The King George confirmed Silviniaco Conti as a serious Gold Cup contender with his stamina proving decisive in the closing stages. Credit to Cue Card for running so well until tiring between the last two fences but I have to say that he does not look like a Gold Cup horse. If he was going to win over three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham he would surely have managed three miles around Kempton.
The Christmas Hurdle turned into the predicted duel between The New One and My Tent Or Yours and I was very surprised by Tom Scudamore’s tactics on the runner-up. Twice previously he has accepted the blame for hitting the front too soon and yet here he was setting the pace? Presumably he felt that he could not beat My Tent Or Yours in a six furlong sprint. It was inconclusive as far as the Champion Hurdle goes.
The highlight of Kempton’s card on Friday is the Desert Orchid Chase in which Sprinter Sacre reappears against Tingle Creek winner Sire De Grugy. Almost unbelievably, the race is not televised. Something must be wrong when Channel 4 cannot even screen the best chaser in training? He should extend his winning sequence to eleven but won’t be a betting proposition/
The same cannot be said of Cause Of Causes in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. Tony McCoy teams up with the former winner of Ascot’s Ladbroke Hurdle in preference to three other JP McManus-owned runners.
The Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old was smart over hurdles but has been slow to warm to steeplechasing. He has been beaten in modest company but appeared to be finally getting the hang of it last time out and looks well weighted on 10st 11lb.
He battled on well under Ruby Walsh to finish second to Sraid Padraig at Fairyhouse in November. He will need to improve again to win this but he is a seriously good horse when he hits form and is worth a bet at around 12-1.
Willie Mullins suffered a couple of setbacks on Thursday when the odds-on Analifet and Champagne Fever were both well beaten. He will be hoping for better luck with Moyle Park in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at 1.50. The Tullow Tank and The Game Changer are both useful but it will be a major blow for Mullins if the highly-rated Moyle Park cannot win this.
The best bet on Kempton’s card is Nicky Henderson’s Grandouet who ran a fine race when second to Hinterland at Sandown. Barry Geraghty held him up behind the leaders and was just done for a little toe when Hinterland quickened approaching the last. Grandouet responded well to pressure and was closing him down at the line. A similar performance would be good enough to beat Dodging Bullets.
Grandouet at 10-11 Bet365, Coral
Moyle Park at 7-4 Bet365, Coral
Cause Of Causes at 12-1 Ladbrokes
