Get 2022 off to the perfect start by backing VIENNA COURT for the Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase (2.00) at Cheltenham on new Year's Day.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained daughter of Mahler, twice a winner over hurdles, drew a blank from her first seven attempts over fences.
But Vienna Court posted a personal best when stepping up in distance for a mares’ handicap chase over this afternoon’s course and distance 22 days ago.
Sent off at 12-1 in a field of 11, the seven-year-old travelled with ease before being sent to the front by the trainer’s son Sam at the second-last of the 17 fences, eventually slamming Precious Eleanor by 11 lengths.
The handicapper hasn’t taken that performance lying down, and my selection takes on the boys from a 12lb higher mark here.
But there is plenty more to come at this trip, and Vienna Court can stay ahead of her British Horseracing Authority nemesis to win again.
BREWIN’UPASTORM should run like the wind in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (3.10) on Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day card.
Trainer Olly Murphy’s move to bring the son of Milan back over hurdles in the second half of last season - Brewin’upastorm was struggling over fences - has paid rich dividends.
Aidan Coleman’s mount marked his return to the smaller obstacles with a victory in handicap company at Taunton in January, followed by a five-and-a-half-length supremacy over McFabulous in Fontwell Park’s Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle the following month.
Brewin’upastorm underwent breathing surgery after his fifth to Abacadabras in the top-level Aintree Hurdle in April, and looked better than ever when making his comeback on Merseyside at the beginning of November.
Starting at 5-1 for the valuable Betway Hurdle, the nine-year-old still had a firm grip of his bridle when ushered to the front at the final flight, coming home nine lengths to the good of If The Cap Fits.
A reproduction of that form will make Brewin’upastorm very hard to beat here.
Venetia Williams goes into 2022 in top form and L’HOMME PRESSE is expected to defend his unbeaten record over fences in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Novices’ Chase (1.25).
The French native made the perfect start to the discipline with a handicap chase score at Exeter at the start of December, following up in a valuable graduation chase at Ascot 15 days later.
The way L’Homme Presse and Charlie Deutsch dispatched Legends Ryde for a 13-length margin has persuaded his connections to aim high - and the going-places seven-year-old should prove up to the job.
The three-mile Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (2.35) looks wide-open, but MY BOBBY DAZZLER looked tailor-made for the trip at Aintree last time out and shouldn’t be underestimated.
At Musselburgh, TOMMY’S OSCAR looks ripe for a hat-trick despite shouldering top weight in the Betway Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (2.10).
On his last two outings, the Ann Hamilton trainee has followed a 10-length success at Haydock Park with a three-quarter-length call at Doncaster - and there is still more to come.
Losing his footing on the approach to the first fence put GAELIK COAST off his stride at Newbury, but Donald McCain’s seven-year-old is capable of showing his true colours in the Betway “Auld Reekie” Handicap Chase (2.50).
Brewin’upastorm’s stable-companion STRONG GLANCE returned to form with a near-miss at Hereford three weeks ago and a 2lb rise should not stop another good account in the Betway Hair Of The Dog Handicap Hurdle (1.40).
Whether two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero AL BOUM PHOTO can get his title back in March is another matter, but a fourth consecutive triumph surely beckons in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase (2.20) at Tramore.
Saturday tips
FAIRYHOUSE
11.50 HUBRISKO
12.20 MOTOWN MAGGIE
12.55 MR JACKMAN
1.30 NICOLE’S MILAN
2.05 MY NEWBROOK ROSE
2.40 ELIMAY
3.15 JUNGLE BOOGIE
3.45 GETAWAY CHARLIE
CHELTENHAM
12.15 HILLCREST
12.50 DESTINEE ROYALE
1.25 L’HOMME PRESSE
2.00 VIENNA COURT (NB)
2.35 MY BOBBY DAZZLER
3.10 BREWIN’UPASTORM
3.50 ILIADE ALLEN
CATTERICK BRIDGE
12.25 ASK THE DOC
1.00 FAME AND HOPE
1.35 TOMMIE BEAU
2.15 SOCIALIST AGENDA
2.45 SPOT ON SOPH
3.20 EX S’ELANCE
MUSSELBURGH
12.30 COLLINGHAM
1.05 PITEMPTON POWER
1.40 STRONG GLANCE
2.10 TOMMY’S OSCAR
2.50 GAELIK COAST
3.25 MORRAMAN
SOUTHWELL
12.33 MASQOOL
1.08 NINE ELMS
1.43 HECTOR’S HERE
2.18 ARRIVISTE
2.53 WHITEANDBLUE
3.28 ROVANIEMI
4.00 KING OF THE SOUTH
4.30 THE THIN BLUE LINE (NAP)
EXETER
12.40 BROKEN HALO
1.15 DUBROVNIK HARRY
1.50 GAMARET
2.25 SAMUEL JACKSON
3.00 KEEP ROLLING
3.35 NIKAP
4.05 BEN BULBEN
FAKENHAM
12.45 SUMMIT LIKE HERBIE
1.20 MENIN GATE
1.55 JONY MAX
2.30 RAY’S THE ONE
3.05 BARDEN BELLA
3.40 HENSCHKE
TRAMORE
2.20 AL BOUM PHOTO
DOUBLE: THE THIN BLUE LINE and VIENNA COURT
