Month: November 2006

Of the 4 horses featured in last night’s preview 3 won and the other was 2^nd.  Prices were very much on the short side though I am afraid.

  

The chase debut of World Hurdle winner My Way de Solzen was eagerly awaited and he didn’t let his supporters down, winning in style t Lingfield. A little less impressive was the other winner from our list to follow, Leading Contender.  He managed to justify short odds favouritism at the third go, but only by a short head.  I would think he will be upped in trip for his next outing.

  

I was kicking myself tonight about one winner that “got away.”  Jungle Jinks had won 4 times at Wetherby where he is something of a standing dish and he was running off a lower mark than his last win their.  Anyway, the 11 year old duly obliged at the Yorkshire track today outstaying Jimmy Bond who had quite a duel over the last half mile.  Jimmy Bond is aptly named as his dam was Miss Moneypenny.  He should win races, possibly over a slightly shorter trip as he appeared to not quite get home today.  Jimmy Bond is trained by Kaye Walton whose web site is one of my links. Click on the link below for a photo of the horse.

http://www.katewaltonracing.co.uk/Horses%202.htm

  

Carlisle has been abandoned but arcing goes ahead at Taunton and also Uttoxeter.

  

I have a personal interest in the selling hurdle at Taunton 12.55.  Travolta has not been a success for the Elite Racing Club and he is probably getting what amounts to a last chance in the 12.55.  He has I am afraid looked a bit faint hearted in his efforts to date and although I hope he wins I wouldn’t (and won’t) bet on it!

  

There is a rather better animal, but another quirky one, running in the second race at 1.25.  Ouninpohja won no less than 5 times on the flat in 2005.  This year though he has been most frustrating finishing runner up in 6 of his 7 races.  He has plenty of ability though and is a potentially useful recruit to the hurdling ranks for top trainer Paul Nicholls.

  

Another smart ex flat performer, Blythe Knight will be expected to notch his second win over hurdles in the 12.35 at Uttoxeter.  Blythe Knight of course won the Lincoln Handicap, run at Redcar, earlier this year.  Tony McCoy rides.

  

In the 2.35 Kayceecee represents our list to follow and has an each way chance.  He is upped in trip here and that might just suit him.

Continue reading “Diary: November 23 2006” →

Our only runner today was Bougoure who was beaten into 2^nd place by Turnstile at Sedgefield.  Bougoure was well clear of the rest of the field and should find a race before to long.

  

I was pleased to see that Fondmort seems to be recovering slowly from his life threatening injury.  He will never race again though. Less fortunate this week was David Pipe’s chaser Therealbandit, who suffered a similar injury and had to be put down.

  

Fondmort won a total of 8 races in the UK, the last 4 all coming at his favoured Cheltenham.  His best win was probably his last when he took the Ryanair Chase at the Festival this year.  He was as game as they come and a superb jumper.

  

Therealbandit won 9 times, and he also won 4 at Cheltenham. His best win though probably came in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby last Boxing Day.

  

There are 3 jumps meetings on tomorrow.

  

Leading Contender has not proved an inspired choice for the list to follow thus far as he has twice been beaten when odds on favourite.  He was a decent bumper horse last season and once again strictly speaking he should win the Chepstow 1.05.  But….

  

Blue Splash galloped his rivals into the ground when winning at Aintree last month.  The handicapper has raised him 12 lbs for that effort so life will not be easy for him on the Chepstow in the 2.45.  Peter Bowen’s horses are going well though and jockey Tom O’Brien will give every assistance from the saddle.  By the way Blue Splash is a full brother to another on our list to follow, Ungaru, who is with Keith Reveley and has already won twice over fences this season.

  

The main interest at Lingfield will revolve around World Hurdle winner My Way de Solzen who makes his chase debut in the 12.45.  He has always looked the type to jump a fence and has reportedly schooled well.

  

Best bet at Wetherby could be The Reverend who ran well behind One Sniff last time out and has plenty of ability.

  

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 22 2006” →

We just had the one runner from our list to follow today and David Pipe’s Fourty Acers won on his chase debut at Ludlow.  He came in at 5/4 joint favourite and made nearly all the running.  He looked beaten at times during the race and touched 5/1 in running but McCoy was in determined mood and got plenty of response from the horse.

