I hope you all enjoyed a great Christmas. The happy time will at least last for two more days to the extended weekend. And today on Boxing Day, I'm sure many football fans like me will be watching some of the 10 English Premier League matches available tonight.
The current Premier League season is close to reaching its mid-point and has been an interesting and eventful campaign so far. Before the season started in August, I believe many of you would rate Leicester City among those likely to be relegated as opposed to title contenders. On Boxing Day last year they were at the bottom of the Premier League, but there was a mammoth contrast this season as they are now at the top of the table, leading other powerhouses including Arsenal who are now two points behind them in second.
But it hasn’t been a successful season for reigning champions Chelsea. They lost nine of their first 17 league matches, and are now 15th in the standings. Their manager Jose Mourinho also paid the price for the poor results, losing his job last week. Manchester United’s manager Louis Van Gaal is another one who is at the risk of being shown the exit doors, as his team just won two league matches in the past two months. United will play against Stoke City tonight and their performances will be under close scrutiny during their Christmas fixture.
I will be watching some of these matches tonight and am also looking forward to the Arima Kinen tomorrow. It is a shame that Japan Cup winner Shonan Pandora was pulled from the race, as her trainer was not comfortable with her condition after she had a fast gallop on Wednesday. Having said that, there are still some wonderful horses, such as Lovely Day and Gold Ship in the field and it remains to be a race I am really anticipating.
As for our 11-race meeting at Sha Tin, the recently repositioned Griffin Trophy takes its place as the end of the year feature, this time moving from early in the card to Race 8 as a promising field of 12 takes aim at the prize over the distance of 1400 metres. This restricted race for three year olds only has proven to be a good indicator of upcoming horses as 2013 edition’s winner Luger went on to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby this year, with the highly rated Domineer finishing fourth. In this race last year it also included horses such as Strathmore and Dashing Fellow.
The pace of the race should be modest as many of the horses in the race are attempting 1400m for the first time. This is the case for New Asia Sunrise, Diego Kosta and Happy Chappy - the three horses likely to go forward and establish the running. New Asia Sunrise has finished in the quinella in five of his six starts and has finished second in each of his last three races at 1200 metres against some talented winners. He is a genuine place chance in the race.
Classic Emperor comes into the race in top form and turns back in trip after winning in Class 3 over a mile. He should be relatively close to the pace and is a win and place chance after two solid efforts in the current season. People's Knight makes his second-up run in the Griffin Trophy and is a solid place chance as he is proven over the course and distance and looks primed for a big effort. Amazing Feeling and General Of Patch will go back from their wide draws and both horses will be running on late with place chances.
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