Following a 9/1 winner last time out, Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's Boxing Day action.
12:45 Kempton
This switch to Kempton for this rearranged Long Walk Hurdle will no doubt benefit MIRANDA (best priced at 4/1) more than her rivals. The Paul Nicholls trained seven-year-old relished the step up in trip to three miles last time over this course and distance winning a mares’ listed hurdle by 11 lengths. She was fitted with first time cheekpieces that day and is completely unexposed at the trip and in headgear.
Both Goshen and Not So Sleepy step up in trip to three miles for the first time but the 1-2 from Newbury, Champ and Paisley Park look a bigger danger to her. Whether this switch to Kempton will suit either of them is debatable and I much prefer the chances of the less exposed Miranda.
15:05 Kempton
The Dan Skelton trained WEST CORK (best priced at 11/2) has been eyecatching on his first two starts over fences and he will no doubt improve for this switch to handicaps. The eight-year-old won the Greatwood Hurdle last season before finishing a close 2nd in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at the end of the season off a mark of 142. He finished 2nd behind Stage Star at Warwick on his chasing debut before finishing last of three in a novice chase behind Jonbon and Monmiral at Warwick over two miles last time.
On both occasions West Cork has jumped right handed so this switch to Kempton should suit him well and he looks well handicapped off a mark of 140. That is 2lbs lower than his mark over hurdles and he should run well under Harry Skelton.
15:40 Kempton
The unexposed GREY DAWNING (best priced at 2/1) makes his handicap hurdle in this race off a mark of 123 and that could seriously underestimate this Dan Skelton trained gelding. The five-year-old has form figures of 1121 in his career and the form of his latest victory at Exeter has been boosted since.
Grey Dawning beat Lallygag by 1 ¼ lengths that day in receipt of 3lbs but that rival has since boosted that form with a 6 ½ length victory at Taunton under a double penalty. He is now rated 131 so an opening handicap mark of 123 looks incredibly lenient and I expect him to prove hard to beat.
