LARGE and competitive fields are the order of the day in tomorrow's Racing Pools game, the last before Christmas.
Players face a stiff challenge from the very first race for maidens over 1400 metres in which any number could play.
With good recent form practically non existent in the 11-strong field, best of a bad lot could well be PERE CHANTELLE on the basis of his 15 lengths second to STILL A KING over 1300 metres on November 27. His final time behind the runaway winner (1:21.4) was 1:24.4, good enough to come back and lead home SURVIVOR and SECRET GLORY.
Next on the programme is another maiden race, this one over 1500 metres for native bred three-year-olds.
The winner is almost sure to come from the quartet of CARDINAL LAW (knocking loudly at the door), SIPPIN CHAMPAGNE (steadily on the upgrade), COLONEL GRAMPS (speedy, will have to be caught) and SUNDAY EXPRESS (lively outsider).
Strictly at the weights, the grey CARDINAL LAW with a mere 49.0kg looks the one to beat after finishing second in his past four races.
Other firm fancies on the Pools programme are CORDITE (improving rapidly now) in the 3rd, MISS U.DOC (definitely the pick of the weights) in the 6th and BOMBS OVER BAGHDAD (going well for his new trainer) in the 7th race for the Rimsky Trophy.
