Month: April 2006

 

Of the horses mentioned in Saturday’s preview 10 won and 3 were 2^nd.

  

Only 3 runners catch my eye on Monday’s cards and they are all at Windsor.

  

Espartano won nicely over course and distance on his debut and is taken to follow up in the  2.00.  The faster ground should not inconvenience him.

 

 

Arminius scampered away from his field to win a 7 furlong maiden at Newmarket on his second run last season. Stepped up to a mile here he impressed me on his debut and I would expect him to prevail in the 4.10. 

 

 

Milton Bradley knows a thing or two about sprinters and I fancy his Johnny Parkes to land a win or two this season.  He gets in the list to follow partly on the strength of a second to another “lister” Harrison’s Flyer at York last season when the pair of them were well clear of the rest.  He has an each way chance in the 4.40. See you tomorrow

Continue reading “Diary: May 1 2006” →

It was an eventful day in the racing world with the shock announcement by Martin Pipe that he is retiring and handing over to his son David.

  

From a personal point of view the day could hardly have gone better.  There were 5 winners from the list to follow with, Obe Brave, Rob Roy, Futun, Public Forum and Primary all obliging.  There were winning tips for the 2 year olds Fool Me and Amber Valley and three other list horses, Zidane, Shipmaster and Woolly Bully were 2^nd. Swinbrook and Tagula Blue were other winners to get a favourable mention.

  

There are no runners from our list to follow in action at Brighton. I see that 3 horses from last season’s list are running on the continent.  Sir Mark Prescott has Violette in the German 1,000 guineas at Dusseldorf while Mark Johnston saddles both Kindling and Winged D’Argent in the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at Longchamps.

  

The new jumps season starts on Sunday after a break of – er –  0 days.  AP McCoy starts the defence of his crown in a novice chase at Ludlow!  I will not be covering the summer jumps though.

  Back tomorrow evening for a look at Monday’s cards.

Continue reading “Diary: April 30 2006” →

.  Macs Joy won for the list to follow in the Irish Champion Hurdle.  I thought that he had a good chance of getting the better of old rival Brae Inca in the prevailing conditions.  He deserved his success.

  

Well, the curtain comes down on another jumps season tomorrow at Sandown

  

We only have 1 runner over the jumps and that is It Takes Time in the Whitbread Gold Cup (or the Betfred as it is called these days.) at 3.20.  I don’t have any particular fancy for this race.  Eric’s Charm absolutely dotted up at Sandown last time in the soft. He has gone up 12 lbs for that and this is an extra 5 furlongs but he did win impressively.  My Will is consistent and is respected although he might need some rain. Royal Auclair should have the ground to suit and is a good weight carrier.

  

There is some quality flat racing at Sandown as well and we have an interest in 3 of the races starting with the 3.55 and Sir Michael Stoute’s Rob Roy.  Rob Roy has always looked a colt of some potential but has not yet fulfilled that promise.  He should come pretty close to winning here.  Take A Bow nearly made it into my list to follow and is one of these horses that never seems to run a bad race.  He could be the danger to Rob Roy.

  

4.25 Jadalee and Primary are our runners in a weak looking classic trial. I think that Primary has a reasonable chance of overturning the hot favourite here and gets the vote.

  

4.55 Both Public Forum and Cashier are lightly raced types who could turn out to be better than handicap class.  Cashier won in Dubai in February and is the selection.

  

Haydock 5.45 Amber Valley showed some promise when 4^th on her debut and can make that experience count here.

  

7.45 Hearthstead Dancer was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance 8 days ago.  Stepped up in distance today.

  

8.15 Shipmaster is trained by Alan King who is better known for his national hunt horses.  He does well on the flat as well though and in Shipmaster he has a staying handicapper with some promise.  Looks to have the Mick Channon horse to beat.

  

Leicester 2.20 Suhayl Star and Fool Me are of interest here.  Fool Me shaped well here last time when 4^th and looks a reasonable bet to get off the mark at the second time of asking.

  

2.55 Zomerlust and Zowington were sprint winners for our list to follow in the week and I am hoping that Zidane can make it a hat trick of zeds.  He is related to a couple of very useful sprinters and more was expected last time when he disappointed at Windsor recently.  Stable getting into gear and he should do better.  Swinbrook would be my idea of the main danger.

  

4.00 New Seeker, Quito and Etlaala are all old friends in what should be a hot little race.  There should be plenty of pace on which might set things up for the fast finishing Quito.

