The News we all feared was confirmed at around 7.30am this morning with the abandonment of the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. A sucker punch for David who had spent hours on in depth analysis yesterday, we can only hope that it's quickly rescheduled and with majority of the field in soft to heavy Going so that all that work is not wasted. David will monitor some of the big field Handicaps later in the week and may appear before the usual Elite day next Saturday, if he feels he can get his teeth into a suitable race. If so, those who have Elite Service only will get the tips on days when David operates.
WELSH NATIONAL now confirmed rearranged for Saturday 9th January 2021
The Fixture at Limerick is also OFF and they inspect again later for tomorrow, Wetherby survives BUT they omit 3 fences and therefore very difficult to analyse and tip there with confidence with the whole structure of many Races compromised.
We looked at the Kempton Card, especially the 3.05 race but it looks tricky and never one of our favourite Tracks so we'll focus on the big Handicap Chase at Leopardstown with Sean.
Looking back at yesterday, a decent place for QUICK PICK and maybe no surprise that one of Micky Hammonds P2P plodders did win the race as we indicated was a possibility in the conditions. Distingo ran well enough at the Odds, pipped for an enhanced 6th in the final strides and looking possibly a top 4 finisher until a mistake at the last, so no complaints and probably outran big odds until that last fence blunder. One I think to keep a close eye on if coming out in 4-6 weeks time in a decent big field Handicap in the South East.
Highlight of the day for all Racing enthusiasts was FRODON, ignore the hard luck stories and the apologists for something allegedly better, it was an outstanding ride from an outstanding rider on an outstandingly brave horse, a run the great Desert Orchid would have been proud of, pillar to post, it was going to win or go out on it's sword fighting and that's what NH is all about in my eyes. What impressed me more to be honest was the way Bryony articulated every aspect of the race within seconds of finishing to Matt Chapman, something some less personable and more arrogant sportsmen and women and indeed Jockey's could take a lesson from. One of those wins that will long live in the memory.
