With limited suitable racing on Friday - and none on Sunday - it was a rare one day ‘weekend’.
And quite welcome too, with the Christmas excesses sat on the horizon !
Saturday
There were good cards at both Ascot and Haydock.
I was expecting the ground to be significantly softer at Haydock, than at Ascot - but I’m not convinced it was…
Getting reasonable early prices was a bit of a challenge - but I eventually ended up with 3 Best bets on the day, supported by quite a few for the Matrix.
The first one to run was Chti Balko at Haydock - and I was very keen on him.
In fact, I felt he was virtually an even money shot - so at 9/4, looked a very good bet.
However, that was on the assumption that the ground at Haydock would be borderline heavy - and I don’t think it was.
It looked to me that it was no worse than soft - and whilst he ran well, he was ultimately outspeeded by the ex. Flat horse, Green Book.
It was a disappointing start to the day, even if I still believe he was a good bet !
Knight in Dubai was the second Best bet to run, at Ascot - and whilst I didn’t fancy him quite as much as Chti Balko - there wasn’t a lot in it !
Again, I struggled to see him not running a huge race - it was just a question of whether he would be good enough to win…
In the early stages it was obvious that he was full of himself - and after 5 fences, he took up the running (which I doubt was the plan !).
He travelled beautifully to the home turn - but when pressure was applied, it soon became obvious that he had done a bit too much, too soon…
Diego de Charnil and Palmer Hill went past him - and he could only run at one pace, to claim a distant third.
I also covered Ornua for the Matrix, in case he managed to get an uncontested lead.
However, he was a big late drifter - and whilst he did lead very early, his chance was gone, once Knight in Dubai passed him…
Enqarde was the final Best bet of the day, back at Haydock - but I didn’t fancy him anywhere near as much as the other 2.
He was more of a value play against the favourite, Remastered - who I felt might be vulnerable, following a heavy fall last time.
Turning in, Remastered was matching strides with Calipso Collonges, with Enqarde back in third.
It soon became clear that Remastered was getting the better of his dual - the question was simply whether Enqarde could pick him up…
I felt that we’d been in the same position numerous times already this season - and the result had always been the same.
But not this time !
Enqarde challenged between the final 2 fences - jumped the last a couple of lengths clear - and galloped strongly to the line.
Hurray !
I’d covered Remastered for the Matrix - along with Acey Milan (who also ran quite well - but weakened late on).
So at last, a winning Best bet
There were a few other bets for the Matrix, at Ascot….
Ronald Pump was the first of them - but he ran too freely in the Long Walk and weakened up the home straight.
Champ was an impressive winner of the race - and deserves his place near the head of the betting for the Stayers hurdle.
I took Belami des Pictons and Annsam against the field in the Silver Cup.
I did briefly consider making Belami a Best bet - but had a niggling doubt (and the price wasn’t where I wanted !).
Ultimately, it was a good call to swerve him, as he didn’t get home.
It was also a good call to include Annsam, as he galloped on powerfully to withstand the challenge of Phoenix Way.
The final bets of the day were in the Betfair exchange hurdle - but simply, I had read the race wrong.
I went with No Ordinary Joe, Benson and Drop the Anchor - but the first named ran too freely and dropped away tamely in the home straight; whilst the latter 2 never featured.
Still, at least Enqarde won - along with Annsam - putting us in a much better place, for the start of the Christmas period.
Merry Christmas everyone
TVB.
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