One Sniff was a winner for our jumps list to follow today at Hexham. He beat a useful horse of Howard Johnsons called The Reverend and should be able to go on to better things.
Tomorrow sees the final day of the 2006 flat season and of course we also have the Breeders Cup to look forward to.
The last meeting of the flat season is at Windsor this year rather than Doncaster which is undergoing a facelift.
Alfie Flits had looked a progressive individual when taking a listed race at Pontefract earlier in the season but floundered in testing conditions when upped to Group company last time out. Conditions should be more to his liking tomorrow in the 2.30 and he looks one for the short list.
Zowington represents our list to follow in the listed sprint at 3.05. He has is upped in class here and has a bit to find against some of his rivals. Our other runner is Presto Shinko. He has plenty of weight but won this race last season when it was stages at Donny and he also has a good record at Windsor. Our old friend Quito runs here as does Elite Racing Club runner Eisteddfod.
The 3.40 is the last big handicap of the season. There are two runners from our list, Peppertree Lane, who has already won 5 times, and Book of Music, a winner last time out at Ascot. Both handle soft ground Book of Music and is lightly raced and may have further improvement in him. The track could be a problem as he ran poorly round Chester’s tight turns a few runs ago. The drying ground may go against Peppertree Lane although Mark Johnston’s horses must always command the greatest respect at this time of year in particular.
Can we get a winner in the very last race of the season? Well there are 4 runners from the list to follow in the handicap at 4.10 that closes the Windsor card.
Pinpoint, trained by Walter Swinburne has been running well all season and won over this trip at Newbury in September. He was 3rd last time out at Newmarket in the Cambridgeshire. The unbeaten Rampallion has scope for improvement and is one of 3 Godolphin runners all of which are on our list. Narvik is having his first run of the season on the last day. He won his only start as a juvenile and doesn’t look too harshly treated on his handicap debut. Austrian is the third Godolphin runner. He won a soft ground maiden last season when trained by Mark Johnston and has just had one run this term. You couldn’t rule Pinpoint and Narvik out of this but my selection has to be Rampallion who looked impressive when scoring at Newmarket at the end of September.
We had a winner today from Nicky Richards and the Cumbrian trainer saddles another fancied runner in The Whisperer who runs in the Kelso 12.40. The Whisperer won his only point to point in Ireland and was an expensive purchase when he joined Nicky Richards yard.
I am hopeful of a win for Elite Club horse Trompette in the Sandown 3.10. She looks well handicapped but my main worry is the ground. If it turns out to be too quick it could spoil her chances as her winning form is all with give in the ground.
Our list runner in the bumper at 4.15 is Colin Tinkler’s Sound Accord. He is already a winner and as a result carries a penalty here which means he is giving weight to all the others. He is a half brother to Wild Cane Ridge. His immediate future will be over hurdles and while he should go well here I don’t like supporting bumper runners that carry a penalty.
Turning to Wincanton Paul Nicholl’s Kick for Free should make a winning start to his hurdles career in the 1.05 but he won’t be a betting proposition I am afraid.
Aztec Warrior (2.10) only has one win to his credit so far but now that he has been switched to hurdles I suspect that he will do rather better. Henrietta Knight has pitched him in against some stern opposition here as he takes on the likes of Turko. Tough ask on his first run over fences but he should be one to follow in the months (and years) to come.
Alderburn (3.20) has become a regular on my lists to follow and he should pay his way this season in staying chases. A win here would probably get him into the Hennessey. He certainly has an each way chance. The booking of AP McCoy is a plus. There are plenty of old friends in opposition in the shape of Fork Lightning, Nil Desperandum and Ladalko.
Desert Quest is likely to be a warm order for the 3.55 after his effortless win last week. I am hopeful that Noble Request can give him a run for his money though. He jumps well, acts on any ground and has gone well fresh. At 7/1 he looks the value.
There are some good reports about Mutual Respect who runs in the bumper at 4.25.
War of Attrition has his second outing of the campaign in the 2.40 at Down Royal where he meets old rival Beef or Salmon and the young pretender Justified.
Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby stages this years Breeders Cup. There is quite a European interest including several runners from our list to follow.
In the 6.55 Quiet Royal represents our list to follow but the main European chance really lies with Ouija Board.
There is a strong European challenge in the 8.15 where we have Aussie Rules, Rob Roy and Echo of Light.
Hurricane Run and Scorpion are our list horses in the 9.35. Both could probably do with a strong pace but they may not get it.
Aiden O’Brien is bullish about the chances of George Washington in the 10.20 but there is what looks like a very powerful home challenge. David Junior is the other runner from our list to follow.
I will be back tomorrow evening for a look at Sunday’s racing.
ahorse 