Glaring an interesting prospect

I could not be all that confident about Tenor Nivernais last week because he was stepping up to three miles and I’d been waiting for him in a top handicap chase over two and a half plus, as you know. He ran a blinder to be third and the bonus was the SP of 33/1, with the Tote place paying £10.40. A small bet was advised and I hope you made it pay.

Unowhatimeanharry did all that was asked of him in the Long Walk Hurdle and has improved out of all recognition since joining Harry Fry. He would have won even without his main rival falling at the last but he is not yet a good thing for the World Hurdle. The rest of the opposition last week was hardly up to top, Grade 1 three-mile hurdle class and there are quite a few cards to be played yet.
I must say I never thought Thistlecrack and Cue Card would line up in the King George on Boxing Day. It’s a race to enjoy without reaching for the wallet or the telephone and it’s a bookmakers’ race for the obvious reason – they can’t both win, so half the money stays with the layers, and if anything happens to the other one they enjoy a virtual skinner.

There is simply no value at all although, if pressed, I’d say there is a fair chance Thistlecrack will take them along a shade faster than they care for and may get Cue Card off the bridle. Against that, his stable-companion is vastly more experienced in this company. No bet under any circumstances.

On the other hand, it may be worth following my friend George Materna’s GLARING in the opener. He has an interesting history and was up to Group 2 standard on the level in France. Bought with something like the Goodwood Cup in mind, he never seemed to acclimatise at Amanda Perrett’s and lost his way altogether, finishing with a poor effort at Salisbury.

But a rest can work wonders and he has more than a touch of class. Apparently unfancied on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon, he made all, barely touched a twig and came home clear at 33/1. There was no fluke about it and Amanda has booked Dickie Johnson this time.

With rivals trained by Messrs Henderson, King and Twiston-Davies in the line-up he will be a backable price, maybe even an each-way one. He is worth a modest investment.

Glaring, Ian Carnaby, Jumps 2016/17, Tenor Nivernais, Unowhatimeanharry