With racing everywhere, Matty Sutcliffe has got to revising early. He has five best bets for the 27th December, all available at double-figure prices.
1:05 Chepstow – Coral ‘We’re Here For It’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Can You Call 16/1 1pt WIN
Connections won this with Golden Whisky in 2021 and this looks the right opportunity for CAN YOU CALL to bounce back to form. He’s winless since December 2021 but he’s only a pound above that last winning mark and his second to The King Of Ryhope over C&D here last October reads well. He had both Nocte Volatus and Georges Saint well beaten in behind that day and is 7lbs and 16lbs better off with those respectively.
While he was well beaten by Nocte Volatus over C&D in October, that was his first run from a wind op and he fared much better when a sixteen length fifth over C&D next time out. That was suited those to the fore and he made steady progress in rear shaping still as if not quite primed, so with those two runs behind him i’d expect him to ready here and while he can flatter to deceive, he was only two lengths behind the subsequent winner Jet Plane three starts ago off a 7lbs higher mark, so he’s weighted to go well if on song.
1:10 Leopardstown Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) Gentleman De Mee 33/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
It’s plausible to draw a line through GENTLEMAN DE MEE‘s comeback run at Navan last time out, as the majority of Willie Mullins’ horses were needing the run in November due to a dry winter thus his deep gallop preventing them from getting fit enough for the races.
He was sent off just 11/2 for this last season when going off too hard in front under Paul Townend, beaten seven lengths into second giving 7lbs to the winner in Dinoblue. Townend unsurprisingly jumps ship for Gaelic Warrior this time around, but that one looks awfully short for his first go in open company on seasonal debut. Danny Mullins takes the ride on Gentleman De Mel which is a positive booking given he won on the horse in the G1 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown in 2023 (career best RPR of 170).
He is prone to blowing out in his races, but when on song he’s capable of top form and if Danny Mullins can get him jumping and settled in a nice rhythm early on, he can show up well with match practice and favourable ground to boot.
2:10 Chepstow – Coral ‘Daily Rewards Shaker’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) – Dans Le Vent 25/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
DANS LE VENT was a speculative selection for us at Haydock last time out over what I thought might be an inadequate trip, and while I also suggested that a strong gallop on soft ground would play into his stamina, he was ultimately given too much to do in rear on ground probably soft enough for him.
That said, he ran a race full of promise to be beaten just nine lengths into sixth given it generally favoured those to the fore and this is a significantly weaker contest. Crucially, this step back up in trip will suit him given his best effort came when winning the Betfair Exchange Stayers Hurdle over three miles at Haydock in 2021 and his career best RPR came over 2m7 1/2F at Sandown in the competitive G3 Heroes Handicap.
He’s evidently had issues to be off the track for 573 days, but both of his recent runs have been promising and if he’s fit and ready to go, he’ll take some stopping off this mark of 123 given he performed consistently off 142 in his prime for a yard who won this in 2018.
2:30 Kempton – Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap Chase) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Editeur Du Gite 12/1 1pt WIN
It’ll either be boom or bust for EDITEUR DU GITE in his hat trick bid for the Desert Orchid, and he can be forgiven after making a bad error at the water jump in Cheltenham last time out. He may be long in the tooth now and has shown next to nothing in his two starts this season, but it was a similar case last year having been beaten 32L at Exeter and 43L at Cheltenham en-route to back-to-back successes in this contest, where he took full advantage of it becoming a handicap.
He returns 9lbs lower this time around, and Gary Moore’s unlikely to leave him short for this. He obviously requires plenty of faith, but that was the case last term and I’m happy to retain it at generous odds to complete the hat-trick.
2:50 Chepstow Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Run In Memory Of Kim Gingell) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo+) Iwilldoit 12/1 1pt WIN
We’re in a good position with our ante-post selection on Monbeg Genius who’s now been punted into favouritism with the omission of Mr Vango and Nassalam, but as I pointed out in the column it may be wise to be on the side of a former winner in IWILLDOIT, who has the valuable services of talented 7lbs claimer Callum Pritchard. While he would have to carry 14lbs more this time around, he is back on his last winning mark when taking the Classic Chase at Warwick in 2023. Four of the last ten winners of the race were claimer ridden and 9/10 had course form which bodes well, with his overall course form over fences reading 113. He was a good third in the race last season behind the freak winner Nassalam in treacherous conditions, and he’s one of a few who are guaranteed to run a solid race.
The fresh angle is of no concern given he’s won from 226 and 383 day breaks, and Sam Thomas is unlikely to have left him short for this reappearance, unless the Classic Chase at Warwick is the main aim.
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