Best bets for the horse racing Saturday 23rd December 2017

It’s the last chance saloon this Saturday if you are looking to nick a couple of bob to pay for those Christmas presents or ridiculously large turkey and all the trimmings and all being well I have found a winner or two to help do just that.

First up for me is the Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield over 1m2f on the polytrack due off at 1.45. Red Label looked half decent out in Ireland for John Harrington before joining the Marco Botti yard in October. Campaigned out in Italy for his new yard he went well in a G.3 and G2 and jumped off the page at me on Tuesday being rated 106 but with only 9-1 to carry under the race conditions. I grabbed the 12-1 that was about early as I appear to be the only one that fancies it.  

Unowhatimeanharry is rated a minimum of 7lb superior to the opposition in the race of the day the Grade One JLT Reve De Sivola Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot due off at 2.25 on Saturday. Unsurprisingly he is short at 7-4. My old mate Taquin Du Seuil goes and the ten-year-old will no doubt put in his usual good run but looks up against it. One that catches the eye is five-year-old Sam Spinner who has steadily been progressing. This is a first attempt in Grade One company following his convincing victory in the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last month; kicked off in front and simply kept going. Having had foot problems in his novice season connections took it relatively easy with him picking up three wins at Catterick and one at Newcastle. Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe likes him and said in the week “If he did well at Ascot on Saturday, the Stayers' Hurdle (Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival) would be the target." At 8-1 I have taken a chance that he might be able to progress passed the nine-year-old jolly on his way to bigger and better things.

The Listed Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase over three miles is next at 3.00. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Go Conquer won the G.3 Sodexo Gold Cup over the course and distance last month and generally goes well here – one win and two seconds from three completed rounds out of four runs, he fell at the first in this last year. 8-1 looks a fair price to me for this (usually) fluent jumper and I have taken that. O O Seven is a horse I have backed in the past but he appears in the grip of the handicapper at the moment rated 153 meaning he has 11-8 here.

That just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I like normal find myself on the naughty list but I hope you dear readers have been good and that Santa brings you everything you asked for.

Be lucky