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Yeah Man has a chance for revenge
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Altobelli primed for bigger targets down the line?
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Alan Dudman has Ascot fancies at 9/25.50
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Paisley Park Superboost
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Yeah Man has a chance of revenge and perhaps some compensation from his fall in the Sodexo Live Gold Cup last month and while the winner Victtorino was impressive there by 6L, Yeah Man was coming with a challenge at the last.
The jumping needs to improve when the pressure is on, as he completely met the last fence wrong when picking up strongly. The winner had a bit in hand and tanked through the race, so a 4lb rise is lenient, but I liked the way Yeah Man made up ground as he was under heavy pressure before the turn.
His trainer Gavin Cromwell has tried 3m2f with him, albeit at a sharp Down Royal, but he looks a stayer to me, and that stamina can get him closer today.
Up 2lbs and just his second run of the season, I'll be backing him at 9/25.50.
The final race at Ascot is another cracker at 15:35 for the Betfair Exchange Trophy and Altobelli is set for a good show after his first run of the season.
That was a handicap debut for the horse stepping out of novice company last month to finish second, and his trainer Harry Fry might have had this in mind as a target before Christmas - and with this being just his second run of the campaign, I wouldn't be shocked to see him in one of the handicaps at Cheltenham.
He's up 1lb to 132, but he has competed at Grade 1 level with his effort at Aintree last term, although his best by some way came in a northern novice up at Carlisle where he won by 25L. Some PB.
Fry has said he does need a bit of cut in the ground, and while it's slightly surprising he sticks at 2m, his stamina is a key asset here.
Willie Mullins has a runner in the field, but I have a golden rule these days in backing none of his horses in the UK before Cheltenham, and rarely do I get involved with his runners at silly odds in Ireland. Some of them do get beat.
And Merry Xmas to all.