It is hard to see Mr Pumblechook not winning this with a clear round but there are 2 places at least up for offer if it does, and I am not convinced that Via Vittoria is great value, so will go in search of some P2P form at big Odds, which I prefer in these conditions over National Hunt Flat (Bumper form). Three In One comes from a specialist P2P background and would be no surprise the see this place but best form is on Good ground so narrowly discarded.

 

Of my 3 picks I would be most confident about SOARLIKEANEAGLE at around 25/1, it has a P2P win and runs well in beating a horse called Captains Run, now with Phillip Hobbs who was unsuccessful but quite highly tried on Rules debut in a decent race at Newbury. Hobbs has intimated he likes his recruit and on collateral form that makes SOARLIKEANEAGLE of interest here. I will have smaller stakes on WITCHES GLEN who has regularly placed in P2P races, not a lot that it has beaten has come to Rules as yet, but clearly has some ability and this is a dire race. May be that the most interesting is the most speculative and that is VETONCALL has done little under Rules so far but if you delve deep in to fairly recent P2P form you will see it finished within 5 lengths and gave a solid test to a Kim Bailey recruit called ROSMUC RELAY who was impressive in winning a pair of Novice Hurdles early in 2018 and who would be very much Odds on in this field, if VETONCALL replicated that run, I would suggest would be similarly adjacent to today's Odds On favourite Mr Pumblechook.

 

(This is speculative betting, it has proven a golden seam for us in past 2 seasons and again paying early rewards each way this winter - it is absolutely vital to back each way - non of this win only bravado when backing at big odds v Odds On favourites; if we keep chipping away we will find some big winners and some very rewarding placed Odds too, like yesterday and very recently.

 

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On an awful day of Racing I am intrigued with the busy Christmas/New Year programme coming up and the ground deteriorating at just the right time that Venetia Williams runs CHAMBARD + MIXCHEVIOUS after 3 and 8 day breaks respectively. Both will have benefited from recent runs and these are ideal conditions for her horses, I will venture a small each way double. (from Robin Taylor)