New Year’s Day’s best bets, by Tony Paley
Most eyes will be trained on Cheltenham where the racing is of excellent quality but that card is ultra competitive and there are opportunities elsewhere among the five other cards. In the feature race at Southwell today Dungannon, a horse with no experience of the surface, looks a favourite worth taking on. Poyle Vinnie (2.40), who has form on Fibresand, has posted two good performances on his most recent outings over course and distance and looks set to take advantage if Dungannon doesn’t run up to his best on his first taste of the Southwell sand.
At Musselburgh in the televised handicap chase, Viva Colonia (1.35) looks to have been trained with this race in mind and should give a good account of himself. He was runner-up last year and is on a 4lb lower mark and while there’s not much to shout about with regard to his recent form he is a dual course-and-distance winner and a return to this track could well bring about the required improvement.
You can read my round up of the action at Cheltenham here and while Ptit Zig is the likeliest winner of the novice chase he is a short price and I think Little Jon (1.20), who was going well until running out four from home in the race won by Champagne West and who will be well suited if this becomes a test of stamina, will run a big race. He is the each-way call at the prices available this morning.
Tipping competition back on Monday
There will be no tipping competition this week during the holidays but Talking Horses will continue through the festive season so please do keep us company and share any fancies you may have for the racing over the new year.
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