Stat of the Day, 14th December 2012

Stat of the Day

Stat of the Day, 14th December 2012

Finally, a chink of light at the end of what seems like it’s been a very long tunnel. Big Jer ran a race full of promise, and justified the 20/1 each way shout, when finishing third yesterday under a patient and stylish Fehily ride. He’ll be winning before too long but, for now, we managed to get more back than we laid out (a profit of 1.5 points, but a profit nevertheless).

Buoyed by that stopping of the rot, I’m hurtling headlong to the hills of Cleeve, and the…

1.55 Cheltenham

I’m taking a break from the trainer stats today and, instead, offer you a horses for courses type. The fellow in question has had nine spins around this quirky, testing circuit, and he’s won five of them, yielding a dividend for blind backers of 32.25 points. He’s run over course and distance twice and won both times, including in this race back in 2010.

The other victory was in the Argento Chase, a major Gold Cup trial, as recently as this January, where he beat Tidal Bay into second. That form looks solid if taken at face value, and there are other reasons to like the chances of Midnight Chase this afternoon.

We already know that course and distance are no issue. Today’s going ought also to be in the SotD pick’s favour as, on good to soft ground, Neil Mulholland’s ten-year-old has won four of his seven races, with overall figures of 1521113.

Midnight Chase has run four times in Grade 2 or 3 company, and has won two of those starts, and finishing third in the other two. Today’s Grade 3 won’t faze him one iota. Ho does get to lug top weight in this company, though, due to his elevated handicap mark which, of course, is due to his superlative race performances in the context of this event and the rivals he faces.

There was much to like about his seasonal bow, where he finished third in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby six weeks ago. Sure to be fitter for that, and back on his favourite pistes, Midnight Chase makes a fair bit of appeal at William Hill’s 9/2. Win only for me, and for the Stat of the Day record.

[STOP PRESS: I’ve been told that Paddy Power are offering 4/1 Midnight Chase BOG – which is now joint best price – and they’ll refund your bet if Bradley wins the race.]

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