The endless pre-Christmas tipster propaganda of ‘I’ve got a 50/1 tip for Cheltenham’ can get a bit tedious, with so many potential Festival horses still to appear. For example, putting up Firefox for the Albert Bartlett looks a bit daft now, as he appears far classier than the regulars in that three-mile novice.

But then, how much more of many of the potential Festival runners are we going to see? It’s becoming more of a trend that you basically take your chance on last year’s form.

One of the disappointing aspects of Fairyhouse last week was the ‘straight to Cheltenham’ plan for Teahupoo. Can a mature horse really not take a few more races? He had nearly seven weeks between his Gowran success and the Stayers’ Hurdle last year. Seven weeks to recover? And he won the Gowran race by 15 lengths?

Note too that two of the better-campaigned horses last season were the two four-year-olds Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau, who danced every dance at the four big festivals, Leopardstown Christmas, the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham and Punchestown.

Each ran five times, always running to form, and Gala Marceau went off to Auteuil in May and won the Grade 1 there. It’s a disappointing sign of the times that jump horses are campaigned so sparingly when the excuses just don’t always hold up.

Why do we expect a handicapper to run six or seven times a year but not a graded horse?

Neither of those two juveniles have run yet this season - presumably because there haven’t been many suitable opportunities - but surely a proper campaign last season should not hinder their progress?

WHEN is a talking horse not a talking horse? In Nicky Henderson’s Racing Post Stable Tour at the end of October he said of his new recruit Jeriko Du Reponet: “He looks special – he’s stunning – and won his point easily. He’s the sort of horse you dream about and looks pretty mature so should be ready for hurdling. He’s an outstanding prospect, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he can gallop!”

Some time between then and his debut last week, Henderson must have realised he had said too much because before his impressive winning debut he said in that day’s race preview: “If he’s good that will be nice because I have got 10 more the same. He is no better than them and this is his first day at school” going on to describe his Supreme odds of 12/1 as “stark raving ridiculous”.

Considering he now ranges from 6s to 8s, it looks as though the earlier comments were perhaps closer to the mark?

It should be remembered that Henderson had not been particularly bullish about Constitution Hill in his pre-season stable tour in 2021 and indeed, the since outstanding horse did not even go off favourite for his British novice hurdle debut in December 2021.

Tread warily through stable tours.

PAUL Townend was a very deserving winner of the HRI National Hunt Award on Monday evening.

His season was very much a case of taking a few bumps and criticisms in his stride and still producing quality rides under pressure on the big days. The standouts were the Gold Cup win and a masterclass in determination to get I Am Maximus home in the Irish National.

Even more meritorious was the win of Wesley Joyce in the Flat Achievement Award. His achievement in recovering to come back to the saddle successfully after injuries Turf Club Doctor Jennifer Pugh described as the “most traumatic I’ve dealt with” was the story of the year.

The winners also summed up neatly the length of interest in the game from the 20-year-old apprentice to 86-year-old trainer John Kiely, winner of the National Hunt Special Achievement Award. It’s a life-long love.

BET you don’t know where you were at 12.33pm on Saturday, November 10th, 2018?

I remember because I was in a BoyleSports shop watching a particular race.

It was the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase at Naas and Footpad, after an impeccable novice campaign, went off at 4/9 on his seasonal comeback in open company.

After a few mistakes, he was surprisingly on the back foot coming to the last and made a very bad blunder, dumping Ruby Walsh.

In the bookies, an older gentleman did a quick move over to another, and with a punch on the shoulder, a “What did I tell yah!” was delivered with an amount of glee. It stood in the mind because of the fact he opposed the favourite and the delight he took in his demise!

El Fabiolo boasts pretty much the same credentials tomorrow at Cork. He is around evens for the Champion Chase. It’s hard to see the opposition lowering his colours with the Elliott’s Fil D’or having a good bit to find but….will anyone be waiting for a fall?

AMERICAN racing suffered many knocks this year and those at the helm will surely be hoping for a better 2024. The news that the Belmont Stakes will be run over a shorter distance and at Saratoga while Belmont Park is rebuilt is an interesting development.

It comes too after there was some discussion on moving the Preakness Stakes a week later, something that would surely scupper chances of a Triple Crown winner if the Belmont then came just two weeks later.

The last five winners of America’s signature race, the Kentucky Derby, were Mage, Rich Strike, Mandaloun, Authentic and Country House.

You would be hard pressed to say any went on to become anything close to national names, or did anything to highlight the race and stick in the memory. The last four Belmont winners - Arcangelo, Mo Donegal, Essential Quality and Tiz The Law - were arguably better horses and better known than the Derby winners.

The reduction in distance as well as the move to Saratoga could set a change in motion.

If they get a strong turnout next year, will they end up permanently switching to 10 furlongs? Could the Belmont end up being a weakened version of the Kentucky Derby?