  Bougoure, trained by Sue Smith is our only runner tomorrow.  He was arguably unlucky on his chase debut at Market Rasen when he slipped on landing at the last when in a challenging position.  He runs in the 12.40 at Sedgefield.

Continue reading “Diary: November 21 2006” →

It has been marvellous weekend’s jump racing with plenty of pointers to the big events to come. 

  

The highlight from Saturday was the performance of Kauto Star, described by his trainer as “awesome” who put some useful rivals to the sword in effortless fashion at Haydock.  He will certainly take some stopping at Kempton in the second leg of the million pound treble.  An extra two furlongs at Cheltenham come March might just be a different matter though.

  Paul Nicholls had another profitable weekend and I was particularly pleased to see his chaser Cerium collect at odds of 12/1.  This one has had a breathing operation and that seems to have done the trick with him.  Kicks For Free is another Nicholls inmate with a tall reputation and he won nicely for Ruby Walsh beating a couple of decent rivals in Self Respect and Bleak House in the novice hurdle.  

The Nicholls runner in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon had to settle for second place, although Thisthatandtother ran a big race under Wayne Hutchinson.  He tried to make all and jumped well but could not match Racing Demon who has a serious engine and skipped away after the last.  The winner tends to jump to his right but was well ridden by Graham Lee who kept him close to the rail throughout.  It was good to see Graham Lee in the winner’s enclosure as he has fallen from the spotlight somewhat since being replaced by Paddy Brennan as stable jockey to Howard Johnson.  Racing Demon was notching a 7^th win in this Huntingdon showpiece for his trainer Henrietta Knight, following in the hoofprints of Best Mate, Edredon Bleu and Impek.

  

We had 7 winners from our list to follow on Saturday.  Apart from those already mentioned Ungaru made it two out of two over fences while Halcon Generlardais captured the valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock at 5/1 and will now be heading for the Welsh National.  This one looked an unlikely winner as they took the last but Choc Thornton got a real surge from him close home.  Our 7^th winner came at Punchestown where Ross River took me by surprise, winning the 2 mile 2 handicap chase at 6/1.  He is certainly versatile, he wins over hurdles or fences and at any trip or any ground.

  

Today’s meeting at Aintree is always an exciting spectacle with two races over the Grand National fences.  I thought Hakim might be the one to be on in the Grand Sefton but having flown the first few knuckled on landing and that was that.  During the race I was hoping the grey Shannon’s Pride might land the prize as he is something of an old friend, but having jumped well he was outpaced in the closing stages by the winner.  Shannon’s Pride is a half brother to Direct Access for those who take an interest in such trivia.

  

Our list horse Bewley’s Berry ran a cracker in the Becher Chase and was a very creditable 2^nd.  One for the Grand National eventually maybe.  The winner Eurotrek is a very talented individual but has been hard to keep sound.  I remember when he first came to the UK as a former Irish points winner.  He was trained by Jonjo O’Neill in those days I think.

  

We had 3 winners from the list to follow today.  Iktitaf took the Morgiana Hurdle under a typically calm Paul Carberry ride.  Once he hit the front he didn’t find a lot but that may have been down to the testing conditions.  Asian Maze ran an excellent race close up in second. She will win races this season.  Inca Trail was off the bridle way out but then he often is.  He will be a different proposition at Cheltenham I imagine.

  

Our other winners were O’Muircheartaigh at Punchestown and New Little Bric at Plumpton, another promising Paul Nicholls French import.

  

I see that  two from last season’s list to follow were winners today.  Accordello has always looked to have ability and off a featherweight she won the handicap hurdle at Aintree quite cosily.  Another mare, Rosita Bay a dual bumper winner won the “national hunt” novice hurdle at Plumpton.

  

We only have one runner from the list to follow tomorrow.  Fourty Acers goes in the 2.20 at Ludlow which is a beginner’s chase.  He is a former Irish points winner who was an easy winner of a Stratford bumper.  He has shown some form over hurdles and should go well on his chase bow.  Over hurdles he was campaigned over shorter trips but this 20 furlongs should suit him if his pedigree is anything to go by.

