It’s time for the weekend horse racing news; here are our best 15 December Horse Racing betting tips. We have a star-studded Saturday of British horse racing to look forward to at Doncaster Racecourse as they host their winter meet with the much-anticipated December Novices Chase included in the schedule.
That has placed punters on red alert and they’ll be hoping to scoop some of the value this race has produced in the past; hopefully including some nice priced winners and each-way selections providing a profit at double-figure odds.
This year’s renewal promises to be as competitive as ever. Followers of the ante-post market know there was no more than four points between the favourite and fourth in line. A jolly carrying attractive odds is always worth taking note of as, even if you don’t rate the chances of the shortest price and fancy taking on the traders. The quotes get bigger the further you cast your eye down the list of confirmed runners.
Let’s take a closer look at the race itself and see if any clues can be taken from the trends.
December Novices Chase
The December Novices Chase is run annually at the South Yorkshire track. It has been there since relocating from Lingfield Park in 2014. With a history that goes back all the way to 1988, there have been many famous winners of the prize money over the years.
The modern version of the contest is a National Hunt steeplechase open to entrants aged four years old and above. It’s decided over the three-mile distance, often on testing ground given the time of year; between the starting post and finish line the eventual champion must pass over no less than 18 fences. A real test of stamina and heart, it’s little wonder sports fans love seeing the spectacle unfold.
National Hunt racing at a premier venue such as Doncaster is something special in itself; however, one sure-fire way to add further enjoyment to the occasion is with a winning bet. As such, bookmakers have rolled out the red carpet to those looking to land a cash boost in good time for the festive period.
That’s where our team of experts come in and after trawling through the facts, figures and form we return with our best bet of the race, one we think should go close to landing the prize money.
Lil Rockerfeller favourite
Won by Keeper Hill last year for Warren Greatrex and jockey Gavin Sheehan at an SP 5/2, he finished ahead of favourite Braqueur D’Or who was second at 7/4. Ballycrystal made up the prize placed when landing third at 16/1. Rocklander unseated his rider when having every chance in what was a dramatic encounter.
Lil Rockerfeller is favourite to wrestle the crown from its current keeper; thus far, the ante-post betting had him as a 7/2 jolly, a market best price offered up by Bet365. The seven-year-old gelding running out of the Neil King yard has career stats of eight wins and 14 places from 29 starts over the jumps; however, backers will be looking for him to be a little more clinical here as he has finished second on seven occasions already.
He does arrive at track with confidence on side however. His recent form has been nothing short of spectacular. The striking chestnut has won each of his last four since ending one behind favourite Call Me Lord in the Select Hurdle at Sandown last season. He improved a place to win a handicap at Goodwood over 2m 4f in August; then he added a beginners chase over the same trip at Uttoxeter next time. He completed the hat-trick courtesy of an appearance in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham over the extended three miles trip in a novices chase.
Lil Rockerfeller was last seen adding win number four on the bounce when battling to success around Exeter in another 3m novices chase only last month. The 4/11 fav lived up to the pre-race expectations of traders when beating Hoo Bally Diva home by a handsome eight lengths. He’s proved he has plenty of stamina in the tank and enjoys showing it on the big occasion.
Don’t ignore the stats
If you’d prefer to go against the favourite, we have a few snippets of information that’ll prove useful when making your decision on who to trust with your stake money. Decorated trainer Paul Nicholls has won three of the last five renewals of this race with Black Thunder (2013), Virak (2014) and Present Man (2016) doing the business. It should also be noted that each of the last two winners have been aged six years old and that extends to half of the last eight outings.
Keeping the two facts in mind when looking at the main players in the betting, only one runner falls into either category from the first five in the betting. Coup De Pinceau is a six-year-old gelding trained by the great Paul Nicholls and, delightfully, he’s a contender carrying a fantastic 8/1 price.
That’s too good for us to ignore and Coup De Pinceau goes in as our best bet of the race. When following our thinking we’re not guaranteeing you a winner to lump the Christmas bonus on; what we are saying is in backing Coup De Pinceau you’ll have the weight of the trends pushing you in the right direction. There’s also a quote that’s almost impossible to turn your nose up at.
Won half of his 10 starts
More reserved backers can take a shot each-way with place terms of 1/5 the odds a place 1-2-3. That goes with Unibet, although most of the competition are 1/4 the odds first and second, so bet wisely if playing each-way.
Our selection has won half of his first 10 goes and placed second on another three occasions. He was last seen winning on 5 December at Ludlow when collecting a novices chase over 2m 7f with Darius Des Bois 2 ½ lengths back in second. Red River was pulled up that day, despite going off as 6/5 favourite.