Saturday sees five UK and Irish horse racing meetings going to post throughout the day, and the feature card comes from Ascot where the Grade One Marsh Hurdle – otherwise known as the Long Walk Hurdle – takes centre-stage on a classy six-race card at the Berkshire track.
Meanwhile, up at Haydock it is Tommy Whittle Chase day, and the competitive handicap dominates an excellent card on Merseyside where Listed action is also on the agenda.
There is also further jumps racing from Newcastle, as well as from Thurles in Ireland where Listed action is on the card; and the day is completed by an all-weather fixture from Lingfield’s polytrack surface.
Lingfield (flat, aw) – 11.45 – 3.10pm (7 races)
Haydock (jumps) – 11.50 – 3.15pm (7 races)
Newcastle (jumps) – 12.00 – 3.20pm (7 races)
Thurles (jumps) – 12.10 – 3.40pm (7 races)
Ascot (jumps) – 12.40 – 3.35pm (6 races)
BRIAN HEALY’S NAP OF THE DAY FOR SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER
LINGFIELD TIPS
(12.20) LALANIA (5/2, William Hill) had proven herself to be a fair sort for Stuart Williams, often making the frame in her starts, and the Kheleyf filly rounded off her time with that yard with a win at Chelmford last month, beating Roundabout Magic by one length.
Now trained by William Stone, she makes his first start for her new handler where a 4lbs rise for that last success could still prove workable, and she should continue to remain competitive here.
She may well find some improvement for the switch in yard, and with record-breaking Hollie Doyle in the saddle then she could go close here.
(2.00) Lightly-raced DUBAI WARRIOR (6/4, Coral) has won three of his five career starts to date, with them all coming on the all-weather at Chelmsford and Kempton, and the Dansili colt can enhance his fine strike-rate with another success.
John Gosden’s charge won his first two starts either side of a break, scoring on debut at Chelmsford and following up at Kempton ten months later; he was subsequently thwarted in his hat-trick bid returned to Chelmsford, but got back on the winning trail at the same track following a lacklustre run on turf in France.
His latest outing saw him score a half-length verdict over Kasbaan latest, holding on well having been kicked clear, and that form has been boosted by the third horse home winning next time out. He is only 4lbs higher here, and he could have better still to come so is taken to strike again given his record on this surface.
11.45 – Katherine Place
12.20 – Lalania
12.55 – Rhubarb Bikini
1.30 – Rock On Baileys
2.00 – Dubai Warrior
2.35 – Entangling
3.10 – Accessor
Lingfield race on Friday
HAYDOCK TIPS
(1.00) EARLY MORNING RAIN (9/2, Bet365) had the reopposing Deja Vue behind when making a winning hurdling debut back from a break at Fontwell last month, and Jamie Snowden’s charge could confirm that form here despite her old rival showing improved form since.
The Martaline mare strugged in Listed company on better ground on her next outing at Newbury behind Floressa, but quickly took advantage of a drop to easier company to run out an easy winner over Rose Of Aghaboe at Lingfield latest.
That success came in heavy ground, and a repeat of that effort could be good enough to deny Anthony Honeyball’s rival a hat-trick in what looks a very competitive contest.
(3.15) CAPTAIN MOIRETTE (5/1, Ladbrokes) could be worth chancing switching back to hurdling having run well on both starts over fences this campaign, and Sue Smith’s charge can resume winning ways.
The Kap Rock gelding won twice last term over hurdles, scoring at Catterick in February before following up in soft ground over two miles at this venue, and he was probably flying too high in the Scottish Champion Hurdle on his next start.
Following a break, he returned to action with a solid third over timber at Wetherby behind Antunes before shaping with promise switched to chasing in starts at Uttoxeter and Catterick, finding only one too good when last seen.
He is back over hurdle here where he could be fairly treated off his 130 rating, and likely to handle these heavy conditions he can get back on the scoresheet to give his yard a much-needed shot in the arm.
11.50 – Fin And Game
12.25 – Precious Cargo
12.55 – Early Morning Rain
1.35 – Chambard
2.05 – Big Shark
2.40 – The Hollow Ginge
3.15 – Captain Moirette
THURLES TIPS
(1.20) CHARLIE STOUT (SP) has shown improved form back chasing, making the frame in each of his last five starts which includes a win at Galway in September, and Shane Nolan’s charge can continue to find improvement in this discipline.
The Spadoun gelding ran out a narrow winner over Stormey for his success at Ballybrit in the autumn, but he has finished runner-up and third in his two subsequent outings and wasn’t beaten far behind Debuchet latest.
That form looks decent, and back up in trip for this latest outing where he can compete from the same mark then he ought to continue to remain competitive and he can get back to winning ways at a venue where he has won in the past.
(3.05) KALLI’S QUEST (SP) was a winner between the flags back in January, and Thomas O’Brien’s charge has shaped well on both runs over hurdles following a break, getting off the mark here last month with a defeat of My Midnight.
