Saturday 6th December 2025

[yorick]

Saturday 6th December 2025

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I’ve just caught my first whiff of the festive season. With the earnest but freshly-foraged Christmas wreath adorning the front door, our tiny garden tidied and resting, the cats purring into a full 18 hours a day slumbering, we ready ourselves for the longest night. ‘Tis the time for winter comforts and a snug solstice. Festive indeed; I’ve even enjoyed my first star-adorned mince pie.

Before I slink into my slippers, though, I’m off to Dublin on Wednesday to fulfil a pledge me and my Palace-supporting mate made when the Glaziers won the FA Cup: to watch at least one away European fixture. So off we jolly well go. We’ve no tickets but the craic’s the thing. Hey-ho!

So, the NH season is in full swing and I’m loving it. This coincides with a change of approach.. Recently I’ve been betting very rarely and being much more selective. Invariably, that involves concentrating on the better class weekend fare. Meanwhile, the list has been building and I see three of my horses are running on what is a packed day (danger). I’ll make this three my main bets and add some more ‘sporting’ fancies.

My main trio with some comments gleaned from my notes:


Kilbarry Hill – Wetherby 12.17 2/1 Win

‘This a decent intro to fences on a course that provides a proper test. His jumping was good, I thought and it looked like he’d improve after this run and strip that much fitter next time out. I’m thinking that the distance here was about right.’

I’m trusting that connections feel it’s right to go up in distance.

Starcrossed Lover - Chepstow 12.29 16/1 Ew

‘A very nice debut over fences, I think. His jumping was sound and he travelled well until tiring. He needed this and he can win off his current mark, maybe over further, who knows?’

So, he’s upped in trip here and a decent Ew price, though I’m sure they’ll be a Nr to bring the places down to just two.


Collectors Item – Chepstow 1.36 28/1 Ew

I’ve been on this fellow’s case for some time:

08/12/23 Sandown 3m Soft Class 3) H/cap chase 3m37y Soft

A lightly-raced 6yo, he’s only had 8 rules races and just 2 chases previous to this. Really, it was quite remarkable how much ground he made up at the end: a wet sail indeed.

‘They’ve turned to chasing very quickly and he may well be worth following over 3m and maybe marathon trips; he does look like a right stayer to me although, it must be said, the breeding wouldn’t suggest so.

Just a note. He went to Uttoxeter in March last over 3m hurdles, where he stayed on. It made me think that the Midlands National might be possible. Trainers says the horse needs softer ground.’

It’s still true to say that they haven’t over-raced this gelding and it does seem that he’s a marathon boy. I had him pencilled in for the Welsh National (WN) It may still be that this is a WN prep but I won’t forget him running Mr Vango to 2L on this very day in last year’s Sandown London National. He looks a fair Ew bet.

3 x Singles
Ew Trixie

Elsewhere, I’ll have a little look at:

Visual Impact – Wetherby 1.25 0/30

Galia Des Liteaux – Aintree 2.40 13/2

Tanganyka – Sandown 3.35 9/2

Ew Patent



Good luck.

 

[Outsider]

I'm a fan of collectors item but with the O'Neil stable being closed for a while and no need to get a penalty I left it out today.
Also I didn't expect the winner to be trying today.

 

[yorick]

CI had a hard race there and well done Brogan for the all-the-way ride: so strong.

I think they were on it today and it nearly came off. A lovely price for me at 28/1.
Got paid on the 3rd for Kilbarry Hill so the ew trixie paid for itself and a nice place price means great fun for no expense which does me fine, mate.

 

[Euronymous]

Venetia Williams is the Amorim of trainers. The odd good result but generally hopeless.

 

[yorick]

At the moment the stable's as much use as a one-legged man at an arse-kicking party; terrible form