Kempton's Christmas Cracker!

What a great day's Racing we were treated to at Kempton yesterday afternoon with Kauto Star recording an amazing fifth success in the King George VI Chase - I doubt we will ever see another horse achieve that in our lifetimes.  Having said that, what about Grands Crus who won his race over an identical trip (albeit carrying 3lbs less) by almost three seconds.  A racehorse in full cry can travel quite a long way in three seconds so this was clearly some performance from a novice on only his third start over fences.  It is difficult to know how good could he be as to me he looked to be idling a little in front and certainly wasn't fully exerted.

Grands Crus returns to the winners' enclosure after his fantastic Grade One success

What a great day's Racing we were treated to at Kempton yesterday afternoon with Kauto Star recording an amazing fifth success in the King George VI Chase - I doubt we will ever see another horse achieve that in our lifetimes.  Having said that, what about Grands Crus who won his race over an identical trip (albeit carrying 3lbs less) by almost three seconds.  A racehorse in full cry can travel quite a long way in three seconds so this was clearly some performance from a novice on only his third start over fences.  It is difficult to know how good could he be as to me he looked to be idling a little in front and certainly wasn't fully exerted.

Bookmakers are now quoting him prominently in the ante-post lists for the Gold Cup and David will now be faced with a difficult decision of where to run him at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

David nearly completed a quickfire Grade One double when Notus de la Tour was just run out of things close home by Blackstair Mountain over at Leopardstown.  He still earned over €16,000 for finishing second and it certainly comfirmed him as one of the season's leading novices.

It is Welsh National day today and is the biggest event that takes place at the Chepstow course and plenty of racegoers come from out of the valleys to watch.  We have had some memorable days down the years with the likes of Carvill's Hill, Riverside Boy, Run For Free and Bonanza Boy (twice) winning the marathon chase.  Today we rely on Or Noir de Somoza and Master Overseer, who goes in first time head gear today.  Master Overseer was successful over hurdles at this track on his seasonal reappearance and were it not for a below-par effort last time, he would probably be a much shorter price today.

Sona Sasta is our lone runner over in Ireland today in the ridiulously valuable staying handicap chase.  He will be partnered by Hadden Frost and we would all be delighted if he could go one better than Notus de la Tour yesterday.  All in all, it's another cracking day's racing.