I’ll sign off for the year tomorrow with two bets in the last ‘Saturday Selections’ column of 2019. It’s been an up and down year with a couple of longish losing runs but we’ll finish with a decent profit to advised prices at levels stakes, which is my overall long-term aim.
Followers of the column will remember SOUL EMOTION (Newbury 1.50 – 12/1 Coral, Ladbrokes, William Hill) being tipped up for a similar event at the same course at the end of November. On that occasion he ran well before fading before the third last. He’d been off for a year before that and, although I thought he was worth chancing fresh, he would be entitled to come on form it and I’m happy to go in again with that run under his belt. He’s dropped 3lbs in the handicap but will still have a test off top weight here. I do think he retains potential and is worth keeping on the right side for the time being.
For the final bet of the year I think KEMBOY (Leopardstown 3.10 – 15/8 generally) looks a bigger price than he should be. He’s had a lengthier absence than his trainer had probably planned after an issue between his owners, the Supreme Racing Club, and the Irish authorities precluded him being entered for races. That is now resolved and he runs here as the starting point for what could be an exciting campaign, at the heart of which will be a Gold Cup bid where he’ll look to atone for the first fence unseat in last year’s race.
This will not be a gimme as a race-fit Presenting Percy could be a formidable rival while Delta Work is one that Elliott could be slowly bringing to the boil. Road To Respect is also entitled to go close. But Kemboy is unbeaten in the last 6 chases where he’s completed (only that Cheltenham unseat spoiling his record during that run) and his level of form can be rated about half a stone superior to the best of the rest of these. I think he’ll take all the beating if getting round and he’s a confident selection to finish off the year for us in style.
If you’ve been following all year, I hope you’ve been on and have kept the faith. I’ll be looking to ensure 2020 is another successful and profitable year so I hope you keep following our free column very Saturday (published on Friday nights).
Happy New Year when it comes!
David