Festival Focus - Ryanair Chase 2015

A-Ma-zing - Ma Filleule looks to have a great chance in the Ryanair.

The half way house that is the Ryanair once again looks like being the destination of choice this year for the waifs and strays that aren’t quick enough for the Champion Chase or quite capable of staying the gruelling Gold Cup trip.

However with a couple of second season chasers proving themselves high class performers over the interim distance this season, the race is far from merely just an afterthought of an event for those not capable of cutting it in the championship contests.

With Al Ferof and Dynaste now out of the festival and Champagne Fever seemingly aiming at the Champion Chase the top of the market for this year’s Ryanair now has a very different complexion to a few weeks back.

The reformed Don Cossack rightfully sits at the head of the betting, as he has for much of the season having finally fulfilled the potential we all knew he had.

He’s won four Graded races this season including the Grade 1 John Durkan and has looked impressive each time in doing so.

King George VI Chase 2014 Ante Post Preview

Fill Your Boots - Ma Filleule is the value call in the King George

One of the tropes of the festive season is that after weeks of build-up and anticipation the big moment comes and goes in a matter of minutes, and much like that dawn start on Christmas morning for an excitable child the King George will be over in a flash on a Boxing Day but it will hopefully leave us with that warm wintery glow if we can find the winner.

The world of ante-post betting is rapidly becoming a thing of the past sadly, with most firms pushing favoured horses out to prices greater than they’ve been in the build-up to the race come race day morning.

Current market leaders, and the most likely winners, Silviniaco Conti and Champagne Fever will both almost certainly be available at a similar price or bigger come the day of the race so for the purposes of this preview will be passed over.

The Willie Mullins grey is actually the horse I think will take all the beating in this year’s renewal of the Boxing Day spectacular, but unless you managed to grab some of the fancy prices available about him before his seasonal reappearance or in the immediate aftermath of that victory he’s now surely short enough in the betting at a general 7/2.

If the ground was to come up very testing then the 11/4 on last year’s winner Silviniaco Conti could look a late Christmas gift, however given the forecast that seems unlikely at this stage and Conti now looks like an out and out stayer.

National Hunt Ten To Follow 2014-2015

The Don - Festival winner Don Poli looks set for another big season.

As the 2014 flat turf season enters its twilight thought naturally is turning more and more towards the start of the national hunt season proper.

The coming jumps season has more hype around it than I can ever remember for a national hunt campaign and it might not be misplaced given the plethora of exciting jumpers we have to look forward to this year.

Once again I’m going to try and pick out ten horses that could be in for a big year over obstacles without throwing in the completely obvious ones, because we all know Faugheen’s going to win the Champion Hurdle right?

We’re not in totally under the radar dark horse territory here but in my national hunt ten to follow for 2014-2015 you’ll find ten horses that could be about to enjoy a fruitful season and keep us on the edge of our seat this winter in the process.