  

Be lucky

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 20 2006” →

Friday supplied a couple of winners from the list to follow.  Rasharrow shrugged off his recent saddle slipping mishap to win at Kelso while Tarlac revelled in the soft ground to win the last race at Ascot.  Both look capable of adding further wins as the season progresses.

  

There is plenty of quality racing on offer up and down the country over the weekend and also across the Irish Sea.  So without further ado….

  

I will start at Ascot where I will be watching Supreme Copper in the 12.30. This son of Supreme Leader went in to a few notebooks with an eyecatching 3^rd at Wincanton last month.  Emma Lavelle had a winner yesterday with Tana River so the stable seem to be going OK.  I am hopeful that Supreme Copper will run well.

  

There are two horses from our list to follow in the 1.05. Reveillez has been consistent over fences with form figures of 2211.  He landed a gamble at the Cheltenham Festival when ridden by Tony McCoy but has Conor O’Dwyer on board this time.  He has actually finished in the first two in 14 of his 27 career starts. He is probably most effective on good ground so the going may be a concern.  Cerium has had a breathing operation since he last ran and that may enable him to recover the winning form he showed early last season.  He probably handles any going and may be quite well handicapped.

  

Mighty Man represents the list to follow in the 1.35.  3^rd in the World Hurdle last season he then reversed the form with the winner My Way de Solzen when they clashed at Aintree in April. He is running over a trip short of his best here but I would not rule him out and he could pull a surprise if Hardy Eustace is below his best form.

  

Andreas and Madison Du Berlais run for our list to follow in the 2.05.  Andreas was 3^rd behind Crossbow Creek 3 weeks ago and I would not expect the placing to be reversed.  Madison Du Berlais should handle the ground but I see that Timmy Murphy has elected to ride the stable’s other runner Contraband.  I don’t have any strong views about this race.

  

In the bumper at 3.50 Willie Pep is our list representative. He won a bumper at Taunton on his only previous start and I would expect him to run well here.

  

The Haydock card starts with a competitive looking novice hurdle at 1.20. Bleak House and Kicks for Free are the runners from our list and both are highly regarded by their respective camps.  Bleak House cost £200,000 gns when purchased from Tom Tate’s stable for the big spending Graham Wylie after winning a Haydock bumper.  He has since made a winning start to his hurdles career.  Similarly Kicks for Free came via the bumper route, winning twice in that sphere before finishing 3^rd in both the Cheltenham and Aintree festival bumpers.  He has since got off the mark at the first time of asking over hurdles.  The big danger to these two is likely to be the ex flat horse Self Respect who beat subsequent winner Moon Over Miami in a listed hurdle at Kempton.  Good race in prospect here. Kicks for Free would get my narrow vote but I would certainly not take a short price about him.

  

The big race of the day is the Lancashire Chase at 1.50 when Beef or Salmom Kingscliffe and Kauto Star are the 3 runners from our list.  There is no doubt that Kauto Star has tons of ability but whether he will stay this 3 miles is really an unknown.  As such I am not sure that he is really a betting proposition.  Last season Kingscliffe won this with Beef or Salmon 2^nd.  At his best there is no doubt that Kingscliffe is capable of winning this again but it is really a case of which Kingscliffe is going to turn up.  He has a squiggle by his name in the Timeform annual denoting an unreliable horse.  While that may be a bit harsh as his problems are probably physical rather than mental he does not always show his best form.  He runs best fresh and for that reason I am going to bypass him as his last run was only 3 weeks ago.  Beef or Salmon has never won outside his native Ireland but he has conditions to suit him here, a small field and soft ground.  He could hardly come here in better nick either having claimed the scalp of War of Attrition at Down Royal last time out.  L’Ami will present a threat to our 3.  The French raider had some solid form last season, will like the ground and has had a recent spin over hurdles.  All things considered I am going to take a chance of Beef or Salmon to break his UK duck.

