myracing.com Road To Cheltenham 19th December 2016

It is officially Christmas week and that means we have some massive racing to look forward to over the festive period. Read on to find out what happened over the past seven days and see if we can help you find some ante post selections in the process. Follow us on Twitter and our Channel 4 Racing previews are live every Tuesday with tips to follow every Friday evening.

This Week’s Racing

The hugely anticipated King George VI Chase will be held on Boxing Day and news has just filtered through that Cue Card and Thistlecrack will clash in the monster race at Kempton. The Irish could be represented by Outlander whilst Josses Hill has been supplemented for the race. The other big race held on the same day is the Christmas Hurdle which should see the return of Faugheen. He could take on Yanworth and recent International Hurdle winner The New One in a thrilling renewal.

Cue Card & Thistlecrack will go Head to Head!

Performance Of The Week – Death Duty

The Willie Mullins trained Invitation Only was sent off a warm order for the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle but it was the Gigginstown House Stud runner Death Duty who was the star of the show. He tracked the leader Monalee throughout, made a slight mistake at the 8th hurdle but came there tanking turning for home and asserted two out, winning by 3.75 lengths. He is now the solid 3/1 favourite to win the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Cheltenham Festival Notes

• Paul Nicholls’ Le Prezien is now 22/1 for the Arkle and 20/1 for the JLT Novices’ Chase after beating L’Ami Serge comfortably at Newbury on Wednesday.
• Camelia De Cotte is now 8/1 for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle, running out a 15 length winner at Tramore on her debut for Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci.
• Capitaine was a surprise winner of the Supreme Trial at Ascot for Paul Nicholls and is now 25/1 to land the race in March. Lough Derg Spirit was the major disappointment of the contest.
• Politologue produced a flawless round of jumping to win a Grade 2 at Ascot and is now 20/1 for the JLT Novices’ Chase.
• The Nicky Henderson trained Top Notch is 20/1 for Arkle success and 25/1 for the JLT Novices’ Chase after an impressive success at Ascot.
• The World Hurdle now has a strong 5/2 favourite as Unowhatimeanharry ran out a comfortable winner of the Long Walk Hurdle. This was made easier when Ballyoptic fell at the last when upsides the winner.
• Brain Power was a very impressive winner of the Wessex Hurdle and is now 25/1 for this seasons’ Champion Hurdle. He will be severely hit by the handicapper so the County Hurdle may not be an option for Nicky Henderson.
• Nicky’s Buveur D’Air has been cut for the Arkle after making a flying start to his chase career over fences at Haydock.
• Willie Mullins’ Yorkhill also got his chasing career off to the perfect start, running out a 14 length winner at Fairyhouse.

Our Road To Cheltenham Series started on 14th November and we will bring you all the latest ante-post Cheltenham Festival news every Monday, bringing you a round up of the previous week’s racing.

14th November 2016 Article

21st November 2016 Article

28th November 2016 Article

5th December 2016 Article

12th December 2016 Article