Newbury 12:45 

Top Rated McFabulous beat Thyme Hill in good style over fences and jumped really well. He probably showed he does stay this 3m trip now and his jumping today look very assured. We’ve had more and more TOP WEIGHT handicap winners in recent times including First Street and L’Homme Presse today and after today I think McFabulous will be rated 158.

I would love to see him aimed at the lucrative 3m Handicap Chase at Kempton in February. He’s 2 from 2 at the course over hurdles winning a Grade 2 Handicap hurdle and a Grade 2 hurdle. Winning both of those races won him £56,474 in prize money. The 3 Handicap at Kempton over fences was worth £85,425 to the winner.

Paul did run Black Corton in this race back in 2020 off the same mark of 158 (and 159 in 2019 where he finished 2nd) but he was on the downgrade then (in fact it was his last ever run).

Newbury 1:20

Mister Coffey was taken out on Friday which left the door open to Zanza (one of only a few I felt were trying here) and he won really impressively. Over the 2m6f trip, he could definitely go in again if he gets less than 10lb rise! Delighted with that result. We felt Cap Du Nord and Kitty’s Light wouldn’t really be going for it (not for £20k) and both ran moderately. Kitty’s Light clearly needs further and he’s getting so well handicapped. I think they will go to Kempton, Ayr and Sandown again in the spring BUT for me, I would want to see him take in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January over 3m5f which is a trip I think he needs. The 4m Scottish National and 3m5f Bet365 Gold Cup would then be his next 2 (if I owned him). I also personally wouldn’t want to see him run again until the Classic Chase (56k to winner). Cap Du Nord has now finished 8th of 9, 5th of 7 and 5th of 10 under Ellis who I believe rides to get them round safely and when they don’t expect their horses to win. He may well drop 1 or 2 lb for that effort in 5th and that would mean he would be rated 128 or 129. He ran in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase last year (worth £56k to the winner) and I think he should go for that again. He jumped atrociously that day and still finished 3rd and a better round of jumping and he would go close. We must keep an eye out for Mister Coffey as connections must think he can go very well when he next runs but don’t want to run him when conditions are not right.

Newcastle 2:10

Constitution Hill I honestly think will be regarded as the best 2 mile hurdler (at the very least in my lifetime). Honeysuckle won’t be able to keep up with him when he kicks for home. Enough said.

Newbury 3:05

Les Milos won the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase battling off our selection Remastered who has also run a cracker. Do you save Les Milos and go straight for the Ultima at the Festival? A few in behind that caught my eye. Corach Rambler finished 4th after appearing to find everything happening too quick again (they did go a good pace) before running on really strongly in the final straight for 4th. He ran similarly at Cheltenham in March in the Ultima but was probably so well handicapped that day that he ‘got away with it’. He looks like he needs further now and Lucinda Russell has won both the Grand National (One For Arthur) and Scottish National (Mighty Thunder) in recent years. Both of these National’s I feel he’s likely to get better going which I think he wants. His disappointment in the Classic Chase at Warwick when 4th was on soft going. I really hope they target the Scottish National with him. The other horse that caught my eye was the 5 year old Busselton who finished 5th after going a good gallop throughout. I think he went too hard alongside Annsam and think as a 5 year old there is still more to come. I don’t think the Irish Handicapper will adjust his handicap mark from today and hope he runs on the 27th December at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase. It’s worth a fantastic £98k to the winner so it’s well worth winning.

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