It is nice to gets things right sometimes and I reserve the right to go on about it when I do! I was hopeful that Mighty Man would turn the tables on My Way de Solzen and he did so in style. Watching the two horses running side by side demonstrated that Mighty Man is actually on the small side. It is understandable that his trainer is talking about keeping him to hurdles. It is noticeable how quickly Mighty Man gets from one side of his hurdles to the other. My Way de Solzen jumps his hurdles much more like a potential chaser. No Refuge ran on well enough in 4th while Classified came back from a very lengthy absence with a good deal of promise only fading late on.
In the Betfair Bowl Chase Take the Stand blundered his chance away at the last fence.
Moving on to Friday’s action we have 20+ runners from the jumps list to follow. We are 6 handed in the 2.00. I was a bit disappointed with Bewley’s Berry at Cheltenham. His below par effort might have just been due to the overall form of Howard Johnson’s yard but it puts me off giving him a strong tip here. Commercial Flyer, so impressive on his chase debut was even more of a disappointment at Cheltenham. Celestial Gold’s win on Thursday might herald a return to form for the Pipe team though. Turpin Green was 5th in the Jewson’s handicap at Cheltenham and would need to step up on that form to win this. Star de Mohaison was a Cheltenham winner and looks likely to start favourite while Copsale Lad ran very well when runner up to Reveillez at Cheltenham and is likely to appreciate this step up in trip. Roman Ark may well be suited by this trip but would probably need some more rain to get into the argument. This looks a very open and competitive heat with Star de Mohaison the percentage call. Copsale Lad is next best while a return to form by either Turpin Green or Bewley’s Berry would give them each way claims. We have 4 runners in the 2.35, Gungadu, Neptune Collonges, Travino and Glasker Mill. Black Jack Ketchum is the obvious winner in this race and it is very difficult to oppose him. I see that Ruby Walsh has deserted Neptune Collonges in favour of Gungadu. Travino is a chaser in the making and would need soft ground to figure. 3.10 Fota Island and Don’t Be Shy represent the Winning Post list. Fota Island won at this meeting last season and looks sure to go well. Martin Pipe’s horses seem to be running a bit better recently and I wonder if Don’t Be Shy can improve on his Cheltenham run here. If the ground rides on the soft side of good I would be tempted to take a chance with Don’t Be Shy. 4.20 Conna Castle, Straw Bear and Senorita Rumbalita are our runners in this one. Straw Bear was narrowly beaten at Cheltenham and this track should suit him better. He is another that will be suited by the rain and I see that Tony McCoy continues the partnership. Senorita Rumbalita has done well for us this season and is a course winner having won the mare’s bumper last season. Conna Castle is a very interesting runner. He comes from Ireland with a big reputation. Straw Bear will be hard to beat but both Conna Castle and Senorita Rumbalita have decent each way claims. I am hoping that by now we will have had a winner or two from the list to follow. Although we have 6 runners in the 4.55 I will be pleasantly surprised in one of them wins. Chauvinist, Billyvoddan, Limerick Boy, Ardaghey, McKelvey and Mount Clerigo. Looking for each way value I would suggest Argahey. Billyvoddan and Chauvinist would be my next best, with the latter needing rain. That will do for this evening. Don’t forget to join me tomorrow for an in depth look at the Grand National.
ahorse 