  

The staying handicap at 2.20 looks particularly competitive affair. Halcon Generlridais and Brankley Boy run from our list to follow.  Halcon Generlardais won 3 out of 4 over fences last season and is running off a much lower mark here over hurdles than he would over fences.  He stays and acts on soft ground.  His long term target is likely to be the Welsh National at Christmas but he could well have place prospects tomorrow off his favourable mark.  Brankley Boy has been consistent over hurdles despite not being the most fluent of jumpers at times.  His half sister Lady Rebecca won 13 times over timber.  He is 6lbs “wrong” at the weights though.

  

There are plenty of old friends from previous season’s lists to follow, notably, The Bajan Bandit, Korelo, Royal Emperor and United.  The Bajan Bandit has been a great servant for Scottish trainer Len Lungo.  He actually won 10 of his first 11 starts. These days he tends to pop up when you least expect him to with his last success coming in a handicap chase at Ayr in February when he beat Royal Emperor. He is 3 lbs higher than winning over course and distance in February 2005.  Royal Emperor is a versatile performer and switches between fences and hurdles.  He was 3^rd in last season’s Scottish National.  He loves it at Haydock and if he gets his favoured soft ground I can see him running really well.  Korelo is usually ridden from the back and he has a devastating finishing kick.  The mare United won a Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown in April 2005 but has not won since and has had a few injury problems.  She was 2^nd at Wincanton earlier this month though and the stable are going well.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see the veteran Tees Components run into a place but if the ground is riding soft my each way selection would be Royal Emperor.

  

Sticking with the Romans, Roman Ark is our list runner in the 3.20.  Roman Ark is not without a chance but this 2 mile trip may be on the short side for him.  He will appreciate further rain.

  

Beau Michel looked a horse with a bright future when winning at Exeter on his first start of the season.  He looks the type to improve again and the extra 3 furlongs he faces in the 3.55 should suit him. The obvious danger is the Irish horse Kanpai.

  

At Huntingdon there are two list runners in the 12.55.  Ungaro was a decent hurdler and has already won over fences.  He is strongly fancied here. Keenan’s Future didn’t get very far at Market Rasen in the week when he was brought down at the first fence.  He should stay further than this in time and should be up to winning races over fences.

  

Henrietta Knight has a spectacular record in the Peterborough Chase (3.00) her runners having prevailed in 6 of the last 8 runnings.  She has Racing Demon this time round.  His chance cannot be ruled out despite unseating his rider at Exeter on his seasonal reappearance.  Timmy Murphy is riding elsewhere tomorrow which is a pity as he has a 100% record on the horse.  Our other list runner is Dempsey who I feel is better over a shorter trip.

  

There is a good card at Punchestown where the dual bumper winner, You Sir, a relative of the great Limestone Lad, is my fancy for the 1.15.

  

There are two runners from our list to follow in the 1.45.  Vic Venturi made a good start to his fencing career when beating Conna Castle at Galway and is preferred to Oulart. He looks like developing into one of Ireland’s better staying novice chasers.

  

Although Ross River is 11 now he is no back number and I will be following his efforts closely this season when he is likely to mix hurdles and fences.  The 2.25 mile trip tomorrow may just be on the short side for him though.

  

Turning to Sunday’s action Degas Art is likely to start favourite for the 1.00.  This winner of a listed race on the flat was another expensive purchase by Howard Johnson for the Wylie’s.  He has already won well over hurdles on his debut for the new yard.  Pouvoir, a winner in France probably represents the danger.  Alan King’s runner was a faller on his UK debut but is probably capable of better.

  

Hakim has been first and second on his previous efforts over the national fences.  He goes in the Grand Sefton at 1.30 and although he is a 12 year old and has to shoulder top weight he is such a good jumper that he could well run into a place.

  

There are some interesting runners in the 2.00.  Trouble at Bay was a useful juvenile and returns to the track after a lengthy absence while Chivalry, a past winner of the Cambridgeshire is another returning after a long lay off.  He was trained by Howard Johnson but is now with Venetia Williams.  Accordello finally got off the mark last week at Wetherby at the 13^th attempt.  She had run well in good company on a number of occasions and could be interesting off a low weight.  Ursis won a couple of hurdle races last a season and is one to consider as he has had a recent run on the flat and should be fit.  Dangerously Good could be worth an each way interest. He has been a bit injury prone but is useful at his best.

