New Year Racing

   Eden Du Houx runs at Cheltenham Today

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a good evening however you celebrated and may 2023 be a happy, healthy and winner filled time for all of us. Today we have four runners, two at Exeter and two at Cheltenham.  King Turgeon and Anglers Crag are our representatives at Exeter with Fergus Gillard on board while Eden Du Houx and Brinkley run at Prestbury Park with Tom Scu in the saddle.

Kind Turgeon makes is stable and British debut in the opening contest on the Exeter card, a novices handicap chase over 2m3f at 12.20pm.  He is a lovely big five year old who is yet to win in five starts but he has run well to be placed in four of those five.  His rating of 110 looks fair and he gets a six pound allowance for his age.  He was second on his latest start over fences at Lyon Parilly over 2m4f and has settle in well to life at Pond House since arriving in November.  He seems to have a good attitude and gives the impression that he could keep galloping all day so the stiff track at Exeter should suit on testing conditions.  I see he is pencilled in favourite in the Racing Post so let's just hope they are right!  Whatever happens, we will find out lot more about him today and he is a nice prospect for the future.

Anglers Crag makes his chasing debut at Exeter in the 2.40pm handicap chase over three miles.  He is a Irish point to point winner who is lightly raced and we hold in high regard at home.  We were a little disappointed with his seasonal reappearance at Ffos Las over hurdles as after travelling well he didn't see out his race.  Hopefully that can be put down to fitness and he has been crying out for fences.  I think there is scope for improvement off his rating of 115 and the track and conditions should suit.  He is about 6/1 third best in the betting and fingers crossed he can run well.

Eden Du Houx runs in the 1.55pm handicap chase at Cheltenham over 2m4f.  He was an impressive winner at Ffos Las last time but this is a much hotter contest and we are about 33/1 in the betting.  They are still calling the ground good at Cheltenham which is a slight concern seeing as how much rain we have had lately.  Eden would probably prefer it softer but he will handle this fine and if he puts in the same performance as last time it should see him competitive in this.

Brinkley runs in the three mile handicap hurdle at 3.05pm.  We were hoping for more rain at the the course for him as well but he wears the first time visor so hopefully that will have the desired effect.  He has plenty of ability but does not always put his best foot forwards but we hope he can today.  He is about a 20/1 chance in another very competitive race.

There are two Premier League football matches today with Spurs against Villa at 2.30pm and then Nottingham Forest are at home to Chelsea, 4.30pm kick off.  I think both London sides will win their games today.

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