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Formerly known as The Ladbroke, this is normally ultra competitive, and usually won by a decent sort. I have a less than impressive record in it, but it’s race that has inadvertently paid it’s way for me, after I was very impressed by Sternrubin a couple of years back, and going back further, I was blown away by a certain Cause of Causes.
Don’t know whether there’s a future Cause of Causes in there, but there are plenty who appeal with the race a fortnight away……..
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/2/ascot/2017-12-23/689513
First one to catch the eye is actually a stablemate of Cause of Causes, and it’s Mick Jazz. Shaped really well in The Hattons Grace last week, and I got the impression that the trip stretched him. He looks worth a try back in trip, and he’s very much my #1 at the moment. A big handicap like this, looks just right for him.
There’s plenty of others to consider from across The Irish Sea, not least a few from Closutton. Merie Davie ran really well at Fairyhouse last week, only finding a live one too good, and looks very well treated, while Bleu Et Rouge, like Mick Jazz, surely wins a big handicap this season.
Bleu Et Rouge looks a typical JP plot horse, but another in his silks, Charli Parcs, really showed his hand at Newbury last week, and I thought he was very impressive in defeat. The market thinks likewise, and he’s a warm favourite. Clearly a big player, but I can’t help think that The Betfair Hurdle might be the race for him, as much as this looks the likely target, and his mark does look fair. The ones from the Henderson yard that really stand out for me here though, are Lough Derg Spirit, and Verdana Blue, but they’re also very prominent in the betting, and I’d be in no rush to back them right now.
Air Horse One acts well round here, and looked in good heart last week at Newbury, and it’ll fall into place for him soon. He deserves his place near the head of the market.
Of the rest, well quite simply, I find it genuinely difficult to rule out too many of them. Chesterfield is a real favourite of mine, and if forgiving him his run in The Greatwood, he could be the forgotten horse here. He merely trotted round in this last year, and he had a fine end to that campaign. Back down a couple of pounds, and I’m happy to have him on the shortlist at 20’s. It’s his stablemate though, Fergall, who really jumps out at the prices. Third in this last year, and though under pressure, he was still in contention when coming down at the last in The Swinton. He then ran well enough in The Galway Hurdle, making progress towards the end, and he hasn’t been since. This is surely the race he’s been kept for, and I’m scratching my head at the 33’s.
The race is a fortnight away yet, so probably best to bide my time, and as much as I like Mick Jazz, Merie Devie, and Bleu Et Rouge, I think there’ll be plenty of options for the 3 of them over Christmas/New Year in Ireland. Very risky then, but with Mick Jazz, probably just shading it as my #1 at the moment, I’ll keep a close eye on the market with him, and the 14’s does look fair. The 25’s on Bleu Et Rouge looks better though, and he’s close to being risked. Only going to have one early play, and it’ll either be Bleu, or Fergall at 33’s each way.
(Very tentative) Shortlist
Bleu Et Rouge 25’s
Fergall 33’s
Lough Derg Spirit 12’s
Mick Jazz 14’sGL
I badly want to bet Mick Jazz, or the very nicely priced Bleu Et Rouge right now, but it probably makes sense to sacrifice a few points, and see if they actually get declared, even getting declared tomorrow would help. I may add Bleu Et Rouge if he gets declared tomorrow, though I do have The Betfair Hurdle, and particularly The County Hurdle, in the back of my mind for him.
I’m hoping Fergall is a more realistic runner at this stage, and I’ve had my first bet on him at the 33’s Each Way.
I still think he’s risky, but added Blue Et Rouge, win only at 20’s.
After Ballykans withdrawal in The Silver Cup, just happy that Fergall is still there……….for now lol
Personally would be surprised if they through Lostintranslation into this so early in his career. A lovely horse but quite inexperienced for a handicap hurdle of this nature IMO.
Bleu et Rouge would certainly be interesting if showing up…maybe somehting in Ire will stop him going over i am not sure! Mcmanus could have the favourite here anyway. Winnable handicap if you ask me, not the strongest.
I can also see the attraction with Fergall lovely price as well.
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Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!ELGIN and AIR HORSE ONE are the two for me at first glance but won’t be having a bet until Friday when I see what is actually going to run.
Beware an animal called Poppy Kay who could be the big improver in this. Ran well last time behind High Bridge whose form ties in with Elgin Air Horse One and Verdana Blue
Might have an interest at 25/1 even though I said I won’t be betting til Friday Air Horse One is 5 pounds better off with Elgin since that run here 2 starts back but he himself is now over a stone above his last winning mark and that has to make life tough.
