St Stephen's day Pricewise

qc3

With all the rain about the bookmakers are keen to take on Cue Card in the William Hill King George (3.10) at Kempton and it seems likely he won’t even start favourite.
The compilers could easily be putting two and two together and getting five because on form Cue Card is much the best horse in the race, but I tend to agree with them in thinking the track and ground may not suit him as well as some of his rivals.
There is no concern about Cue Card’s ability to stay the trip, but heavy ground may not suit his exuberant style and he did run badly last year on a similar surface to what he is likely to face again.
In contrast, both ground and track will be perfect for his nearest Betfair Chase victim Dynaste.
David Pipe’s grey skipped away with the Feltham on heavy ground a year ago in a time three seconds faster than Long Run took to win the big one an hour later and he will surely go well.
However, I pinned my colours to the Al Ferof mast a few weeks ago and there is no reason to change that opinion now.
Ideally the ground won’t be too soft for Al Ferof as he is going up in trip, but he does handle testing ground well, and the way he bounded up the hill in the Paddy Power under a big weight just over a year ago suggests he will have no problems with the distance.
The main concern is whether he will be a bit too keen. He was fairly free at Ascot last time and a repeat of that would be bad news, but that was his first run for over a year, and it might have taken the freshness out of him. If he settles he has a
first-rate chance of giving Paul Nicholls an amazing eighth win in the race.
Nicholls has another string to his King George bow this year, though, and the remaining value in the race lies with his Silviniaco Conti.
On a literal reading of the Haydock form, Silviniaco Conti has no chance of beating Cue Card, but the Nicholls horses weren’t anywhere near peak form last month and virtually every horse he has run this season has come on hugely for its initial outing.
Silviniaco Conti stayed on to be just behind Dynaste at Haydock and, with the ground likely to bring his stamina into play, he might be the one most suited by the way the race is run. There is a growing feeling he may be better at Cheltenham, but his best efforts have come at the likes of Aintree, Wetherby and Haydock, and there is no reason why Kempton won’t be right up his street.
The williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle (2.35) is a straight match between My Tent Or Yours and The New One and, on good ground at this track, I would be in the My Tent Or Yours camp. Under testing conditions, though, I’m not so sure.
William Hill are also sponsoring the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby (1.45), where the two recent Haydock winners Sydney Paget and Nuts N Bolts head the market.
Both were impressive, but they have shot up the weights and this is stronger than the races they won last time.
A peak-form Cape Tribulation would have a big chance of following up last year’s win, but he hasn’t fired so far this season, so Cloudy Too, who ran well in the Hennessy off a higher mark, could be the one.
He loves soft ground and goes well at the track, so the only worry is the trip because his best form is over shorter. If he stays, he will be hard to beat.

Today's bets

Cloudy Too
1.45 Wetherby
1pt win at 6-1 with Ladbrokes


Silviniaco Conti
3.10 Kempton
1pt win at 5-1 with Boylesports and Coral


Advised ante-post

Al Ferof
3.10 Kempton
1pt win at 6-1

Francie Barrett

Snagged the last of the 5/1 on Cloudy Too just awhile ago there. If the horse hadn't clattered that fence last time out, it might just have won last time out in Hennessy.

madmoose

Said it in previous threads but it's d-day on my dynaste ew bet at 7/1, think it's 60ew. Had a small saver in september on ferof ew at 14/1 too.

rossom

I've been a big fan of Cloudy Too since last season and I think he'll take an awful lot of beating.

BumperD

I'm backing the new one , then with the winnings ( ) cue card. Going with Hendersons vaniteaux, ericht & master of the game for the rest of the kempton card.

qc3

PWE
Hood can help Beach cause minor surprise
Beach Of Falesa
12.50 Leopardstown
1pt win at 11-1 generally

The maiden hurdle at Leopardstown looks to be a very good one with plenty of horses coming into the race with tall reputations, writes Tom Segal.

Daneking, Wrath Of Titans and Chancol are all going to have their supporters but the filly Beach Of Falesa might have been overlooked and is worth a small bet.

She is rated 100 on the Fat, loves soft ground and will be an awful lot better than she showed on her hurdling debut.

On that occasion she pulled too hard and didn't get home but she has a hood on this afternoon and is good enough to cause a minor surprise.

Francie Barrett

rossom wrote: »

I've been a big fan of Cloudy Too since last season and I think he'll take an awful lot of beating.

Easily the best horse in the Sue Smith yard and it won comfortably today. It will be interesting to see where the connections take the horse from year.