Racing
Ffos Las Place 6 preview | 22nd December
12.40 – Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle – 2m4f
FIRESTREAM displayed good form in bumpers, which included a win and a second alongside two fourth placed efforts. He created a deep impression on his hurdles debut at Chepstow and, with more to offer, Anthony Honeyball’s charge should be competitive here.
RATH GAUL HILL equally looked a good prospect when winning on his hurdles debut very impressively by seven-lengths here last month and is sure to progress with the step up in distance set to suit. He is considered as the main danger to the former in this race.
Selections: FIRESTREAM, RATH GAUL HILL
13.10 – Lucky Chancer Golden Boy Ale ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle – 1m7f
UNCLE BERT ran a promising race when runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Sandown last month behind the potential high-class Colonel Harry, who dominated the race, and a repeat showing with more to come might see this son of Pether’s Moon go one better here. He is a major player.
ALTOBELLI made an impressive debut at Exeter ten months ago in a bumper though, where he travelled well and quickened clear to beat a subsequent winner. He is an exciting prospect for the Harry Fry team and should easily win plenty of races over hurdles. He has undergone a wind operation since last time too.
Selections: UNCLE BERT, ALTOBELLI
13.40 – dragonbet.co.uk Britain’s Newest Betting Site Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2m4f
I have been waiting for Paul Nicholls’ to send COMPLETE UNKNOWN over fences, who has the potential to be very classy in this sphere. He won the EBF Final at Sandown in March and shaped well on his return in a highly-competitive handicap last month. An opening mark of 135 on his chase debut is lenient and I expect him to prove hard to beat.
PENTLAND HILLS was beaten a long way on his chase debut at Cheltenham but that was in a Grade Two event and he has his sights considerably lowered here. This former Grade 1-winning hurdler is worth an experiment over this longer distance and makes his handicap debut off a handy mark, so he should make a bold bid off top-weight being the class act in the field.
Selections: COMPLETE UNKNOWN, PENTLAND HILLS
14.10 – Cazoo Handicap Chase – 2m7f
THE EDGAR WALLACE made a winning start over fences back in November and ran a good race from the front when second off top-weight on his return last month. With that run under his belt, he should go well for the in-form Kim Bailey team here.
NEW AGE DAWNING beat two decent horses here in January and shaped well on his return here last month when fourth. He should strip fitter for the run and the return to this longer trip should be a positive move, so David Pipe’s charge could build on that latest effort here.
Selections: THE EDGAR WALLACE, NEW AGE DAWNING
14.40 – dragonbet.co.uk The Bookmaker Of Wales Handicap Hurdle – 2m4f
Nicky Henderson’s TIME FLIES BY is lightly-raced for his age but he won nicely a couple of months ago to get a confidence-booster win under his belt and he should have more to offer in the handicapping scenario, so he’s a threat to all opponents here.
BLACKO showed good form when formerly trained by Alan King, winning twice, and while he has a lengthy absence to overcome, this six-year-old returns off an attractive mark. If Evan Williams has him ready for this, he could be thereabouts.
Selections: TIME FLIES BY, BLACKO
15.10 – Mumbles Brewery Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – 2m7f
SHESUPINCOURT took a huge step-forward from her previous efforts when second at Bangor last time and probably would have won if her jumping was better in the early stages. I don’t think a four-pound rise is overly damaging and she is likely to give another solid account of herself in what is a weak race.
Selections: SHESUPINCOURT
