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Updated: 2nd December 2010 - GG.com

December's Winter Wonders

Big Zeb
© racing-images.co.uk

The racing year comes to its customary close in December with the Tingle Creek Chase opening proceedings on the 4th of the month at Sandown, and this Grade 1 prize looks sure to go the way of Master Minded after his brilliant success at Ascot the other day. Paul Nicholls is the man to follow when it comes to finding the Tingle Creek winner, and punters need look no further than Master Minded.

Ireland's reigning two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Big Zeb will miss the race after running a stinker there last year and it is hard to see any really threatening opposition emerging to trouble Master Minded. Stable companion and last year's victor, Twist Magic, should also be in opposition but I expect to see him play second fiddle to the mighty Master Minded.

On the same Sandown card on December 4, Exmoor Ranger has been lined-up for a successful tilt at the London National Handicap Chase over a proper staying trip while the Paul Nicholls-trained Ghizao could well be the one to enhance his reputation as a burgeoning novice chaser by taking the Henry V111 Novices' Chase over the minimum trip.

Monet's Garden
© www.jennifermackenzie.co.uk

On December 9 at Huntingdon the evergreen Monet's Garden will attempt to defy his advancing years by winning a second Peterborough Chase but he may well have his work cut out in coping with the Nicky Henderson-trained Riverside Theatre, a smart second-season chaser who looks set to run some big races now that he is being asked to race over the two and a half mile trip that suits his blend of pace and stamina.

On December 11, all eyes will be on Cheltenham for a top-class day's racing and many observers will expect to see Little Josh follow-up his breathtaking Paddy Power Gold Cup success by adding the December Gold Cup to his list of successes. Higher in the weights this time around, he should be too good for likely rivals Dave's Dream and Mad Max if he reproduces his Paddy Power form.

In the International Hurdle the sharply progressive Menorah will bid to build upon his terrific success in the Greatwood Hurdle by defying the pressing claims of Silviniaco Conti and the new kid on the block, Cue Card. The latter is still only a novice and it could well be that over-ambitious connections are getting carried away with his form in a couple of ordinary novice races this season. Later on the card Restless Harry can be fancied for the Relkeel Hurdle after sticking on gamely against speedier sorts in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot the other day.

On December 18, Ascot holds centre stage with its fantastic pre-Christmas card and it is to be hoped that the elements do not put paid to this excellent fixture. If racing goes ahead at the Berkshire venue then Nicky Henderson is the trainer to side with in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle. The latter has a wonderful knack of finding just the right horse for this valuable two-mile prize and it will be intriguing to see what the stable saddles this time around.

Big Buck's
© racing-images.co.uk

On the same card Big Buck's should be nigh on unbeatable in the Long Walk Hurdle.

December's stunning jumps action comes to a climax with the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, and backers need look no further for the big-race winner than Kauto Star who should be able to secure a fabulous five-timer in the race, barring accidents of course.

With Imperial Commander seemingly unsuited by racing right-handed and currently recuperating from a cut leg after landing the Betfair Chase, it is hard to know quite where the opposition will come from for Kauto Star. The front-running Nacarat is sure to go well without being good enough and the same is true of the over-hyped Long Run, who again ran below expectations when well-beaten in the BetVictor Gold Cup. Making mistake after mistake with his jumping, he needs a professional jockey in place of hapless amateur, Sam Waley-Cohen.

Burton Port
© racing-images.co.uk

December 27 sees the Welsh National bring the curtain down on the month's racing at Chepstow with last year's first and second in the Chepstow marathon, Dream Alliance and Silver By Nature, featuring prominently in the betting alongside up-and-coming bucks such as Burton Port and Pandorama. Finally Leopardstown stages the Lexus Chase on December 28 and Newbury steps into the thick of things on the same day with the graded Challow Hurdle.

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

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