15 December 2018

The Fact of the Matter is ...

This Brian Boru gelding, trained by Jamie Snowden, won yesterday's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham after a thrilling climax. Fact Of The Matter was narrowly denied victory by the Enda Bolger-trained Josies Orders at this track last month and on the rematch four weeks later, the tables were turned. Josies Orders was a 7/2 joint-favourite to claim his fifth Prestbury Park win along with the Gavin Sheehan-ridden Fact Of The Matter a 6/1 chance. A stable companion of Josies Orders, My Hometown, forced the pace for much of the three-mile-six-furlong journey and was still ahead as the runners rounded the home turn. Fact Of The Matter soon came up alongside and the pair battled it out up the infamous incline with Jamie Snowden's charge getting the advantage by a neck. Josies Orders could only manage third, one-and-three-quarter lengths behind.

Seeing Double

Rivals who came first and second in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham's November Meeting are set to compete against each other again in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Prestbury Park today. The Gary Moore-trained Baron Alco beat Paul Nicholls' Frodon by two lengths last time and if he claims the prize on Saturday he will join the exalted ranks of the only other horses who have notched up the famous double in the same season - Pegwell Bay (1988), Senor El Betrutti (1997) and Exotic Dancer (2006).

One better?

Back on his favourite track in a race he has won three times before ( nearly made it four last year) this King's Theatre gelding needs to pull a bit more out of the hat if he is not to be retired – a thought made public earlier this week but played down since. Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, The New One, in a visor for the first time, lines up against seven rivals in the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham. The ten-year-old unusually gave a dullish performance on his first appearance this season at Ffos Las, failing to show any of his customary enthusiasm when he got beaten by twenty-five lengths in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

Kaylina Aramis

Breeding Shares available for 2019! 

By Kayf Tara

• full sister to Kayf Aramis 85 runs & over £153,000 prize money, Winner Cheltenham Festival; 3xWinner at York Dante Festival
• full sister to Kaylif Aramis, his career very sadly cut short at a young age: 3 wins, 4 places, over £59,000 prize money, Winner Ascot grade 2; 2nd grade 3 Aintree