All day it has rained

Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain
On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me
Remembering again that I shall die
And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks
For washing me cleaner than I have been
Since I was born into this solitude.

All week it has rained and Sizing Europe won't be running in the King George. But I don't feel as sad about it as the poet Edward Thomas.  It wasn't such a bad call, and there was nothing wrong with the stake, limited as it was to just 1% of the bank.

Lots to look forward to on boxing day, yet nothing jumps off the page as a must bet.

Naturally we hope Arkle fancy Arvika Ligeonniere comes through his Next Big Test at Leopardstown. He doesn't lack pace so I'm not too worried about the step back in trip. Oscars Well, however, is a worthy and formidable opponent. He was sharper than Arvika over hurdles, so we hope and trust that the big horse's rhythm and slick jumping can see him through.  The 5/6, though, is easy to let go.

Earlier, in the juvenile hurdle, Our Conor shouldn't really be second favourite to the latest Mullins/Ricci hotpot, but he's still shorter than 2/1.  (In fact, if all eight stand their ground the 12/1 about Stocktons Wing looks OK for a spot of each-way double action.)  

Back home at Kempton, Countrywide Flame is out to confirm his Champion Hurdle credentials, but he's another one we can watch without a bet at odds below 2/1.  The hold-up tactics seemed to work a treat for him in the Fighting Fifth, I must say.

And in the King George I wouldn't back Long Run with counterfeit, yet on all known previous round this track he should still prevail against a lack lustre field - unless Grands Crus can bounce back to something like the form he showed here in the Feltham a year ago. At 8/1 the Pipe beast's price is actually quite tempting for the second leg of the each-way double. You'd kick yourself, though, if he stopped dead with a breathing problem again, so maybe Captain Chris at 16/1 (3rd last year and much better last time out) is the one for the second leg. Each-way doubles are a great holiday distraction, and usually end very badly.

When you have to look too hard for a bet, you'll likely find a loser but it would be churlish not to oppose Mikael d'Haguenet at odds-on in a steeplechase.  He's set to go off very short again tomorrow in the Greenmount Novice at Limerick.  And while you can make a case for a few of the others, the safest bet appears to be ARGOCAT (currently 7/2), who ran a solid race in a little Graded event last time out.  As it's not a bet to get too excited about, the stake is restricted to 1% of the bank.  Is it worth it?

"All day it has rained", said soldier Alun Lewis, tented on the edge of the moors.
Nothing to do but ponder death & beauty ("we talked of girls, and dropping bombs on Rome").
And remember Edward Thomas too, who also, Lewis tells us,

.........................................................brooded long
On death and beauty - till a bullet stopped his song.

A bullet stopped Alun Lewis's song too, but that's got nothing to do with horse racing.