Saturday 30th December 2017

It was a shame to see Faugheen run no sort of race yesterday. I suppose Willie Mullins will be hoping he might have a bug that’s stopping his horses. The yard has had a lot of beaten favourites over the past few days.

I wasn’t surprised by the performance of Faugheen and I hope a reason is found. However, I dare say it won’t be. I’ve mentioned numerous times in the past few months, it’s rare horses come back from leg injures as per Faugheen’s. They tend to have one big run left in them. 99% of the time that’s first time out.

Nobody likes to see great horses like Faugheen run like that. The only consolation is I really hope you took the advice and backed Buveur D’Air at odds of 7-1 and downwards when highlighted numerous times in the past few months. I’ve said from the word go Faugheen was unlikely to make the Champion Hurdle and Buveur D’Air should have been odds on. He’s now priced at 1-3, the only danger is him not getting to the Festival.

We have our last runner of 2017 in the future race at Haydock today. West Of The Edge runs in the The Last Fling Handicap Chase at 2:10. It’s a great way to finish the year with another big Saturday runner.

West Of The Edge ran below par at Catterick last time out but conditions went against him. He doesn’t have the pace for good ground. Running at Catterick was a last-minute decision as the Kelso Borders National was called off.

It will require a career best today from West Of The Edge. He was rated 101 when we purchased him and is now 128, 27lb higher. However, he enjoys a stamina test and todays race will be gruelling. I dare say few horses will finish this race.

Lessons in Milan & Emperor’s Choice look sure go well, their form of 5^th in the Scottish National & 5^th in the Eider Chase is the best on offer.