Richard Hoiles: Magic memories of Dickinson, Dessie and Uncle Ron

Happy Christmas to all of you and the very best for the New Year.

2019 looms but there is still plenty of unfinished business between now and the turn of the year including two of my favourite races in the calendar.

My early King George memories were largely due to my Uncle Ron’s love of a bet. The family used to flock to my aunt and uncle’s home in Ealing on Boxing Day where amidst the food and festivities the TV was always tuned to the racing to keep an eye on Ron’s Lucky 15.

In those days it just seemed a question as to which Dickinson horse would win - the answer to which was usually Silver Buck or Wayward Lad, a fact Uncle Ron was well up to speed on.

Now 90 years old, Uncle Ron will be tuning in again and I really hope I can call him a winner or two.

By the time I was able to make my own way to Kempton it was the era of Desert Orchid, yet strangely it was his defeat in 1987 which remains my most vivid memory.

It taught me a valuable lesson that, however good you are, the pace of a race can beat you.

That year Desert Orchid got involved in a fearsome battle for the lead with Beau Ranger and Cybrandian. My vantage point used to be the sixth last and indeed on the YouTube finish you can see me in a very stylish (?) two tone grey jacket and dodgy white trainers!

By the time they passed me first time the trio were well clear but things were to change rapidly.

Cybrandian was already beaten when coming down in front of me a circuit later with Ronnie Beggan, his jockey, standing on the bonnet of the ambulance to watch the finish as an unheralded horse in green, Nupsala, serenely sailed passed them all for French trainer Francois Doumen.

Doumen was to win the race a further four times but it was that Nupsala victory - and the reason for it - that remains most imprinted on my mind. That, and an impatient driver fed up of the long queues post racing in the dark who decided on an ill-advised short cut across the infield and fell foul of a very big ditch, tail lights left pointing to the sky!

My other favourite race over the Christmas period is the Coral Welsh Grand National.

In my early days, where there were separate commentaries on course and for the betting shops, it was the first major race I called in my first year in 1992.

A memorable one it was too with Run For Free leading home a Martin Pipe 1-2-3-4. It was one of five winners he had on the card.

Run For Free made all that year and the ability to get a prominent position is a big asset with a short run to the first turn and a long run to the first fence.

For horses that are generally pretty slow if they fail to get a position this can represent an insurmountable challenge and whilst Monbeg Dude (memories still raw as he ran down Teaforthree) and Raz De Maree have come from back in the field in recent years my personal preference is for a horse that can lie handy.

So what of this year’s selections?

Clearly Buveur D’air could prove a class apart but Global Citizen has made a big impression on me this season.

Very swift over his hurdles, he destroyed the field over this course and distance in the Dovecote, while Lisp and Ballymoy franked his Gerry Feilden win at the weekend.

He may just end setting it up for others but I think he could at least ruffle Buveur D’Air’s feathers, which makes him appeal at the prices.

Echoes of Nupsala here, with Coneygree and Native River likely to set a strong pace.

Bristol De Mai still looks a little overpriced but the suspicion remains he is a Haydock horse, whereas Thistlecrack looked to be ridden with an eye to the future in the Betfair Chase and the 2016 winner’s lowish jumping style is better suited to Kempton than the large unforgiving fences he faced at Haydock.

There is the obvious question whether after injuries he is the force of old but with the race likely to be run to suit his waiting style, this represents his best chance of a significant success over fences this campaign.

David Pipe won’t be training the first four home but he can emulate his father, Martin, by winning the race with Ramses De Teillee, who seems to relish the deep ground and Chepstow.

The query will be the trip but as mentioned earlier the tactical speed to get a position is an asset and he should be able to find a nice rhythm just behind the leaders.

Folsom Blue looks a danger after an eye-catching return over hurdles last time but there could still be more to come from Ramses De Teillee and he gets the vote.