I probably missed a trick on Saturday, tipping Houblon des Obeaux having said The Young Master was 'too obvious' to back. Had I thought it through, Houblon was available at 5/2 without the favourite with Paddy and that would have been a shrewd move. It happened to make a little yankee a minor success which would have become a more significant one had Garde la Victoire (each way) been able to do any better than 5th, or even win, at 16/1. But that's racing.
However, Reve de Sivola's miraculous win over Zarkandar, when the 4/6 favourite had traded for plenty of big money at 1/100 in running in the closing stages, was the sort of result that makes it all worthwhile. It might have only really kept me afloat in strictly monetary terms but was worth much more in entertainment value.
Some of the big ante-post races on Boxing Day are reduced to small fields with odds-on favourites and might not be more than mid-season trials for major Cheltenham players. They probably shouldn't be opposed but can't really be backed either. There are races of interest in Ireland but we know all there is to know about the runners in the King George and one has to have a go at that.
Some rain, perhaps a bit more than is forecast, would be ideal for the top staying chaser, Silvianiaco Conti, a big favourite here, but he is the defending champion and is the obvious choice while being well aware that this 3 miles is one of the more suitable courses for horses of not quite such proven stamina. And that is why we can still have 9/4 about the favourite when Al Ferof, Cue Card and others might just do him for a turn of foot. However, Menorah (each way) at 8/1 is the most tempting alternative, having taken time to become a genuine top class chaser but indisputably is close to the top in the right race now.
I've been considering the options for a couple of days, trying to balance the fact that a little bit more rain would convince me with how daft I'll feel if I go the wrong way. In the end, I don't mind stating the gormlessly obvious if it pays 9/4 and that price would just about balance the books for the 2014 Saturday Nap, which is incredible when you look at my string of losers but it would be based on a level ten pound stake each week and a one pound yankee for that week when we landed 3 out of 4.
And so, Silviniaco Conti is taken to add to his impressive CV, and one might bear in mind that he won't be 8/1 for the Gold Cup if he does win at Kempton and so have a bit of that while you are at it.
And, in the meantime, have a nice holiday and don't forget to come back in early March for the 2015 Cheltenham Preview.
David Green
- David Green (Books) is the imprint under which I publish booklets of my own poems, or did. The 'Collected Poems' are now available as a pdf. The website is now what it has become. It keeps me out of more trouble than it gets me into. I hope you find at least some of it worthwhile.
