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Updated: 1st January 2012 - GG.com

January's Jewels

The National Hunt season ushers in the New Year at the sport's premier venue when Cheltenham racecourse stages the first important meeting of 2012. The clock is counting down on the Festival in March and punters will be looking for clues on a fine Cheltenham card.

Oscar Whisky
© Racehorse Photos

Oscar Whisky remains a leading contender for top hurdling honours whether he contests the Champion Hurdle in which he finished third last March or in the World Hurdle where he would clash with the invincible Big Buck's. At Cheltenham on New Year's Day Oscar Whisky should land the penultimate race on the card with ease.

In the Dipper Chase the Paul Nicholls-trained Sonofvic comes face-to-face with Alan King's bright hope Invictus, and it will be interesting to see whether the latter can step up in class now that he faces tougher opposition at a grade one track. Nicky Henderson's unbeaten young chaser Solix adds spice to the mix but has to concede weight to the aforementioned pair.

Nicky Henderson may well have a big say in the outcome of the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on January 7. No stable in Britain or Ireland possess the strength in depth that Henderson can boast in the novice hurdle division and whatever he chooses to represent Seven Barrows at Sandown should win. Perhaps the hugely exciting Simonsig or the untapped potential of Mono Man can land the spoils for the mighty Henderson.

The following week's action features a traditionally strong card at Warwick with the totesport.com Classic Handicap Chase taking pride of place at the West Midlands venue. This race usually sorts the real stayers from the rest after a punishing 3m 5f spin around this galloping circuit. Last year's winner West End Rocker may well bid for a follow-up success as well as putting more flesh on the bones of his Grand National challenge. Over at Kempton on January 14 there is the Lanzarote Hurdle, a typically competitive heat.

Finian's Rainbow
© Racehorse Photos

The best of the rest of the January action gets under way at Ascot on January 21 with the Victor Chandler Chase bringing together some of the 2m division's best chasers. A small but select field is likely to be the order of the day at the Berkshire course and if Nicky Henderson sends rising chase star Finian's Rainbow for the graded event then bakers need look no further for the winner.

Over at Haydock Cinders And Ashes could well be a good thing for the Rossington Main, a graded hurdle. Donald McCain's young hurdler is brimful with talent and his easy dismissal of Keys at Aintree on his penultimate start suggests he should be able to sweep aside all-comers at the Lancashire venue.

McCain landed this same race with Peddlers Cross a couple of years back, and can do the same with Cinders and Ashes. On the same Haydock card the staying chasers get the chance to strut their stuff in the Peter Marsh Chase.

January's jumps action turns full circle on the 28 as Cheltenham stages its traditional trials day for the Festival fixture in March. Big Buck's will be unstoppable in the Cleeve Hurdle and in the Argento Chase Grand Crus should make short work of the vastly over-hyped Time For Rupert. A Gold Cup challenge looks like a step too far for Grand Crus, who would surely have little chance of beating Long Run or Kauto Star and the Argento looks more his level for now. At Doncaster the Skybet Handicap Chase occupies centre stage on a terrific day's jumps action.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips

Archive December 2011