I’M very pleased to report that all is well with Constitution Hill and he is now 100% sound, which is obviously great news. He will do his first piece of work since Newbury tomorrow and, all being well, we will then work towards Kempton on Boxing Day.

I have seen and read many of the comments suggesting he isn’t as good as he was and that he has to prove himself which I cannot agree with. I don’t dispute other people might like to see proof, but he doesn’t need to prove anything to us; he is still the horse he always has been.

Yes, I agree, Lossiemouth is a mighty threat to all of them, she looked exceptional at the weekend, but as far as I’m concerned it’s all Seven Barrows guns blazing to Kempton and if anybody else wants to join in the Christmas party, they are more than welcome.

If anyone wants to remind themselves of just how good he is, you’ve only got to watch the replay of last year’s Christmas Hurdle; we’re not talking ten years ago – it’s just 12 months! If Lossiemouth comes, it may be a different ball game, but, god willing, we will definitely be there!

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SANDOWN

12:40

Touchy Feely (Nico De Boinville)

I must admit her recent form doesn’t look that inspiring, but she is a smart mare and I rather think a stiff two and a half miles, mares only hurdle is just what she wants. She’s been very unlucky over fences, falling once and then a horse galloped into the back of her which nearly took her leg off! So this seems a very good idea and I wouldn’t be ruling her out too quickly.

 

2:25

Willmount (Nico De Boinville)

He is the most gorgeous horse, and one, we hope, with a very bright future. He’s built for chasing, and that is where we will almost certainly end up, but he’s only had two runs over Hurdles and didn’t have a mark so the Handicapper agreed to give him a rating of 131, which I’m not going to agree or disagree with because they have very little information to go on, and they said they wouldn’t let him run over fences off that mark, so that is the only reason we are running over hurdles here, we’re pretty much forced to. After this he should get a Chase rating and then we can go down that route, unless he absolutely bolts up here and we might have to do a rethink! I really don’t know what to expect, but he’s been working well, is in great shape and could still be anything.  He’ll get further in time but two miles on soft ground around Sandown is perfect for the moment.

 

3:00

Jonbon (Nico De Boinville)

I’m very pleased to report that everything has gone well since the Shloer and this was always going to be the plan after Cheltenham. He’s a four-time course and distance winner, so we have no worries from that point of view, and he holds most of these on form. I did think Boothill looked quite burly in the paddock at Cheltenham, so I’d expect him to be much sharper this time, and JPR One was good at Exeter so it’s not all signed and sealed. There is no such thing as a certainty and he will need to continue to show he is the best there is around. Let’s hope he can!

 

AINTREE

11:47

Jango Baie (James Bowen)

It was great to win a Grade One with him last season, but in hindsight, it mightn’t have been the best thing because he was beaten twice carrying a penalty, but such is life. I know these sorts of races aren’t the most attractive from a punter point of view, but we really need them badly, which is why we’re here. He’s schooled very well, and handles soft ground, so I’m optimistic of a bold show.

 

3:17

Choccabloc (James Bowen)

He’s a very good looking son of Blue Bresil out of Chocca Wocca, who is a mare we know well, and we like him a lot. He has already schooled over fences, and will hopefully be going down that route in the future, but owing to severe lack of opportunities for Novice Chasers we have decided to stick down this route for the time being and see where we end up. He shouldn’t mind the ground and I’m looking forward to getting his season started.

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