St Stephens' Day Selections

It is a bumper day of action, as usual, on the 26th of December with any amount of meetings and plenty of high class action to whet the appetite of racing fans on both sides of the Irish Sea. The King Gerorge is the highlight of the day at Kepmton and Don Cossack is the one they all have to beat. He is 9/4 which could look a big price if he produces his best on the day.

However, as regular readers will be well aware of I am not in the business of tipping up 9/4 favourites and thankfully there are a couple of much bigger priced horses that have caught my eye. I like the look of four horses at Down Royal, Huntingdon Wetherby and Leopardstown. You can read my thoughts and find out my selections below.

DOWN ROYAL 

There is a quality card of action at Down Royal tomorrow and it is a meeting that Northern based trainers usually do well at. Court Jester is a 9yo son of Pushkin who has been lightly raced for his age. His trainer Mr Wilson is based but a stones throw from the track and this gelding has run well at this meeting in this race for the past three years.

He won it back in 2012 off 88, was 3rd in 2013 off 86 and was 3rd again last year off 97. He is back down to a mark of 89, Jody McGarvey overlooks Shabras Bertolini to take the ride (has rode Court Jester for both wins), and with track, trip and ground to suit he looks an absolutely massive price at 33/1 off a mark of 89. He looks well worth a small interest each way.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.00 DOWN ROYAL- COURT JESTER 33/1 E/W

LEOPARDSTOWN

There is another handicapper that has caught my eye at Leopardstown. C'est Notre Gris goes in the 1.50 and this 5yo son of Verglas looks primed for a big run with his stable hitting form and Jane Mangan taking off a handy 3lb. This handsome grey gelding was rated as high as 92 on the flat and he has had only 9 runs over timber, hitting the frame on 5 of those.

He made a very satisfying return from a break last time at Punchestown over 2m off 110, staying on well in the closing stages and shaping as if a couple of extra furlongs would be ideal. He steps up to 18f here and with the handicapper dropping him to 108 and Mangan taking off another 3lb he could be set for a big run. He looks well worthy of an each way interest at 20/1.

STEVOS SELECTION: 1.50 LEOPARDSTOWN- C'EST NOTRE GRIS 20/1 E/W

WETHERBY

There is no shortage of decent action across the water and there is a horse going in the opener at Wetherby that appeals for a number of reasons. Kalastar goes in the 12.35 and the first thing that caught my eye was the jockey booking. Hamilton is booked and takes off a handy 7lb. That doesn't look significant at first glance,  but Alison Hamilton, who Kalastar's jockey is 5/27 for, has a runner, What A Night, and David Noonan has been booked for the hat trick attempt.

It seems to me that Kalastar's jockey would have had the pick of the two (he has ridden What A Night before) and he has plumped for the Katie Scott horse. He was sent off 6/4 fav for his last run and finished a well beaten 2nd but that was his first run back after a break and he will be a lot fitter tomorrow. He has been dropped 2lb to 93. Hamilton keeps the faith and if he handles the soft ground (his pedigree says he will) he looks to have a right chance at 10/1 and he is a confident each way selection.

STEVOS SELECTION-12.35 WETHERBY-KALASTAR E/W 10/1

HUNTINGDON

Of all my selections for Boxing day this is probably the most chancy one and that fact is reflected in this mare's price. Marey is 66/1 for the concluding bumper for Mrs Hugo and Irish jockey Robbie Dunne takes the ride. This 6yo mare is a daughter of the very useful national hunt sire Fruits Of Love, who is more than capable of producing bumper winners, but where it gets really interesting is when one delves into the dam side of his pedigree.

He is out of a dam called Mill Thyme, who was one of four siblings that all managed to win at least twice over hurdles. What sparked my interest is the fact that her half sister, Mill Emerald, has produced a couple of useful types, including Railway Zira who won a bumper on debut, as did her half brother Sir Vinski. Now there are a lot of dangers in this heat and stakes should be kept to a minimum. However, at her current odds of 66/1 surely she is worth a tiny interest each way in the hope that she is cut from the same cloth as Sir Vinski and Railway Zira.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.35 HUNTINGDON-MAREY E/W 66/1