12th December 2012

The chance bet didn't come of yesterday in Vexillum, but the winner was the other horse highlighted in the preview. Hopefully some of you saw it and preferred Whipcrackaway and were successful. Before we get onto today's racing, I'll just inform you of a 'Festive accumulator' I've got involved in.

Zarkandar - International Hurdle
Al Ferof - King George
Sir Des Champs - Lexus Chase
Teaforthree - Welsh National

Zarkandar is in a very tight race, with Grandouet and Rock On Ruby set to make their seasonal reappearances this weekend at Cheltenham. However he arrives race fit compared to his rivals and is hopefully going to lay a big marker down for Champion Hurdle success here. I really do rate him and think he's a frightening proposition.
Al Ferof has been my King George hope since the summer, so hearing positive signs from Paul Nicholls only helps to boost my belief in him. I think he's going to love Kempton and as always am happy to take on Long Run. The race is competitive but 3 miles on a flat track should be right up his street.
Sir Des Champs arguably has the toughest race, with John Durkan conqueror Flemenstar and a resurgent Tidal Bay to name but two likely opponents. However I'm hoping he will improve for the run and combined with the step up to 3 miles he should be able to reverse form with Peter Casey's Flemenstar. This will be a big indication that he is on track to Gold Cup success.
Teaforthree has been well fancied in both outings this season but I like to think I've been justified in taking him on as we know this has been his aim all along. His 6th in the Hennessey further went to show he is on track and he will be extremely hard to beat here.

Currently available with Paddy Power at prices of 11/8, 6/1, 10/3 and 11/2 respectively (I think they are the only bookmaker currently with odds on all 4 markets).

Back to today's racing and here are the best selections.

12.50 Hexham

Realt Mor sets a reasonable standard with a mark of 134 coming into this race. He had a close second behind Going Wrong before coming up short against Prosecco, trained and ridden by the same pair on today's likely victor TAP NIGHT. We backed Lucinda Russell's horse on his seasonal reappearance at Ayr where he conceded plenty of weight to come out on top in a hurdle. He's since been purchased by JP McManus and looks set to follow in the footsteps of Bold Sir Brian who won this last year (again trained by Russell and ridden by Buchanan). His race fitness should help him account for Alba King and Granville Island, whilst there is little appeal in the other runners.

14.40 Kempton

Another interesting beginner's chase, and it's another prior selection that is fancied here. MODULE was arguably the likeliest winner at Exeter 50 days ago before falling towards the end of the race. Given plenty of time to get over that, he is one of Tom George's better horses and this can be a nice victory for him today to get back on track to better things. Cantlow, another prior selection, has now put up good efforts in defeat behind Sire De Grugy and Hazy Tom, but could well be set to take the runners up berth again. Kings Lodge makes the switch to fences looking to get back into the winners enclosure. It seems a big ask though as he was rated inferior to the selection over hurdles. 15/8 Paddy Power

Good luck!

The Horse Whisperer