  

There are a fair few Aintree specialists in the Becher Chase at 2.35. Clan Royal (3^rd), Nil Desperandum (4^th) Joe’s Edge (7^th) Inca Trail (8^th) and Forest Gunner (9^th) all completed in the Grand National last season.  Il Desperandum has changed stables since his last visit to Aintree and he was staying on when 3^rd at Wetherby recently and should go well.  There is also confidence behind Inca Trail who is a full brother to Best Mate.  He has also had the benefit of an encouraging recent run.  There are two from our list to follow, Dun Doire and Bewleys Berry.  Dun Doire was a prolific winner last season and his trainer seems bullish about his horse’s chances.  Bewley’s Berry has always looked a horse with potential and this sort of race could just suit him.  This is a real open contest with both the Nicholls runners worth a second look and McKelvey, a winner in the summer at Uttoxeter a thorough stayer on a good mark.  Inca Trail has a good a chance as any.

  

Opera De Coeur (3.10)  won his first 3 starts over hurdles in the UK and then finished 4^th in a hot race behind Detroit City.  Sine then he has suffered from a life threatening attack of colic. He makes his chase debut in the 3.10 where he will get a useful weight allowance.  Best on soft ground he will face the promising Lennon who has already made am impressive start to his chasing career.

  

Best bet of the day at Plumpton could be Paul Nicholls New Little Bric in the 2.20.  He won twice over hurdles at Pau and is well thought of by connections.

  

At Punchestown I just prefer Conna Castle to Skys the Limit in the 1.15.

  

In the 1.45 Firth of Forth and O’Muircheartaigh represent our list to follow.

  

The 2.15 sees the return to action of Brave Inca.  New Mill and Iktitaf will provide stern opposition.

  

In the 3.45 De Valira is one to watch.  A half brother to the ill fated Valiramix he was an impressive winner of a bumper here on his only previous start and looks to have a bright future.

  

That is all for now.  See you on Sunday evening.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 18 & 19” →

We have suffered from a bout of seconditis over the last couple of days but at least Yaboya won for the list to follow today. I have followed Yaboya’s progress pretty well since the start of his career and he has always looked the type to make a chaser.  He jumped well today to open his account over fences at Market Rasen although he had to be kept up to his work right to the line by AP McCoy.  The other runner in the race, Keenan’s Future was brought down at the first.

  

Down at Wincanton I thought Henrietta Knight’s Harringay jumped particularly well on her chase bow and there was no disgrace in being outpaced at the finish by Senorita Rumbalita who had a much higher hurdles rating and the benefit of a previous run.

  

Elsewhere I see that Liberate made a winning hurdles debut at Hereford.  He is yet another recruit to the winter game from the flat stable of Sir Mark Prescott.  He won 4 times on the flat before moving to Philip Hobb’s yard.

  

The advance going at Ascot is good to firm although there is rain about.  King Barry won at Perth in the summer and a firm surface may well be to his advantage.  He has also had a promising prep run over hurdles at Haydock and looks each way value in the handicap chased at 3.20.  There are plenty of old favourite in opposition, not least Florida Dream who was a big success on last season’s list to follow.  This full brother to the great Florida Pearl won twice last season and is another that looks overpriced in the market.

  

The ex German gelding Tarlac is my fancy for the 3.55.  He won twice last season as well as finishing 5^th in the ultra competitive Imperial Cup at Sandown. AP McCoy rides.

  

At Exeter Petit Lord may be the answer in the 3.30.  Trained by Paul Nicholls he was 3^rd at Toulouse to another horse now with the champion trainer, Good Spirit.

  

The 1.25 at Kelso looks like being an informative beginner’s chase.  Rasharrow was expected to make a winning debut over fences at Newcastle last week but he had to be pulled up when the saddle slipped.  He should make amends here at the expense of The Duke’s Speech, another from our list to follow, and Richard Fahey’s Altay.  The latter won the Swinton Hurdle in 2003.

  

There is plenty of quality arcing over the weekend and I will be back tomorrow evening to go through the cards fro Saturday.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 17 2006” →

The only runner from our list to follow today was Aztec Warrior who won the novice chase at Folkestone at 7/2.

