Saturday 29th November 2014

Our newest horse Ebony Express makes his hurdle debut Carlisle tomorrow, it’s a long old journey from Dr Newland’s yard in Worcester but Ebony Express has ran at the track a few times before so we think it should be a nice starting point for him. Like any horse having their first run over timber were just hoping for a nice effort and Ebony to enjoy the experience. The race looks like a fair novice

The Brian Ellison trained Zaidiyn was a 90 rated flat runner and won over hurdles in very good style on his debut whilst is held in very high regard by his trainer. Northside Prince & Scorpions Sting also set a decent level of form and have hurdle experience but hopefully Ebony Express will show some promise and take to his new job.

The Hennessy Gold Cup is the feature race this afternoon, it looks a decent renewal on paper but could turn into a real slog on soft ground, horses will need to stay every yard of the three miles two journey and further.

The Willie Mullins trained Djakadam could be thrown in off his rating and looks to have a solid favourites chance, however he’s not run further than 2m5f so i’m passing him over and looking for horses that handle bad going, are race fit and have proven stamina.

My two against the field both at nice prices are Rocky Creek who was 2^nd in the race last year, is race fit and stays all day long & The Druids Nephew who has the same type of profile but needs to keep his jumping intact. I would much prefer to be with these two in today’s conditions rather than take a gamble on up and coming horses or something that’s not had a run yet this season. Rocky Creek & The Druids Nephew are both priced at 11-1 and should run their races whilst are EW prices.

Over at Towcester in the 2:50 Monty’s Revenge should have every chance, trained by Martin Keighley the horse goes on heavy, stays well and looks in decent form. RPR ratings suggest his rivals have a bit to find with him, priced at 6-4 in a 4 runner race that looks ok but anything could happen at Towcester today on heavy ground, conditions will be extreme to say the least.

I’m not sure about the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, it doesn’t help having the new Betfair valuable hurdle race that was won by The New One just 7 days before this. Why that was formed i’m not sure, all it does is stop the better two mile hurdles from racing against each other and weaken other races.

Irving is the one to beat on paper but had a very heavy fall last time out, the race will be a watching brief for me.