Group3 CHRISTMAS HANDICAP - 1450M (Cheltenham 26 Dec)
 

Current nominations

1 ACCOST Ken Sweeney
2 ALMOST NEVER Leon Macdonald
3 APPROACH THE BENCH Robert Smerdon
4 CHATZ Mark Lewis
5 COINTREAU BALL Mark Kavanagh
6 FINNISS D'OR Pat Barns
7 FLY FOR ME Jeremy Gask
8 KING'S ARCH Mick Whittle
9 MISSISSIPPI RIVER Leon Macdonald
10 NOZI Richard Jolly
11 PLAY TO WIN Mark Kavanagh
12 RALLY David Jolly
13 RICH AROMA Edward Murtagh
14 SASSBEE David Jolly
15 SAVAGE ATTACK Mark Minervini
16 SKY LOVE Peter G Moody
17 WINNING SPIRIT David Jolly

Weights
 

No Horse Trainer Weight

1 KING'S ARCH Mick Whittle 2 57
2 FLY FOR ME Jeremy Gask 1 56.5
3 ALMOST NEVER Leon Macdonald 3 56.5
4 FINNISS D'OR Pat Barns 4 55.5
5 SAVAGE ATTACK Mark Minervini 5 55.5
6 PLAY TO WIN Mark Kavanagh 6 55
7 WINNING SPIRIT David Jolly 7 55
8 NOZI Richard Jolly 8 53.5
9 SKY LOVE Peter G Moody 9 53.5
10 ACCOST Ken Sweeney 10 53.5
11 CHATZ Mark Lewis 11 53.5
12 APPROACH THE BENCH Robert Smerdon 12 53.5
13 MISSISSIPPI RIVER Leon Macdonald 13 53.5
14 RALLY David Jolly 14 53.5
15 COINTREAU BALL Mark Kavanagh 15 53.5
16 SASSBEE David Jolly 16 53.5
17 RICH AROMA Edward Murtagh 17 53.5

Final field
 

Tab No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight

1 KING'S ARCH Mick Whittle D Tootell 3 57
2 FLY FOR ME Jeremy Gask Darren Holland 5 56.5
3 ALMOST NEVER Leon Macdonald J Holder 6 56.5
4 FINNISS D'OR Pat Barns D Carney 14 55.5
5 PLAY TO WIN Mark Kavanagh M Neilson 10 55
6 WINNING SPIRIT David Jolly R Waymouth (a) 9 55
7 SKY LOVE Peter G Moody W J Hokai 2 53.5
8 ACCOST Ken Sweeney W Kerford 1 53.5
9 CHATZ Mark Lewis C L Bryant 8 53.5
10 MISSISSIPPI RIVER Leon Macdonald Ms C Lindop 12 53.5
11 RALLY David Jolly J B Potter 4 53.5
12 COINTREAU BALL Mark Kavanagh A Spiteri 13 53.5
13 SASSBEE David Jolly S Cahill 7 53.5
14 RICH AROMA Edward Murtagh Ms K Stra (a) 11 53.5

Current fixed odds:


No. Selection Win Place

013 Sassbee $3.75 $1.65
002 Fly for Me $5.00 $2.00
001 King's Arch $6.50 $2.35
007 Sky Love $7.50 $2.60
008 Accost $9.00 $3.00
005 Play To Win $11.00 $3.50
003 Almost Never $17.00 $5.00
004 Finniss D'or $17.00 $5.00
006 Winning Spirit $17.00 $5.00
011 Rally $26.00 $7.25
014 Rich Aroma $26.00 $7.25
010 Mississippi River $34.00 $9.25
012 Cointreau Ball $34.00 $9.25
009 Chatz $51.00 $13.50

7 SKY LOVE
1 KING'S ARCH
2 FLY FOR ME
13 SASSBEE

(1) King's Arch
(4) Finniss D'Or
(6) Winning Spirit
(12) Cointreau Ball

Play To Win
 

5. Play to win is the value here and, at $11, is a terrific each way bet. He's a lightly raced 4yo who has improved sharply in recent runs culminating in a nice win at Moonee Valley over 1,500m in open company. The return to Cheltenham, where he has run well in the past, is a plus. This field appears no stronger than that which he defeated at the Valley. Even a moderate improvement off that run will see him right in the finish on Sunday, despite the 3kg weight rise. Finally, M Nielson - who has ridden the horse 4 times for 3 wins and a placing - replaces M Pumpa, who rode him at the Valley. I have 5. Play To Win on top, from 13. Sassbee and 2. Fly For Me.

Rally
Rich Aroma
Mississippi River
Chatz

(8) Accost
(7) Sky Love
(2) Fly For Me
(13) Sassbee.

Cheers.

#1 king's arch
#7 sky love
#5 play to win
#2 fly for me & #8 accost