The pick of the prices at Chepstow & Kempton....

Tuesday, 26th December 2023

The pick of the prices at Chepstow & Kempton….

I do like Autonomous Cloud for tomorrow’s Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (2.50)….

…. but he’s been well-found at the general 7s….

…. and – at the prices – preference is for WAYFINDER at the 25s….

He’s a course specialist – running multiple decent performances at the track….

…. and he obviously loves the undulations of the place….

He was targeted at last season’s renewal and was sent off favourite for the trial….

…. but the wheels came off at that point….

….. and he pulled-up in that race before pulling-up again in the main event at Christmas….

He had a wind-op prior to the start of this season….

…. he ran a belter at Cheltenham on his seasonal return….

…. and last time – back at Chepstow again for the trial – he produced another good performance behind Nassalam whose 4-times shorter in the betting for tomorrow’s race….

He got beaten by that one 5.5 lengths but reopposes tomorrow on better terms and on better ground than last time – which will suit better….

I just think he’s a big price – and a decent e/w shout at a track he thrives on….

Only six go to post for the Desert Orchid at Kempton (2.30) but it’s an interesting race nevertheless….

It’s not hard to figure out why Boothill and Elixir De Nutz top the betting….

…. both come into the race off back-to-back wins and are obviously in rude health…..

Of course, both are up in the weights too – to the tune of 9lb and 10lb respectively….

…. and it’s only getting harder….

My preference is for NUBE NEGRA at the general 3s….

He won the race – beating Altior in the process – back in 2020 off a mark of 152….

That’s antique form now and he might not be the same horse….

…. but he has dropped to 155 – from a high point of 168….

…. and the last four times he’s raced….

…. performances which have seen him drop 10lbs down the official rating scale….

…. it’s been on unsuitable soft ground in hot G1 & G2 races….

Back on a better surface tomorrow – in calmer waters – he’s a candidate to bounce back….

Finally, in the Ladbrokes Get Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (3.09) TWEED SKIRT is the pick of the prices at the general 5s & 9/2….

She’s totally unexposed at the 3m trip….

…. and we didn’t find too much out on her first go at it on seasonal debut at Market Rasen in November – where she sprawled on landing at the 12th fence and unseated Nico De Boinville while still going well enough….

This might be a Plan B job after the ground turned soft at Newbury for last week’s 3m Listed chase for mares….

…. but several of tomorrow’s seven opponents have question marks hanging over them….

…. she likes the track at Kempton….

…. she’ll like the ground….

…. and – like I say – she’s totally unexposed at a trip and could well improve for it….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back on Friday – ahead of the Saturday racing….

Meantime – Contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd