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2.40pm, Haydock – Sojourn
It was difficult not be really impressed with SOJOURN on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle on testing ground when he routed a decent field, with 15 lengths back to the 2nd and another 24 lengths back to the 3rd. The form has worked out, with the 3rd and 6th winning next time out and even Late Romantic who was pulled up won his next start also. Sojourn went up 11lbs for that win but he relishes testing ground and is a strong stayer and nowhere do you get conditions that would suit more than at Haydock. He looks sure to run a big race here.
3.00pm, Ascot – The Conditional
I’m not certain that this is the deepest race ever and I would have stamina concerns for Espoir De Guye who tries 3 miles for the first time. If he stays he will be a big player but I didn’t think he was crying out for the trip when winning here last time over two miles and five furlongs.
THE CONDITIONAL was one of the most consistent staying handicap chases last season, winning at Cheltenham at the Showcase meeting off 131, finishing 2nd in the Ladbroke Trophy off 137, finishing 4th in the Classic Chase at Warwick where he travelled like the best horse in the race but didn’t get home and then won the Ultima at the Cheltenham festival off a mark of 139. I thought he ran a cracker in the Ladbroke Trophy off a mark of 147 when the ground would have been plenty lively enough for him. The testing conditions here will really suit and I still think he can win off a mark of 146.
3.35pm, Ascot – Botox Has (5 places)
This is a fiercely competitive handicap and Time Flies By could be chucked in off a mark of 129 but I am going to stick with BOTOX HAS, who comes in here off the back of a slightly disappointing effort at Newbury last time in the Gerry Fielden. I don’t think the good ground there would have played to his strengths and testing ground here will be more suitable. On his penultimate start, he easily beat The Pink’N and Allmankind.
The Pink’N reversed form in the Gerry Fielden and to me that proves Botox Has was below his best, while Allmankind has won twice over fences in the interim, including at Grade 1 level. If he can produce something like his best, he looks a huge price to me from an each-way perspective, particularly with the extra place on offer.
6.00pm, Wolverhampton – Jackstar
JACKSTAR has his 2nd start for Mark Loughnane and on his stable debut last time I thought he shaped very nicely here over 6 furlongs. The hood he wore there for the first time is dispensed with and he was two from two at this track when trained by Tom Dascombe. He was good enough to win a novice under a penalty and won a handicap off a mark of 79. Both of those were over 7 furlongs but I don’t think the trip is an inconvenience and I can see him running a big race here.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey’s bet summary – Saturday, December 19
2.40pm, Haydock – Sojourn
3.00pm, Ascot – The Conditional
3.35pm, Ascot – Botox Has (5 places)
6.00pm, Wolverhampton – Jackstar
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