There's a competitive card at Wetherby on Boxing Day and Phill Anderson from the Racing Post has a trio of selections, including one at double-digit odds.
Trevelyn's Corn @ 9/1
1.5pt each-way
Curley Finger @ 6/1
1pt win
Zanza @ 10/1
1pt each-way
There's plenty to like about Trevelyn's Corn's form from the back end of last season and I expect him to give a very good account in the novices' handicap chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day with a reappearance run under his belt.
The nine-year-old was in behind re-opposing rival Aire Valley Lad at this venue when fourth of seven on his return and given that he's needed all of his previous reappearances, one can expect him to leave that effort behind.
The aforementioned quality efforts towards the end of last term came at Carlisle and Hexham and while those tracks wouldn't have the strongest handicaps historically, the horse he chased home in both those outings was Into Overdrive.
Into Overdrive has subsequently shown smart form, winning two of his three subsequent starts, including a Grade 3 handicap at Wetherby in October.
He showed that was no fluke when chasing home L'Homme Presse (current King George VI favourite) in another Grade 3 handicap chase at Newcastle last time out.
While there's little doubt that Into Overdrive has improved since beating Trevelyn's Corn twice last March, his form is still a level above anything his rivals have to offer.
Another added bonus is his trainer's strike-rate at this venue which stands at nearly 19% over the last 12 months and that's from a decent sample size (12-64).
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Curley Finger has improved with each start over hurdles so far and there's plenty to like about his claims in the novices' handicap hurdle on the card.
He posted his best effort yet when third (beaten seven lengths) at this venue last time and he's another selection that shaped like he would be better for the run.
His chance was gone when losing second in the latter stages of that contest but he should strip fitter here.
The form of his Kelso third on debut last season worked out really well, producing four subsequent winners from the six-runner contest and he can resume progress here from a decent looking handicap mark.
It doesn't look like the strongest renewal of the feature event, the Rowland Meyrick, and Zanza could be the one to take advantage.
He's not always looked like the slickest over fences but he produced a solid round of jumping when bolting up at Newbury last time out and he ran well when chasing home a progressive sort at this venue on his penultimate start, just failing to reel in the winner.
While he's got a 10lb rise to cope with, he still looks feasibly handicapped given the manner of that success and it's a slight surprise to see him available at double-figure odds given his current form.
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