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Situation much the same for Tenor Nivernais

December 31st, 2016 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News

I’ve thought for a while that there might be a tiny race in Annabel Murphy’s Rigolleto, who contests a weak-looking Class 6 sprint handicap at Lingfield on Saturday. He seems to handle this surface better than Kempton and finished a fair second last time. He will never have a better chance than this and George Baker is the right man to have on top.

Otherwise I’m happy enough to wait for New Year’s Day and a strong Cheltenham card. We have waited a long time for TENOR NIVERNAIS and Venetia Williams has him entered for the valuable handicap chase over 2m 5f. He was not ‘jocked up’ on Friday and I just wonder if she is getting ready to withdraw him again because the ground will not be soft enough. She finally relented and let him go over three miles at Ascot last time, where he finished an excellent third at 33/1. I’d rather have carried on waiting but we must just see how things work out. There will be an alternative selection on the line if Tenor Nivernais misses the party but he is well handicapped with Village Vic and I hope the rain arrives.

I always thought of LIL ROCKERFELLER as a very smart handicapper who would give better opposition something to think about. He has done that twice recently and I see no reason why he shouldn’t go very close in the Relkeel at 3.10. He is probably not quite Grade 2 class but it’s close and, especially if he is an each-way price, I’d be with him once again.

Ian Signature

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