run in December when fifth. He got a bit shuffled back in running and ended up coming widest of all, up the nearside rail effectively in the home straight, staying on late. It wasn't perhaps as bad an effort as it looks at first sight. If Marco Ghiani can keep him a little nearer the pace in this turning for home he can pass them all down the straight. 11-2 is the price with Hills. Southwell regular Geography Teacher is the obvious danger.
Stone Soldier has been in fine form since moving to Archie Watson, twice winning here at Southwell once over C&D, and he goes again in the 1.15 the 7f Bombardier Handicap. Sneaking up the weights the chestnut colt should have enough up his sleeve to get the hat-trick in what is a nice little handicap. Luke Morris rides again and the yard remains in decent enough form. Ayr Harbour and Teston are the dangers but I think they may well set it up perfectly for the selection to swoop late. 11-10 is the Thursday morning odds.
Few horses know the 5f strip at Southwell as well as Mulzim and he goes again in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap due off at 2.25. Lightly raced for a seven-year-old he simply loves it here and with Darragh Keenan taking off 3lb has a great chance of taking his record to four C&D wins. Duke Of Firenze has been around forever but was well beaten by the selection last time and his win in early December (Mulzim eighth) was a shock. Hills are 5-2. Another regular here Ustath dropping back in trip is feared most.
So there you have it, a Patent for New Years Day if that is your thing.
Be lucky