Architect Boxing Day Racing Tips

Broomfield Burg is the clear favourite and rightfully so, given he’d put together two excellent displays in defeat the last twice but the underestimated opponent could come in the form of the Ian Williams-trained ROBELLI (best price 10-1). The six-year-old improved markedly on his debut sixth to open his account at Lingfield when beating subsequent Cheltenham winner, Datsalrightgino, by three-lengths. He was four-lengths behind Hartur D’oudairies on hurdles debut but his effort in defeat was full of promise and it’s interesting connections pitch him into the deep-end here with Johnny Burke in the saddle. He’ll need improvement here, of course, but gets a handy five-pounds from the favourite and therefore could be a lively player at a big price.

The Get Your Ladbrokes 1 Free Bet Today Novices' Limited Handicap Chase looks a really race, especially from a betting perspective and the two I’m going to concentrate on are the Tom Lacey-trained SEBASTOPOL (best price 9-1) and the Nicky Henderson-trained MISTER COFFEY (best price 9-2). 

The former - Sebastopol, who’s prone to finishing second in this sphere, looked as though he was finally going to go one better when travelling strongly and well clear at the time until falling heavily at the final fence last month. His connections have given him a bit of time to get over that departure and I’m not quite sure why the bookmakers have him priced up higher than a few of these, who need improvement. The seven-year-old hasn’t really done much wrong in all of his defeats and it’s good to see Johnny Burke back on board, who has a pretty solid record on him. It’s also worth pointing out that he’s been given some relief by the assessor, dropping him a pound since last time, which is extremely lenient, and assuming he turns up in the same form as he did here last time with a clear round, makes more appeal than the odds would indicate in this. 

I have plenty of respect for Danny Kirwan, who ran a blinder on chase debut at Cheltenham, but Nicky Henderson’s Mister Coffey was the best of these over hurdles and created an excellent impression, despite not winning as the strong favourite, when third on chase debut at Newbury. His jumping was pretty spectacular on the whole and, having looked the winner jumping three out, a lack of fitness seemingly told in the latter stages behind the front pair, who had a run under their belt. His form in finishing fourth behind Tronador at Aintree over this trip - when rated 1Ib higher – certainly indicates that he can be very competitive in this sphere. 

He probably would have won that race as well had he not been denied a clear run twice down the home-straight, while the second and third have significantly boosted the form since, as Edwardstone, who was only a neck in front of him at the finish, subsequently won a Grade One, while the runner-up Dans Le Vent - won the Grade Three Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. His stablemate Bothwell Bridge may go off shorter in the betting due to Nico De Boinville’s decision, but that shouldn’t be taken as a negative as Sean Bowen is a quality rider to have on side and, with further progress on the cards, he gets the nod.  

Onto the feature hurdle race on the card, the Christmas Hurdle and, although this will require a new personal best, I just cannot dismiss last week’s winner for us TRITONIC (best price 7-2), who appeals most against the two that fought out the finish in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. As mentioned in last week’s write-up, this talented four-year-old just isn’t a fan of Cheltenham as he’s three-from-three over hurdles, particularly on flat-tracks. He was heavily-impressive over course-and-distance earlier in the year when taking the Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle by ten-lengths. He’ll need to find the necessary improvement to trouble the front pair, based on official ratings, but his latest win is a fundamental reason to suggest he’s on an upward curve of form and, with a strongly-run affair likely to be on the cards, his potent turn of foot could see him pose a serious threat, especially with connections taking a bold decision to take up this top-level assignment rather than a tilt at a handicap at some point. 

The Harry Fry-trained IF THE CAP FITS (best price 9-2) probably isn’t the force of old but it would be disappointing if he can’t figure prominently in the outcome of the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle with three places on offer. The nine-year-old would undoubtedly eat these for breakfast if back to something near his best, as he’s the only Grade One winner in the field. He has fallen a long way down in the weights and the booking of Lorcan Murtagh is interesting, who can offset three-pounds. A lot of these have something to prove and, while he couldn’t make an impact last time, this is easier and it was on this day last year that he caught the eye to finish third in a Grade One. If he can produce a similar showing here, he could be very competitive. 

The Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase should present a decent chance for the Gavin Cromwell-trained GABYNAKO (best price 2-1) to make amends for his unlucky second in the Drinmore Novice Chase. This six-year-old was a very smart hurdler last term but looks even better over fences and most likely would have claimed his first Grade 1 without pecking the last two fences last-time-out. He jumped well prior to those costly mistakes as he looked to have all the opposition in trouble rounding the home-bend and, despite throwing the race away with a final-fence error, he rallied to take second behind Beacon Edge. If those errors have been ironed out, he should prove hard to beat, especially with his stablemate Vanillier probably better over further and Lifetime Ambition needing improvement to reverse last-time-out form, though should be more suited to these conditions. 

Alan King has been waiting for the right conditions for THE UNIT (best price 10-1) and with the ground hopefully in his favour, the top-weight should be ready to regain the winning threat. The ten-year-old has been doing all of his winning and placed efforts off higher marks in better company than this and drops significantly in grade here. He’s performed well all year in stronger events than today’s assignment, running better than the beaten margins have indicated and it’s interesting Tom Cannon comes here to ride him rather than going elsewhere. This is the easiest race he’s been granted for a long time and, with plenty going for him, he makes plenty of each-way appeal with four places on offer. 

Nicky Henderson is doubly-represented in the finale with who both have excellent chances but preference is for MARIE’S ROCK (best price 9-1) of the pair. This very smart mare won her first three outings for connections, including when successful in a listed event at Taunton. I know she disappointed on her final start last year but her comeback effort when third in another listed affair behind Molly Olly's Wishes was really encouraging and performed beyond market expectations when a staying-on seventh in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last-time-out. In addition, the assessor has reduced her mark four-pounds and she’ll find this drop in grade a lot easier, too. Adrian Heskin is an interesting jockey booking and she looks a serious each-way player.