Elgin has looked a real nice type this season but he carried 10st8 to victory in the Greatwood (which fell apart) and top weight here is a completely different kettle of fish. He’s justifiably much higher in the handicap than his win here back earlier in the season and don’t forget that victory looked highly unlikely turning in.
I’m not sure what’s going on with Geraghty riding the Mullins horse over Charli Parcs and I don’t fancy Verdana Blue’s chances of defying a mark of 144.
All I’ve done so far is had a little bit on Divin Bere at 14/1 with Corals. I understand the form of the 4 year olds has taken plenty of knocks but he was still a gallant 2nd in the Fred Winter off top weight. He comes here fresh for a new stable and Bryony Frost takes off 5pounds. His mark doesn’t look overly fair but then again he could have bundles of improvement in him and prove a touch above this in due time.
Divin Bere at 14s & Bleu Et Rouge 16s my two pokes at a decent looking renewal of the Ladbroke.
Divin Bere looked to have a pile of improvement in him last season and with Bryony taking off 5 he looks ok handicapped I thought.
Bleu Et Rouge has smart form from his novice hurdle season, and his mark looks more than fair based on that and a few other runs. Was piled into LTO so they must think he’s well handicapped also and with a run under his belt on a bit of better ground he should be there or thereabouts.
Just the one for me, Divin bere cost me a few £ last season and a no show this season, jocked up with bryony on 14/1 is more than enough for me to take the plunge, although not sure if i view the hard switch as a positive or a negative. Should be thereabouts,
Divin bere 14/1 e/w
Charli Parcs ran a blinder the other day, if he improves for that outing FTO for the season should go very close
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One horse for me here and i think he’s a massive e/w chance though getting his nose in front could be a slight issue
Veinard is the ultimate bridle horse but rarely runs a bad race. Jumped as well as i’ve seen him jump last time and was absolutely swinging 2 out but as usual didn’t pick up too well when the jockey got in any way busy.
It was O’Regans first time riding the horse so has a feel now and he has the balls to leave it until the last second and this race looks to have plenty of horses that like to race prominently which should suit lovely.
He looks exposed at the face of it but there’s plenty of his runs in Ireland that wouldn’t be run to suit and i think he is capable of better given a truly run race and for once an Elliott horse hasn’t been hammered by the British handicappers despite him clearly targetting this race having 2 winners and a place in the last 5 years.I’ll have good craic watching it anyway watching O’regan motionless between the last 2, just hopefully he somehow kids him home in front
Good luck Fran, hopefully 2 years in a row for you in this race.
With Bleu Et Rouge going (for now), and being as low as 6’s, I’ll hopefully green out, and top up a couple of quid on Top Othe Ra, who was given a quiet ride out the back last time, having previously been a lot more prominent.
As I’m not at the footy tomorrow, I’ve had a bet in the for interest.
Looks a nightmare of a race for punters but have gone with Charli Parcs at 13/2. Thought Henderson was overly optimistic on his interview on Chapmans On The Line show but then he ran really well last time and would’ve won had he not made an error at the last. I can see him winning this even though Geraghty has jumped ship surprisingly.
Charli Parcs @ 13/2
Air Horse One E/W at 12/1 for me – handicapper isn’t being kind to him but he’s a fave of mine – drop back to 2 miles might help with the weight and he’s a game sort who’s normally in the mix, looks a reasonable price to me
Divin Bere drifted out to 22/1. Don’t know what is going on, but I’ve gone for a small EW bet. Also backed Charli Parcs here.
Not much joy all round on here after this one – Air Horse One ran no kind of race really, fairly prominent early and then dropped away quickly, never in contention.
Did anyone have the winner? Well done to anyone that picked up place money. I’ve done my bollocks today, worst day’s punting for a long time!
Well done whoever backed the winner jack coming over was a sign that a good run should have been on the cards,
Juvenile form from last yesr is nothing short of incredibly poor, charli parcs and divin bere nowhere today
Well we now know why Barry wasn’t on Charli and that this was a field full of horses handicapped right up to the hilt.
Divin Bere was beaten the moment he opened up 25/1 on course and is probably the only horse I’d keep on side this season as I don’t like anything else that was in that race. Elgin and Air Horse One need to come down in the weights, Charli Parcs looks in need of a change and the Mullins horse is too much of an enigma.
Might have an interest at 25/1 even though I said I won’t be betting til Friday 
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