This is it - it's Jump Racing's Christmas Eve, the day before the Festival.
Unfortunately, this year is looking like the party has been raided.
The numbers lining-up for the Championship races is down a lot, and even in the handicaps the numbers are reduced. I'm starting to look at revised plans for horses that are not running tomorrow or Wednesday: what are their new targets? Who will be the most likely to line-up on Thursday and Friday? If you can find a definite starter with half-a-chance, you could be able to secure decent odds.
Looking at my selections for the Ultima Handicap Chase that are now running in other races. Paint The Dream has 2 entries on Thursday, the Grade 1 Marsh Novices Chase in which he has virtually no chance, and the Handicap Plate over 2m4f & 127 yards. He's 33/1 for the "Plate" and while I think that's a bit short for him if he runs I will be looking for some decent place odds. The current 8/1 fav for the "Plate" is Farclas, and I'm not surprised at this; he will go close. It looks like Tout Est Permis is running at Down Royal (Ireland) later this week.
for me, the race of the opening day (in my opinion) is the NH Chase: we have some top novice chasers lining-up in Galvin, Escaria Ten, Next Destination and Remastered, and don't overlook the mare (with that 7lb allowance) Snow Leopardess who won the "Rowland Meyrick" handicap on Boxing Day, no less! She's 16/1 and you can get 4-places for this 13-runner race.
Unfortnately, Mengli Khan is a non-runner in the Grand Annual handicap Chase on Wednesday, but the other selection ASHUTOR is still in there and - as expected - stable-companion and top-weight Duc Des Genievres goes and that keeps the weight down for Ashutor.
It looks like I will be playing some of the "without the fav" markets on the Championship races, and in this respect, I quite like Captain Guiness in the "Arkle" at 5/2 w/o Shishkin.
In the Ultima Handicap, I really cannot see the merit behind Happygolucky at 7/2, if he wins then so-be-it, but on-form the fav should be Aye Right, and the only reason I've not tipped Aye Right is that I feel he's not improving but he is consistent. As such, I'm happy with my current selections of Milan Native and Pym, and I will await any market offers in the morning.
Day-3 Thursday is always my favorite day of the Festival, and hopefully the handicaps will hold up on that day and we can get a decent wager in.
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