Selections for Sunday 1st of January
1.35 Musselburgh
1 point each way Pay The Piper (5/1 Skybet, 4 places or else 5/1 Paddy power/ William Hill/ Betfair/ Betvictor/ Betway, 3 places)
I think the step back up in trip to 2m4 ½ fs should suit Pay the Piper in this. At Wetherby around this time last year he was second to Midnight River over 2m3 ½ fs on soft ground. Pay The Piper was beaten a neck that day and was giving Midnight River 6 lbs in weight. He followed that with a second at Musselburgh to Kiltealy Briggs over today’s trip, beaten ½ a length. His jumping has let him down on both his starts over 2 miles this season but back at this trip with an error free round he should go very close.
1.55 Cheltenham
1 point each way Nassalam (16/1 Skybet/ William Hill/ Betway, 6 places)
Nassalam will enjoy the ease in underfoot conditions and is a big price at 16/1. He was a staying on sixth behind some of these in the Paddy Power here seven weeks ago where he seemed to get outpaced coming down the hill before staying on at the finish. His record with Blinkers is 1-1 so hopefully today’s first time application of cheek pieces will have the same effect. This unexposed second season Chaser loves soft ground and jumps out to the left so this left handed track will suit. He was very near a 2pt EW selection.
1 point each way Coconut Splash (10/1 Skybet/ William Hill/ Betway, 6 places)
Is this finally the day where Coconut splash puts it all together. Hopefully he does as there is a race like this in him and he gets in here off a nice low weight. Five of the last eight winners have carried less than 11 stone. His seasonal reappearance when third (beaten 4 lengths) behind Into Overdrive has taken a significant form boost. With such a low weight if he can get a nice round of jumping this big field scenario should play into his hand. He has plenty of form on soft ground so that shouldn’t be an issue either.
3.05 Cheltenham
1 point each way Jet Of Magic (4/1 Skybet/ William Hill/ Unibet/ Betfred, 4 places)
This is a tricky race and Ihad Abuffalosoldier picked before changing my mind and selecting Jet Of Magic only on the basis that the ground is going to turn soft and Abuffalosoldier won’t handle it as well as this horse. Comfortably won on hurdles debut at Hereford over 2m5f on good to soft and was a neck second at Taunton over 3m on good ground. He has form on soft ground having won on it last season at Doncaster and Wetherby for old trainer Oliver Greenall. He races here off just 10-2 and is still very lightly raced as a seven year old. He will enjoy the soft ground and stays well. He must have an each way chance.
2.05 Exeter
1 point each way Copshill Lad (13/2 Generally, 3 places)
Copshill Lad was one of my 10 to follow and I was surprised with his opening price as I thought he would be around 3/1 for this Maiden Hurdle. He was second in his Irish P2P before being sold and moved to the Milton Harris yard. He easily won his Bumper beating a horse of Nigel Twiston-Davies by 2 ¾ lengths. He has had a wind operation since and wears a tongue tie today so hopefully he can show that he is a talented horse at this level. Race fitness is unknown and he might need this run but put him in your tracker as he will pick up a race or two over the coming months.
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 6th of January at 9pm..