Monday 26 December 2016 17:59, UK
Alex Hammond has three wishes for the New Year and tips Thistlecrack for big-race glory this Christmas.
Long Walk winner Unowhatimeanharry is seemingly carrying all before him in the Stayers' Hurdle division, as we've seen from the likes of Big Buck's and Thistlecrack in recent seasons. Is he the real deal?
Well he's not in their class yet but he's certainly going the right way. Barry Geraghty's immediate reaction was that the horse keeps a bit for himself and isn't the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, so there could be more to come still.
Obviously conditions were grim at Ascot last Saturday and we didn't get a great view of the race, but he beat a decent yardstick in Lil Rockerfeller. I wouldn't be jumping to back him antepost for the Stayers' Hurdle just yet though as there are so many things that could happen and we have to wait and see what direction some of the smart Irish hurdlers are going to take.
One thing is for sure, Harry Fry deserves plenty of credit to improve the horse like he has and if he does end up winning at Cheltenham in March he can be rightly proud of his achievement.
There were farcical scenes at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday with fog making it almost impossible to decipher exactly what went on - did you spot anything through the gloom that could be worth following in the New Year?
Well, like everyone else I didn't see much, but a result that pleased me with an eye to the future was the win of Buveur D'Air in Haydock's novice chase. Nicky Henderson's smart novice hurdler was making his debut over fences and whilst he wasn't flashy, it was a great starting point and there will be improvement to come. He's now a 12/1 shot for the Arkle with Sky Bet behind stablemate Altior, who is 6/4 favourite.
Cue Card is now odds-against for the King George after it was confirmed he'll be taken on by stablemate Thistlecrack - how do you envisage the great race panning out on Boxing Day?
What a race in propect! The race may be short in numbers with just seven entries, but in all honesty it's about the Colin Tizzard duo.
It's unfortunate that Coneygree doesn't run as that would have added some spice to the contest, but it won't detract from the race with the two stablemates going head to head. I didn't really see the need for Thistlecrack to take on Cue Card at this point in the season, but it's obviously an owner's prerogative and with the pair in different ownership I can see why they are taking each other on.
Cue Card looks as good as ever at the age of 10 and did little wrong at Haydock. But I can't help thinking we could see something special from Thistlecrack, despite his inexperience. He's an absolute monster and he has improved with each start over fences. Horses like him don't come along very often and he is already an eight-year-old so he has plenty of life and racing experience.
There is no doubt though that his jumping will come under the greatest scrutiny and he will have to up his game, but although my head says Cue Card, my heart can't get away from Thistlecrack and I hope he can give us something to prolong the Christmas celebrations.
What else are you hoping for this Christmas?
There are a number of horses I'm looking forward to seeing over the Christmas period both in the UK and Ireland. One of my horses to follow this season is the Joseph O'Brien trained juvenile hurdler Landofhopeandglory and he will be out to maintain his unbeaten record in a Grade Two Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. He is currently 7/1 joint favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.
Also on Boxing Day Identity Thief looks on course for a clash with Min in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The former probably needs to step up a bit to beat his slightly less-experienced rival, but it should be a proper test for both.
Sticking with the Irish scene and I love the Lexus Chase where the best of the Irish chasers clash.
Former stablemates Valseur Lido and Djakadam are the protagonists in the market for next Wednesday's big race. I'm a fan of the Willie Mullins-trained Djakadam who did well to win the John Durkan for the second year running on his seasonal reappearance earlier this month. Whether they turn him out again for this remains to be seen, but it will be a good race regardless.
On Tuesday it's the Welsh National which doesn't look like being blighted by desperate ground this year. It's on the soft side at the moment and there are a few showers forecast, but providing there isn't anything out of the ordinary then it shouldn't be a gut-wrenching slog as it sometimes can be.
That won't be music to everyone's ears mind you. The horse I tipped up on a recent podcast with Oli Bell and Michael Shinners was Carole's Destrier and I'm not going to waver from that at this stage as I haven't seen anything to change my mind. The horse was runner up to antepost favourite Native River in the Hennessy and this race looks tailor-made for him.
His trainer Neil Mulholland continues in great form and if there does happen to be a downpour it won't worry this fellow. He's shortened up in the betting since our podcast from a few weeks ago, but he's still double figures at 10/1 with Sky Bet.
If you could have three wishes granted to improve the racing world in 2017, what would they be?
Let's not get too deep or political here, so I'll give you what I'm hoping for in 2017.
1. I'd like to see all the top chasers line up in the Gold Cup. Cheltenham is my favourite meeting in the world and if I was ever lucky enough to own a horse, I'd give my eyeteeth to have one good enough to run at the Festival. To see Thistlecrack, Cue Card, Coneygree, Djakadam, Don Cossack (who should be back in the early part of 2017) et al line up for the blue riband event on March 17 would warm the cockles of my heart, so here's hoping.
2. I have worked at all but three of Britain's racecourses and ought to get off my backside and tick the remaining three off my list. The elusive trio are Ffos Las, Fakenham and Chelmsford. It's only laziness, so I ought to get myself there. I've visited the track at Fakenham whist holidaying in Norfolk and as it's dog friendly and has a caravan site there are no excuses as I could combine my three loves; racing, camping and dogs! Heaven! I'm easily pleased.
3. Racing is a magnificent sport and I hope 2017 sees the industry continue to grow. I fell in love with the sport as a child through my passion for horses and I hope we can continue to attract new faces into this amazing world and show them what it has to offer.
Ultimately, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year and if we can have a few nice priced winners over the next few weeks and months I'll be happy.