  

4.30 I have retained Halla San on the list to follow after he won a couple for me last season. He has changed stables and moved to Richard Fahey now that Lynda Ramsden has retired.  Tagula Blue has possibilities with K Fallon an interesting jockey booking.

  

5.00 Futun looks the type to improve and the stable are going well.

  

6.05 I am hopeful that Woolly Bully will prove the answer here.  He was 2^nd when a beaten favourite at Yarmouth last time.

  Ripon 2.30 Rydale Ovation and Obe Brave represent the list to follow.  Both were placed on their respective reappearances and of the two Obe Brave would seem to have the better chance. 3.40 Dr Sharp is the each way call here.  He is suited by a test of stamina and looks to be on a fair mark.  5.10 Baron Rhodes is probably going to pop up at a good price somewhere.  Not well drawn on this occasion though. Back tomorrow night, be lucky.

Continue reading “Diary: April 29 2006” →

The answer to yesterday’s quiz question is that Banjo Patterson wrote to words to Waltzing Matilda.  Sadly the horse of the same name failed to waltz home in the 6.25 at Yarmouth but we did have a few winners nonetheless.

  

Sir Gerard, our only other flat lister won at 13/8 and there were wins for 3 horses from the jumps list, Rasharrow, Accordion Etoile and Asian Maze.  The Irish list to follow has had a remarkably successful season.

  

Before I move on to look at Friday’s racing I want you to humour me.  Go on to the Racing Post site and put a horse called Caesars Palace in as the search.  Then (you will need broadband) watch the video of his race on 2 January at Ayr.  Don’t just watch the finish, watch the whole race.  You will enjoy it!

  

Anyway, on to Friday and Punchestown. There are only 4 runners in the Champion Hurdle at 3.15 but it is certainly a quality quartet.  Brave Inca and Mac’s Joy represent our list to follow.  I see that Brave Inca is 8/11 to complete the Cheltenham Punchestown double.  AP McCoy suits this battler of a horse to perfection and they will be a hard combination to beat. At the odds though I am going to go with Mac’s Joy to cause a minor upset.  There is not much between the two of them and the drying ground will not be in Brave Incas favour.

  

Tumbling Dice was 3^rd to Reveillez in the Jewson at Cheltenham and reappears in the 3.50 where Barry Geraghty rides. The extra distance here should suit Tumbling Dice and he has an each way chance.  The form of the Jewson Handicap has worked out pretty well.

  

We have 2 runners in the 4.25.  Travino might be a doubtful participant but Conna Castle is not without a chance.  He failed to land a hat trick when beaten by the useful Straw Bear at Aintree but his overall form looks pretty consistent and he shouldn’t be far away.

  

I have been struggling to spell O’Muircheartaigh all season but he has proved a fair horse for our list as he has only been out of the first 2 once in his 5 starts.  He has a live chance in the 5.00.  He is by the same sire as Accordion Etoile for those of you who are interested in such things.

  

There is a mixed card at Sandown.  The first and second in last season’s Triumph Hurdle contest the 1.10.  Penzance has done nothing this season to warrant any confidence but Fassel has possibilities.  He was well beaten last week by Noble Request but is 15 lbs better off at the weights.  I think he has a chance, especially with the drying ground likely to suit him.

  

After Rohaani was 2^nd in the Roseberry I was prepared to support him on his next outing.  I hadn’t bargained for the next run to be in Group 3 company though (1.45) and I have just not quite got the courage of my convictions, particularly with K Fallon on Sir Michael Stoute’s other runner.

  

Willie Haggas apparently holds the once raced Hopeful Purchase (4.05) in high regard.  This colt finished in eyecatching fashion when 3^rd behind a couple of others from our list, Olympian Oddyssey and Degas Art at Newmarket. Should win this before going on to better things.

  

Portavadie was outclassed last time at Cheltenham but he is no lost cause in the 3.40 at Perth.  He has Green Tango to beat but will be suited by the ground and if the favourite slips up would be the one most likely to profit.

  

Backing Sir Michael Stoute maidens at Wolverhampton isn’t the way to set you up for life.  Still, Juror is on our list to follow and he runs in the 3.55.  He should win.

  Keep smiling, there is no such thing as a lost cause – ask Caesar’s Palace!

Continue reading “Diary: April 28 2006” →

It has been a good week for the list to follow with 3 more winners on Wednesday from Zowington (11/1), Lennon (9/1) and of course War of Attrition.  I was also pleased that my tip for Just Dust came in at 6/1, and we also had a winner with the only selection st Kempton this evening.

