JACOBS’ Crackers
Harry Fry’s eight-year-old took advantage of the last-flight fall of Ballyoptic to make it seven wins on the counce
He completed a five-timer in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at March’s Cheltenham Festival and appeared better than ever in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his first start for JP McManus.
Stepped back up to Grade One level, Unowhatimeanharry was the 6-5 favourite in the hands of Barry Geraghty, who was content to bide his time while Ballyoptic was given more positive tactics in a bid to reverse the form.
Unowhatimeanharry looked to have the beating of Ballyoptic when he crashed out and the favourite kept on to score from Rockerfeller.
Geraghty said: “He did it well. He had to work harder here than he did the last day. He’s very good but he only does as much as he has to.
“He probably has a little more class than he lets on.”
Fry added: “If he keeps doing that we’ll be happy.
“It means a lot. It is extraordinary. Lil You could not ever hope for this or predicted it but that’s what’s brilliant about national hunt racing.
Sometimes these horses come along and they just keep finding. He is just progressing unbelievably and long may it continue.”
Trainer Neil King said of Lil Rockerfeller: “It was a career-best for the horse and he’s run a fabulous race there.” WE had seven winners last week at up to 8-1.
SUNDAY SERVICE DRUMLEE LAD can land his second win in three outings this season and is the nap (Fakenham 1.45).
An average hurdler last term, the son of Millenary has already made into a better chaser and was unlucky not to make it two from two over fences last time out when badly hampered at Doncaster.
Set to race off just a 4lb higher mark here, I strongly fancy the six-year-old to beat Cody Wyoming. OWNERS DAY (12.40) can turn over the likely favourite Comely in the opening mares’ hurdle, while TOMMY THE RASCAL can make the most of his light weight (2.50).
The best bet on the level at Lingfield could be MODERNISM (2.05) following a change of scenery from Richard Fahey’s yard to Ian Williams (above).
At Navan, the grade two novice hurdle (12.45) looks a cracking renewal and I fancy the favourite Death Duty to lose his unbeaten timber record to MONALEE.
Returned to hurdling, CLARCAM can give weight all round in the 1.20, while SHATTERED LOVE can land the feature at Thurles (2.10).
THE WEEK AHEAD I am hoping Colin Tizzard decides to pit his star novice THISTLECRACK against stablemate Cue Card in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
I am convinced the World Hurdle winner has the best engine in training and a fast pace up front, hopefully provided by Coneygree, will see him improve again.
Cue Card will start favourite but he struggled to head off a below-par Vautour in last year’s event, so it’s time now for a changing of the chasing guard. If there is to be a shock then Road to Riches could provide it on the good ground he adores if Noel Meade allows the nine-yearold to take his chance in preference to the Lexus. ANTE-POST I have taken two against the field in the Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday, December 27, in the form of CAROLE’S DESTRIER (10-1) COGRY (22-1).
The latter has been very unlucky so far this season. He was the beaten favourite in the 2015 renewal but can race off a lower mark this year.
HOT TO TROT Keep your eyes peeled for the next appearance of LUCENT DREAM over a mile or further at Dundalk. He was not given every chance to win on Friday and will surely go close next time.