Ten to follow update
The festive period has been relatively quiet for our ten to follow with just three runners and none of them hitting the target.
Saphir Du Rheu kicked off in Ascot’s Long Walk
Hurdle the Saturday before Christmas and, to put it bluntly, ran a
stinker. Nicholls immediately sent him off for a breathing operation
with the aim of getting him back in time for the World Hurdle in March.
If he does have a wind problem, his first two runs look very good but
I’m not convinced he’s an out and out stayer. He travelled brilliantly
when winning a Grade 1 at Aintree, has loads of high class 2 ½ mile
hurdle form and just oozes class on the bridle but it may be that we
have to wait for the 2017 Ryanair Chase to see him win at the festival.
Next up was As De Mee in the Kauto Star Novice
Chase on Boxing Day at Kempton. When I did the list this was the race I
had in mind but he hasn’t really looked a Grade 1 chaser yet and
confirmed the impression here behind Tea For Two. He’s in the betting
for the handicap chases at the festival and my best guess is that’s
where he’ll go as he really ought to be very well in off 140, a mark
which will get him into everything in March.
At Naas, Tony Martin’s Anibale Fly ran
in a Grade 1 hurdle finishing a well beaten third to another
Mullins/Wylie hotpot, Bellshill, a horse with high class bumper and
hurdles form. I think JP’s Fairyhouse bumper winner may need a fast run
race to show his best and he could still be top class but I just wonder
if connections might try him in something like the Coral Cup depending
on his mark as the trainer does like to win big handicaps. He loves a
strong pace to run at with horses coming back to him but might be best
covered up in a big field and I can’t think of many jockeys better
suited to that kind of ride than Barry Geraghty.
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