  

One of the difficulties of following a large list of horses is simply remembering all the names.  The easiest names to remember are those beginning with “Z” and I have had a few successes with these over the years.  Zero Tolerance did well for me a couple of seasons back as did a horse called Zonus that was with Barry Hills.  Zowington and Zomerlust have kept up the tradition for me this week.

  

I will start Thursday’s preview with a look at the prospects for Punchestown.  Old Spot the Difference showed that he is still a force to be reckoned with when a gallant second at Cheltenham.  His conqueror that day, Native Jack is in the field again for the La Touche Cup at 2.40.  Spot the Difference has had a spin over hurdles since his Cheltenham defeat, is a course and distance winner and will not go down without a fight.

  

Accordion Etoile and In Compliance line up in the 3.50.  Accordion Etoile looked a novice chaser of some promise at the start of the season when beating Tamarinbleu in a close finish.  His jumping seems to have fallen apart since then though.  In Compliance lost his 100%v record when beaten by Justified at Fairyhouse earlier this month.  Connections take Justified on again here and it is possible that a change of tactics will see In Compliance get his nose in front.

  

Asian Maze was mighty impressive when easily accounting for Hardy Eustace at Aintree and is difficult to oppose in the 4.25.  She will have the benefit of Ruby Walsh in the saddle.  Our other list runner in this race is Travino.

  

Forager only beat 2 home in the listed hurdle yesterday but I see that he is entered again in the 5.35 where he is down to shoulder top weight.

  

Sticking with the jumpers there is again some decent action up at Perth.  Len Lungo runs Rasharrow in the 2.30.  Rasharrow was expected to make a big impact this season but after winning a couple of small events has not really been able to live up to expectations.  He is clearly held in high regard and it may be that he will be able to redeem his slightly tarnished reputation here.

  

The grey Rimski has been running pretty well this season although it is a while since he got his head in front.  He met a bit of a tartar in Standin’ Obligation last time out but this race looks easier and he can land the spoils in the 3.30.

  

Rosie Redman won for us up at Kelso recently.  That was over 3.5 miles and I am not sure that the step back to 3 miles in the 4.00 will help.  She goes on any ground and shouldn’t be too far away.

  

We have had some notable success with the flat list to follow this week.  Hopefully this will continue with Sir Gerard in the 3.20 at Beverley.  This one is trained by James Fanshawe and won nicely at Lingfield last October.  James Fanshawe has just the one runner at the East Yorkshire venue.

  

Banjo Patterson runs in the 6.25 at Yarmouth.  He has only run 5 times in his career and has won 3 of them.  He looked a good horse last year and looks set for another successful campaign.  Frankie Dettori has the ride.  By the way, as a bit of a quiz question, what was the real Banjo Patterson famous for?

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: April 27 2006” →

There were a couple of wins from the list horses on Tuesday thanks to Celtic Carisma (12/1) and Missed That (4/1).  Of the other horses featured 7 came 2^nd!

  

There are two runners from the list to follow in the 1.50 at Epsom, High Reach and Zowington.  High Reach has changed stables since his last run.  He has not won for over 12 months but as a result has come down the weights to a point where he can get competitive again in handicaps. The 4 year old Zowington has only raced 8 times in his career, winning twice.  He may well have more improvement in him and of the two is my fancy for this race.  The main threat could come from Jayanjay.

  

In the Catterick seller at 2.05 Just Dust has an each way chance, While Fairfield Princess is fancied to go well in the 7.00 at Kempton.

  

Nicky Henderson sends Trompette over to Punchestown to contest the 2.40.  She has a couple of wins under her belt already this season and has an each way chance.

  

3.15 Helensburg is our representative in this big field of handicap hurdlers.  We did OK yesterday with Knight Legend in a similar field.  Each way chance.

  

3.50 Forget the Past and War of Attrition represent the list to follow in the big race of the day.  I expect War of Attrition to confirm the Cheltenham form.

  

Perth 3.05 Irish Raptor has taken to time to find his feet since arriving from Ireland.  He has shown signs of improvement and may well run well at a decent price here.  Track should suit.

  

3.40 Galero won at Musselburg last time but has more to do at the weights here and stable not in good nick.

  4.15 Rehearsal warrants respect here as his flat form during the winter has been most consistent. Our other runner is Lennon but as mentioned earlier the form of Howard Johnson’s runners is a negative. See you tomorrow

Continue reading “Diary: April 26 2006” →