Review of the day

I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words: It was all well and good me wishing you all a Happy New Year - but did I really mean it ?!

Well, I think the 1 pointers this afternoon, answered that

What a pleasing way to begin the New Year – and it got off to the best possible start, with the very first tip to run: Beware the Bear.

As I said this morning, the key to him, was the blinkers having the desired effect - and boy did they have the desired effect !

I was actually a little concerned when he jumped the first in the lead, that they may have lit him up too much !

That said, he appeared to be travelling and jumping nicely - so I was optimistic that they had just put an edge on him.

And that’s exactly how it turned out.

One by one his rivals tried to close on him - but one by one they gave up an unequal struggle.

He was over 10 lengths clear turning in - and whilst he was definitely starting to tire, as he climbed the final hill, he had enough in reserve to hold of Shanroe Santos.

A tremendous start to the day !

And then things got even better…

As I said this morning, I was very keen on Lostintranslation - mainly because he had ticks in every box - and was facing opponents who didn’t.

He too set off in the lead - but he was stalked throughout by Defi du Seuil.

Unlike Beware the Bear, Lostintranslation never managed to build up a huge lead - and when Defi jumped past him, at the second last, it did look as if it might be game over.

However, Defi had raced freely in the early stages - and I wasn’t entirely convinced that he would get home.

And that’s how it tuned out, with Robbie Power galvanising Lost up the hill - to haul back a tiring Defi…

Great stuff !

Aux Ptits Soins was the final 1pt tip to run on the day - and I did fancy him.

I felt it was simply a question of whether Dan Skelton had manage to get him back to his best, after a promising run at Newbury.

Well, I think we can categorically say that he has !

He cruised through the race - and when Harry said ‘go’ turning in, the race was over in a matter of strides.

He idled a bit on the run-in - but still came home 7 lengths clear of the runner up.

Well I did say he might take the race apart !.

Even at SP, the treble paid over 100/1 - and I’m aware of at least 2 of you who achieved just that - and probably beat SP for good measure !

A very nice way to bring in the new year !

The days 2 other tips were a little mote speculative - and staked accordingly.

Both ran fair races - but ultimately weren’t good enough.

Foxtail Hill led over the first - as I hoped he might - and looked to be going pretty well at half way.

However, Jamie Bargary then seemed to ease off a little (presumably trying to save something for later) and Aso quickly closed up and then took over the lead.

Foxtail Hill hung in there for a little while - but he was never likely to fight back and eventually finished well beaten.

I suspect he wants returning to the minimum trip - over which he might still have a race in him.

Cryus Darius was the final tip on the day - and he also ran a fair race.

He was settled in last - but travelled well enough, until the pace increased after jumping the second last.

That caught him out - and he wasn’t able to make up ground against quickening horses.

Ultimately, he just wasn’t good enough…

That was also the case for the days 2 Mentions: with Upsilon Bleu running poorly at Musselburgh and Alpha Des Obeaux no match for Willies 3 seasonal debutantes at Tramore.

As for the Dobbers;
Like everything else in the race, Thomas Crapper never stood a change against  Beware the Bear - and consequently, he didn’t trade low.

Cyrus Darius just about managed to DOB however, with a BSP of 23 and an IR low of 9.2 (I think !).

All in all, not a bad day

TVB.