A Wrap of the Horse Racing early week news

With some interesting stuff in the news at the early part of this week I thought I'd just wrap it up for any blog followers looking for a mid-week read. Just a quick round up of the King George press conference news and a look at the entries for Cheltenham this weekend and as always comments welcome.

Kempton 26th and 27th December - Interesting snippets

At the start of the week we had the William Hill King George Press conference and were treated to some very interesting soundbits; I'm sure you've read these elsewhere but I'll summarise the key points for us to look at all in one place

Menorah definitely goes for the King George and Tom O'Brien rides with Richard Johnson suspended. Menorah will have his best chance if the rain stays away.
Captain Chris  is only a 50/50 chance for the race having had an interrupted prep for the race whilst Wishful Thinking, fresh from his Peterborough Chase victory, could still turn up.
Simonsig is still a possibility for the race according to Nicky Henderson's assistant trainer Charlie Morlock. A 'very good chance' of making the race provided there are no more slip-ups in his preparation.
Colin Tizzard has his string in much better form now and Cue Card is bouncing at home. He heads for the race with the stable hoping for some decent ground.
One trainer wanting a bit of rain is Paul Nicholls who would need it soft for Silviniaco Conti otherwise he may head for the Lexus in Ireland, a race won by the trainer with Tidal Bay recently. Al Ferof  will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies at Kempton, while Noel Fehily will ride Conti.
Willie Mullins will send over Champagne Fever for the race as he tackles the 3 mile trip for the first time.
Interestingly John's Spirit has an entry for the Christmas cracker as Jonjo O'Neil looks to step him out of handicap company for the first time.
Eduard may represent the Nicky Richards stable but the trainer will only run his charge if granted good ground.

King George Betting - Odds courtesy of Oddschecker

Elsewhere on the card we have the Christmas Hurdle and Rich Ricci has confirmed this is the target for his exciting Faugheen. He is set to clash with Irving from the Nicholls camp and possibly one or both of Sign of a Victory and Vaniteux from the Henderson camp.
The Feltham Novices Chase over 3 miles could see Saphir Du Rheu bidding to give Paul Nicholls victory in the race, the obvious target according to his trainer. Sausalito Sunrise could be amongst the opposition having gone down to the impressive King's Palace at Cheltenham earlier this season.
Vibrato Valtat, an impressive Sandown winner at the weekend, will head to the Wayward Lad where he could re-oppose Henry VIII 2nd placer Dunraven Storm.

We look set to get ground no drier than good to soft according to Kempton Clerk of the Course Barney Clifford, with soft ground more likely given the forecast. Looks like Silviniaco will be staying in England over the Festive period!


Underwhelming Cheltenham International entries

We had the big race entries for the Cheltenham meeting this coming weekend announced on Tuesday and I must say I'm slightly underwhelmed. Only 16 featured in the decs for the big Handicap - the December Gold Cup -  with Eduardo Sol heading the weights on an official mark of 149. The market is headed at 3/1 by Caid Du Berlias who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup here in November and has only been raised a very lenient 5lbs for that success. Of those that would interest me in having an ante-post bet he is not one as I can't see him going off much shorter on the day.

I like the chances of Sound Investment here under top conditional jockey Sean Bowen, who steals an extremely handy 7lbs off is mount's back. Sound Investment remains on the same mark as when 2nd to No Buts last time out in a handicap at the Newbury Hennessy meeting and won on his penultimate start off a mark of 142 over this distance. Whilst the winner at Newbury re-opposes on Saturday he has been raised 10lbs and taking into account the jockeys claim there is a 17lbs swing in the weights from that day. Indeed Bowen's claim means that Sound Investment runs on Saturday effectively off his last winning mark. Bowen has delivered the horse to a 2nd place previously so looks to get on well with him and the selection will handle soft and better ground, useful when making a selection in advance. You can still get 12/1 on Sound Investment and that is my idea of an ante-post bet in this race.

The International Hurdle see's Champion Hurdle hopeful The New One back out after his Haydock re-appearance and heading the market at 4/9. Nicky Henderson has Vaniteux and Sign of a Victory engaged against the Nigel TD stable star, however you wouldn't imagine he will run both which will lessen the competitive nature of this race a good deal. However as long as one of the two line up TNO will have to perform well to take victory so we could see a little shortening of his odds for the Champion Hurdle in March if we see an impressive victory on Saturday. Mad Moose may turn up here, you never know though!

Will we see Mad Moose line up, and maybe even run, on Saturday?

The Relkeel Hurdle on the card is a more interesting race, for all it may not have the top end quality of the International. Rock on Ruby, Melodic Rendezvous (although he is engaged over fences on Friday), Dell 'Arca (last seasons Greatwood winner), Garde La Victoire (this years Greatwood winner) and Volnay De Thaix all make the potential line up a really competitive one. I'd take a punt on Dell 'Arca here, who could have served it up to Coneygree last time out at Newbury but for some poor jumps at his fences. Reverting back to the smaller obstacles should help and he has Cheltenham form in the book after his big handicap win last season. He will certainly be fit for a battle and at 12/1 makes a good bit of e/w appeal. Getting involved now, with the dead 12 runners still in, gives us favorable e/w terms to take advantage of.

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at 2.35 looks to probably have the most interesting of entries for the Saturday card, for all betting is not available yet. I've been following the Rebecca Curtis trained Binge Drinker all season and am fascinated to see how he copes with the step up in grade here. Parish Business (highly thought of by Aiden Coleman), Blaklion, Out Sam and Port Melon make for some top potential opposition and there will be plenty to take out of this race for the future.