The Kalanisi mare ran out a three lengths winner on that occasion, scoring readily, and the runner-up has contested at Listed level since so the form could prove useful.
This looks tougher, but she is unexposed and could have better still to come, so she is chanced to improve again to follow up here having won over course and distance last time.
12.10 – Max Dynamite
12.45 – Mossy White
1.20 – Charlie Stout
1.55 – Drury
2.30 – De Mazzaro
3.05 – Kalli’s Quest
3.40 – General Counsel
Max Dynamite can strike back over hurdles at Thurles.
NEWCASTLE TIPS
(12.30) OVERAWED (10/3, William Hill) arrives here on a hat-trick of wins, and while this represents a tougher test than she’s taken in to date, the Overbury mare looks worth siding with to land her three-timer.
John Groucott’s charge has taken her form up a notch with wins at Uttoxeter and Ludlow this month, both in soft ground, and she latterly struck readily by five lengths from Mr Palmtree.
That form has since been franked by the fourth winning next time out, and while a 9lbs rise in the weights forces her into a stronger contest, she could be worth keeping onside in the hope that she can continue her good run of form to strike again.
(1.40) GLITTERING LOVE (4/1, William Hill) conceded race-fitness to this field, but Nicky Richards’ charge can make a winning reappearance nonetheless, and the Winged Love gelding was progressive last term over fences where he won all four starts over the larger obstacles.
A multiple winner in the point-to-point sphere, he cut little ice in bumpers and over hurdles; but having been switched to chasing last term, he has taken his form up a notch and he latterly ran out a five lengths’ victor over Capard King in testing ground at Ayr back in March.
He hasn’t been seen out since, but he won first time up last term and he turns out here from an 11lbs higher mark which will demand a shade more from him. But, the form of that last win has worked out quite well, and he ought to make his presence felt on his reappearance if fully wound up so it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him continue his progress despite his absence.
12.00 – Starplex
12.30 – Overawed
1.05 – Banks O’ Houxty
1.40 – Glittering Love
2.15 – Amberose
2.50 – Ettila De Sivola
3.20 – Brickadank
ASCOT TIPS
(1.15) RIDERS ONTHE STORM (13/8, Unibet) allayed some doubts over his jumping when running out a cosy winner on his first start for Nigel Twiston-Davies at Aintree last month, and the Scorpion gelding can build on that outing to double up.
A useful sort in Ireland for Tom Taafe, winning at Punchestown back in February, he failed to complete the course behind A Plus Tard in the Close Brothers’ Chase when falling, and he possibly still felt the effects of that exit when pulled up behind Impact Factor on his last outing of the campaign at Fairyhouse before joining this yard.
A heavy ground hurdles winner, he won a shade comfortably at Aintree latest, beating Cepage by two lengths, and that form is useful with the runner-up going on to finish fourth in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, while the third won next time out with a defeat of Kalashnikov in a hot contest at Newbury.
He jumped more fluently than had been the case previously, and while this is a tougher assignment he can continue to show improvement for his new yard to strike again.
(3.00) JERRYSBACK (7/1, BetVictor) may have needed his first run back following nine months off the track when beating only four rivals home behind Bennys King at Newbury last month, and Philip Hobbs’ charge can improve for that outing to do better here.
The Jeremy gelding was a point-to-point winner in Ireland for Colin Bowe prior to joining this yard, and he won both starts over hurdles following his switch to this yard which included in heavy ground. He was subsequently absent for 633 days following his second win at Wetherby, and he stepped up on his reppearance at Cheltenham to score at Bangor last December with a defeat of Mulcahys Hill.
Back-to-back silver medals followed, including here in the Noel Novices’ Chase behind Vinndication, and at Haydock behind Castafiore; and he ran well in defeat behind Le Breuil in the National Hunt Chase where he finished third in that attritional contest.
Sure to prove sharper for his reappearance, he ought to prove a different proposition now and he’s 2lbs lower in the weights than for his reappearance so it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him post a bold bid on his second outing of the season.
12.40 – Pemberley
1.15 – Riders Onthe Storm
1.50 – First Flow
2.25 – Paisley Park
3.00 – Jerrysback
3.35 – Umbrigado
Jerrysback can win at Ascot on Saturday.
BRIAN HEALY’S BEST BETS FOR SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER
12.20 Lingfield – LALANIA (5/2, William Hill)
12.30 Newcastle – OVERAWED (10/3, William Hill)
1.00 Haydock – EARLY MORNING RAIN (9/2, Bet365)
1.15 Ascot – RIDERS ONTHE STORM (13/8, Unibet)
1.20 Thurles – CHARLIE STOUT (SP)
1.40 Newcastle – GLITTERING LOVE (4/1, William Hill)
2.00 Lingfield – DUBAI WARRIOR (6/4, Coral)
3.00 Ascot – JERRYSBACK (7/1, BetVictor)
3.05 Thurles – KALLI’S QUEST (SP)
3.15 Haydock – CAPTAIN MOIRETTE (5/1, Ladbrokes)