Stat of the Day, 31st December 2012

Stat of the Day 29/12/12

Stat of the Day, 31st December 2012

A return to glory yesterday, as Jupiter Rex – nominated at 16/1 (20p rule 4 deduction) – fairly hacked up in the last at Taunton to swipe back some of the recent reverses.

Note also that if you bet the horse with bet365, as suggested, they will be offering you a free bet today to the same stake (max £50) for use on the 2.30 Lingfield. You’ll need to go into your messages to find out about this, but it should be there. (For info, I reckon Brocklebank and Decent Fella ought to go close, but you be the judge with your free wagering chips!)

For my sins, then, I retain the chair on an uninspiring final day of 2012 (an excellent year for SotD overall), and I’m heading over the sea for the…

1.35 Punchestown

It’s all about the horse today. And the horse in question ought to be a relatively safe option against two with questions to answer. I’m siding with Staying Article, a remarkably consistent nag.

Indeed, our boy today has had eight runs under rules and has been in the three in all eight. His form string reads 11213312, with all bar one of the 3’s being in bumpers or hurdles.

He steps up in trip today, and marginally in class too. The former should be no bother as he’s bred for a bit further and has looked like he needs a bit further. The latter is a moot point, because the two ‘class’ horses in the race both have questions to answer: questions Staying Article does not.

The favourite is the excellent chaser, Bog Warrior, who hacked up in a hurdle off 122 last time. He’s been bumped up a whopping stone and a half (!) to a mark of 143 for that, and he’s not been the most consistent either, with his fencing career blighted by jumping bungles. At his best, and with a clear round, he’ll probably win. But his price is short enough in that context.

Second in is Solwhit, the formerly smart six-times Grade 1 winning hurdler. But Solwhit hasn’t run for two years, and has still to prove he has a leg in each corner. Moreover, the vast majority of his form was over two miles, so this two and a half miler might push his stamina after such a layoff (he has won in G1 company over the trip, mind).

In what is a very good race, which also includes the likes of Simenon, Fully Funded and Donnas Palm, Staying Article has the most solid credentials and scope for improvement.

9/2 BOG (tote, Betfred, PP, Ladbrokes) looks fair enough, and you might even back that each if you like. For SotD and for me, it is win only material…

Click here for the latest betting on the 1.35 Punchestown

And, finally, let me take this opportunity to wish you a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY (and, if we’re really lucky, wealthy) NEW YEAR for 2013!

Matt (and Chris and the team)