Racing tips: Ser Gino and Ballyburn set for heavyweight clash
Sir Gino and Nico de Boinville win for trainer Nicky Henderson. Picture: Healy Racing
Boxing fans waxed lyrical about the heavyweight clash of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in Riyadh last Saturday. But racegoers have mega match-ups of their own right across Christmas, that have us salivating at the very prospect.
The clash of Sir Gino and Ballyburn at Kempton today is a heavyweight novice chasing confrontation that will ensure the Arkle Chase ante-post market will have definitive clarity come teatime.
The Savills Chase on Saturday features a mammoth confrontation between Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File when the Closutton stable companions meet for a second time. Sunday also provides a second opportunity for State Man and Brighterdaysahead to cross swords. These are just some of the many head-to-head showdowns this weekend. It ensures divided opinion among punters, bookmakers and odds compilers alike.
On Sunday one of the highlights of the entire Christmas is the rematch of State Man and his Punchestown conqueror Brighterdaysahead in the €150k Grade One Neville Hotels Hurdle. On that occasion, Gordon Elliott's mare had the advantage of a prep run. That fitness edge was pivotal as she rallied to defy State Man who'd looked sure to win jumping the last.
Elliott’s rising star is a short-priced favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. She has lost only once in nine starts, when second to Golden Ace at Cheltenham, where it turned into a sprint. She claimed a notable scalp in that Morgiana Hurdle but State Man clearly needed that run. I expect him to reverse that form and win this race for the third consecutive year.
Should State Man win on Sunday it would be a seventh consecutive victory for Willie Mullins in contest. State Man has raced five times at Leopardstown winning four and he fell in the other when set to score. He is my confident selection on Sunday for Cork owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with Paul Townend aboard hoping to add to career earnings of over €1.5 million.
Eclipse Chaser looked a winner when falling two out at Ballycahane in March. Willie and Patrick Mullins have won this bumper for the last three years. He’s a half-brother to winners of 21 races. If he's strong in the market he'd be a confident choice in a bumper where stamina will be sacrosanct.
I expect State Man (Nap) to win this for a third consecutive year at his spiritual home, reversing Morgiana form with the brilliant mare Brighterdaysahead.
If you're patient this might be the Christmas banker in the final race of the meeting. Koktail Brut was very impressive at Fairyhouse in a hot bumper where the placed horses were fancied. Formerly trained by Pat Turley he cost €250,000 after a 25-length victory in a point-to-point.
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