Samcro sure to get people talking once again in the Ryanair Hurdle

In a nutshell

By no stretch of the imagination is this the best-quality Saturday programme of the year, but any afternoon featuring the much-debated Samcro will inevitably raise plenty of talking points.

Following a wildly exciting 2017-18 campaign, topped by a Grade 1 Cheltenham win in the Ballymore, few could have believed Samcro would lose his next three races.

However, that is the situation the Irish heavyweight finds himself after falling at Punchestown and finishing second at Down Royal and Newcastle.

Samcro’s army of supporters will doubtless be in full voice if he can get his career back on track in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle (2.30) at Leopardstown, where his six rivals include the Willie Mullins-trained duo Melon and Sharjah, and his Down Royal conqueror Bedrock.

Newbury also stages Grade 1 action in the shape of the Betway Challow Novices Hurdle (3.00) on the day it bids a fond farewell to clerk of the course Richard Osgood, who retires after a long innings stretching back to 1979 when he first joined the Berkshire track.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Champ, impressive winner of a handicap hurdle over course and distance this month, will be strongly fancied as he bids for a fifth win from seven starts in the famous green and gold colours of JP McManus, with which 20-time jump jockey ‘champ’ Sir Anthony McCoy will be forever associated.

There is another valuable meeting at Doncaster featuring a £75,000 Listed event, the MansionBet Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase (2.05).

Kelso also stages one of its better fixtures, which include two £14,000 races and a £20,000 novice chase feature.

Why is Bedrock such a big price to claim Samcro scalp again?

All eyes will be focused on Samcro as he attempts to put his Fighting Fifth walloping by Buveur D’Air behind him in the Ryanair Hurdle.

Value seekers, however, may find it hard to resist the 16-1 available with bet365 and Sky Bet about Bedrock, who beat Samcro – a best-priced 2-1 on Friday – by a length and a half at Down Royal last month.

Bedrock beating Samcro at Down RoyalCredit: Caroline Norris

There seemed no fluke about that performance by the Iain Jardine-trained five-year-old and, even though he reopposes on 5lb worse terms this time, a few punters may see him as the ideal medium for paying off their Christmas credit card bills.

Paul Binfield, spokesman for bookmaker Paddy Power, has four reasons for the huge gulf in prices between the pair.

“There is the weight difference and the fact Down Royal was Samcro’s first run of the season,” he said. “Bedrock appears more exposed and, most importantly of all, Samcro has a massive reputation. He attracts huge support wherever he runs."

We will know at around 2.35pm whether Samcro is back on the glory trail or whether his supporters will be starting 2019 skint.

Limini set to light up Leopardstown

Samcro is not the only star attraction as Leopardstown’s superb Christmas meeting draws to a close.

The Grade 3 Advent Insurance Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (1.20) includes the Willie Mullins pair Limini, who will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, and the David Mullins-partnered Good Thyne Tara.

Limini winning on the Flat at Leopardstown under Oisin Murphy in SeptemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Limini finished third to Apple’s Jade when sent off 6-4 favourite for the Grade 1 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2017.

After a spell on the sidelines, she won on the Flat during the summer and should prove a tough nut to crack at Grade 3 level.

Champ bids to live up to his name

It is unusual for a horse representing powerful connections to be given such a striking name as Champ unless great things are expected.

From the family of the legendary Best Mate, this six-year-old son of King’s Theatre fairly exploded onto the scene when completing a three-timer at the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting.

Nicky Henderson duly steps Champ up in class from handicap company to the Betway Challow Novice Hurdle (3.00) – Newbury’s only Grade 1 of the year which includes Denman among its previous winners – and, such was the impression he created last time, he is certain to start a hot favourite under Barry Geraghty.

Could the champion trainer have unveiled yet another future star?

Mandarin more competitive than market suggests

Some top-class horses, including Mill House (1963 and 1965), Night Nurse (1982), Ten Plus (1988) and Jodami (1993), won the Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase (2.25) during its heyday.

The race has lost much of its lustre since being downgraded to a 0-135 handicap, but usually provides a competitive betting heat – which wasn’t always the case when it was a Listed contest.

This year looks no exception. Reikers Island heads both the weights and market – on Friday he was as short as 5-2 with Paddy Power – and arrives after a thumping six-length victory over Some Chaos in Wincanton’s Silver Buck Handicap Chase.

The handicapper has reacted with a whopping 13lb rise, which seems rather excessive and brings the likes of Sandy Beach and Vice Et Vertu firmly into the argument.

Change of plan may prove lucrative for Lady Buttons

It looks significant that Phil Kirby has elected to reroute Lady Buttons to Doncaster’s MansionBet Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase (2.05) from the Castleford at Wetherby on Thursday.

This Listed prize on Town Moor is worth £50,000 more and Lady Buttons receives weight from two of her five rivals, whereas she would have been conceding lumps to many of the Wetherby field.

Adam Nicol and Lady Buttons (purple) will be bidding to make it three out of three for the season at DoncasterCredit: Getty Images

Lady Buttons, who is unbeaten in two starts this season at Wetherby and Newbury, looks potentially a much better chaser than hurdler and possesses the scope to make her mark in even stronger company in due course.

This won’t be a gimme – no £75,000 race ever is – but those backers who watched Lady Buttons produce an exhilarating round of jumping at Newbury on Ladbrokes Trophy day before crossing the line hard on the bridle seem sure to be reinvesting their winnings on a mare who remains largely under the radar.

Paisley Park form represented in Kelso novice chase

The Children's Immunology Trust Novice Chase (2.35) at Kelso may have cut up to only three runners, but one of the trio brings Paisley Park form to the table.

The hero last Saturday when providing Aidan Coleman and Emma Lavelle with their first Grade 1 successes in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle, Paisley Park had previously beaten Shades Of Midnight by half a length in a Grade 3 Haydock handicap hurdle.

Shades Of Midnight, a four-time winner over hurdles, has yet to get on the scoresheet over fences from five attempts, but this looks a golden opportunity for the Sandy Thomson-trained eight-year-old to make the breakthrough at his local track.

Thomson said: “Shades Of Midnight is very well and hopefully we’ve found the right race. His jumping didn’t hold up at Cheltenham and Ayr last season, but the conditions of this race suit him.”

With only two runners in opposition for £20,000, you can see exactly why.

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