Baltazar D’Allier and Born Survivor among Newbury New Year’s Eve tips
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Irish raider Baltazar D’Allier can collect in Challow
Baltazar D’Allier created a huge impression when scoring last time out and can take the step up into Grade 1 company in his stride to land the 2m 4f Challow Hurdle at Newbury (13.50).
The gelding was purchased by leading Irish owner JP McManus after making and impressive winning debut in a point at Maralin and overcame an absence of 602 days to beat Mighty Stowaway by six lengths in a 22-runner affair at Navan on his first outing under rules for County Meath-based trainer Gordon Elliott.
After tracking the leaders, the five-year-old made stealthy headway to take up the running four from home and overcame a mistake at the second last before only having to be driven out on the run-in to stretch clear.
Huge engine and open to any amount of improvement
The runner-up is a well-regarded sort who has since come out and run well to finish second to the useful Pylonthepressure at Limerick and it was a most taking display which suggested Baltazar D’Allier was a very exciting prospect who has a huge engine and needed keeping firmly onside.
This requires much more but the son of Stowaway is open to any amount of improvement and is already being talked of as a contender for the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Baltazar D’Allier is clearly very highly thought of and with Barry Geraghty in the saddle can take this en route to even better things.
Born Survivor worth a bet
Born Survivor has shaped with stacks of promise in two run this season and looks decent value to get back to winning ways in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle (15.00).
The gelding joined trainer Dan Skelton following an impressive success on his sole start in an Irish point and got off the mark at the first time of asking for his new handler when scoring comfortably by two lengths at Warwick.
Born Survivor was then far from disgraced when stepped up into Grade 2 company and finishing fourth at the same venue before going on to round off the campaign with a facile all the way eight length success at Wetherby.
It was a most pleasing end to a first season over the obstacles as Skelton always maintained that Born Survivor was far from the finished article needed time to strengthen-up.
Cracking reappearance run
That view was confirmed when the five-year-old posted a cracking effort to finish a five length second of 15 to Massini’s Trap at Aintree on return to action in October when travelling strongly until being unable to find any extra late on as lack of race fitness took it’s toll.
It was an effort which suggested Born Survivor should be well up to winning races of his current mark of 141 and the son of King’s Theatre also ran well over course and distance last time out when fourth of 11 to Onefitzall in a hot handicap.
With those two runs under his belt he should now be spot on to do himself justice.
Newbury tips for Saturday, December 31
12.10: Percy Street
12.40: Aurillac
13.15: Yanmare
13.50: Baltazar D’Allier (NAP)
14.25: Romain De Senam
15.00: Born Survivor (NB)
15.35: William Henry
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