In attempting to employ a more conservative approach today, given the strength in depth of some of the favourites in some of the more headline races, we possibly erred too much on the side of caution and as such lost a possibly winning day.

Solwhit and Big Bucks were mightily impressive in the hurdle races and What A Friend confirmed the truly fantastic winning performance of Denman in winning the Hennessy from the Lexus winner today. Denman would on the strength of what I have seen today, would be my Gold Cup favourite and while it appears a tad offside to be rubbishing the claims of the imperious Kauto Star, after his demolition of rivals in the King George, that is my honestly held belief.

Moving on to more mundane events, Thundering Home, was a sore winner for Donkeyites away from the headline writers at Southwell. He upped his game significantly on his first two runs, finding the Nottinghamshire surface more to his liking as a son of Storming Home might suggest and while only a length winner, a length is as good as a mile in our world.

Once again, this was a tremendous ride, from the ever impressive Hayley Turner, there can be few better pilots operating today and perhaps as a woman, she does not get the plaudits she deserves. I would have no issue in putting her up on one of mine.

Hope springs for tomorrow,

Don

Don

Humble pie is probably not the most traditional fare served around Christmas, but we were asked to indulge in a significant portion after Noel Meade’s Go Native won the Christmas Hurdle on St, Stephen’s Day at Kempton. Our Diary words were backed with cash, so at least the Christmas pressies had been bought. This was a serious reverse speaking personally.

I felt that an on form Binocular would pick  up and carry the young Irish pretender, but the reality was that the form pick, isn’t the horse that won a Bula at Ascot last season, he simply has not managed a performance of that quality subsequently. His lofty position in the betting for the Champion does now seem to be inappropriate and he seems a horse that may just be shy of the very top class.

Starluck did his ultimate best t0 save 0ur behinds but it was not to be, this was a taking performance from the winner, who travelled supremely well in the race and always looked the most likely winner. Given he is a course and distance winner at  Cheltenham,the are very few flaws in his make-up, I still reckon there are others with more potential, Solwhitt and Hurricane Fly to name two. But he is the form horse.

Don

Don