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Tanya's Blog - 10th December 2011

Jack Frost has been tinkering with the courses this morning as temperatures plummeted through the night and there was another dip around 8am. Poor Lingfield was forced to abandon at 10am which means alternative plans are needed for Pocket Aces and all the other potential runners at the course.

Denman scarves are 2 for 1 on site at Cheltenham and are they ever needed as it would be sensible to wrap up warm for the freezing elements. Plenty of layers are required but there is nothing like a winner to warm you up.

Doubles across the country on short-priced favourites Hinterland and Oscar Whisky which will set most people up ahead of trawling round the shops for Christmas goodies tomorrow onwards.

Every racing fans’ Christmas is in 94 days time and with that in mind let’s look ahead to the Champion Hurdle with the Stan James International. What a renewal, really competitive with four of the top 11 in the Champion Hurdle betting all taking part. Stan James report that Overturn is their liability as it stands for March which would be consolidated by a win for the popular dual purpose horse. With Hurricane Fly remaining in his stable for now, Menorah has reverted back to the smaller obstacles with the temptation of Champion Hurdle glory too much to resist. He won this last year and he will have his followers. Brampour takes the tried and trusted route Greatwood to International which has been converted five times before since 2002. I like GRANDOUET but John Francome said he has a tendency to be sloppy yet he makes up for it with his natural speed and ability. At 3.05 we shall see.

Sunnyhillboy is obviously the sensible selection in the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cup and I will be having a saver on him. Without coming under pressure he ran an eyecatching race over the Fixed Brush Hurdles at Haydock and AP McCoy doing 10-4 is significant enough. However when all said and done my selection is ROBERTO GOLDBACK is the pick, he could well have picked up the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup in May but for unseating his rider at the last when a length clear. He has raced for most of his career in top class and performed with dignity. I can forgive him his first start of the season at Thurles behind Joncol. He is huge at 33-1 and to me he is a value each-way bet.

POINTERS

Nine of the last 12 winners of the Stan James International had previous won over course and distance

All of the last ten winners of the Stan James International had finished in the first three last time out

Seven of the last ten favourites has won the Stan James International

Since and including 2002 five winners of the Greatwood have come on to double up in the Stan James International – Rooster Booster, Rigmarole, Detroit City, Khyber Kim and Menorah

Phillip Hobbs has won the Stan James International three times with just six runners

There have only been three Irish winners of the Stan James International since 1963

All of the last 14 winners of the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cups were aged 6, 7 or 8

Only one winning favourite of the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cup since 1997 – Poquelin in 2009

Pegwell Bay, Senor El Bettruti and Exotic Dancer have all won the Paddy Power Gold Cup and come on to win the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cup but 12 others have failed

All of the last four winners of the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cup carried 11 4 or more