  

We have 3 runners from the list in action tomorrow with Kinburn probably the most likely winner.  He runs in the 2.20 at Hexham.  His last run was in a listed contest at Wetherby where he was 2^nd over an inadequate trip.  He has not always been the most fluent jumper but he got round the stiff fences at Wetherby.  The Howard Johnson horses have been running well and this 4 mile trip could well play to the horse’s strengths.

  

Our other runner is Caribou in the 2.10 at Warwick.  Caribou made a promising start to his chasing career when 3^rd at Worcester last month.  The 2 mile trip here just might be on the sharp side for him though.

  

Looking ahead at the entries for Thursday I see that Charlie Egerton has Rio Bravo in the 12.40 at Market Rasen.  The stable won this race last season.

  

Yaboya was a consistent sort over hurdles last season and may make his chase debut at Market Rasen in the 2.10.  Fourty Acers, trained by David Pipe is another horse from our list to follow entered in the same race.  This one improved with every run over hurdles last season and looks the type to do well over fences.  Our 3^rd runner is Keenan’s Future who proved a progressive novice hurdler last season winning at Wetherby and Exeter.

  

Closed Shop made an excellent start to his hurdles career when 2^nd at Wincanton last month and looks nailed on for similar.  He is entered in the Wincanton 4.00.

  

Harringay, from our list to follow is entered in the 3.00 at Wincanton.  I see that Alan King has Senorita Rumbalita down for this race.

  

Prince of Slane is a thorough stayer who ended last season by winning at Catterick over 3 miles 6.  He is entered in the 2.40 at Market Rasen but may find the trip on the short side for him.

  I will be back on Thursday evening.

Continue reading “Diary: November 15 & 16” →

The sad news today was the death off the great Desert Orchid at the age of 27.

 

The grey was not an overnight success and his career nearly eneded before it began.  On his hurdles debut, starting at 50/1 he fell at the last and lay on the ground without moving for fully 10 minutes.  He went on to record some success over hurdles winning 6 out of 7 races leading up to Cheltenham where he was unplaced in the Champion Hurdle.  The following season he was pulled up in the Champion Hurdle and the Welsh equivalent.

 When switched to fences it was a very different story with Dessie winning 27 of his 50 races.  He won the Irish Grand National and the Whitbread Gold Cup but his favourite course was undoubtedly Kempton.  Here he triumphed in the King George no fewer than 4 times.  He was probably best going right handed, which might explain his disappointing record at Cheltenham.  Time and time again Dessie went to the Festival only to disappoint.  On March 16 1989 Dessie ensured his place in racing history.  This time he came to Cheltenham having been unbeaten that season.  The morning of the race brought snow and sleet and the questions were asked – would he stay three and a quarter miles in very soft ground.  The race was pure drama.  Desert Orchid led the field at the start only to be overtaken by Ten Plus until he fell fatally at the 3rd last leaving Dessie in the lead.  He was headed by the outsider Yahoo only to battle gamely back roared on by 50,000 voices to record a famous victory.  A very special character. As his former rider Simon Sherwood said, "He was brave, tough, intelligent and totally honest.” 

 

I missed the Cheltenham Open Meeting so I have been catching up on some of the race videos.  Charles Egerton may not have the biggest string in jumps racing but he does have some quality horses and anything of his ridden by Tony McCoy is well worth a second look.  Rubberdubber won the 2 mile handicap chase for the Egerton/McCoy combination on Friday beating the ever consistent Armaturk.  Rubberdubber had fallen on his last outing but jumped confidently here and looks capable of winning further races during the season. 

By the time the novice chase went off at 4.10 the light was getting a bit murky but Standin’ Obligation lit up the afternoon with an impeccable round of fencing and although he only one by a length he basically toyed with the opposition under the most confident of rides from Timmy Murphy.  He could well be destined for the top.  He gave David Pipe his first ever Cheltenham winner at a meeting that his father dominated for so many years.

 

The other highlight on Friday was Spot the Difference who won over the unique cross country course for a remarkable 5^th time at the age of 13.

 

At Newcastle on Friday we had a couple of runners from our list to follow in the novice chase.  Aces Four won at 5/2 while our other runner Rasharrow was pulled up after the saddle slipped.

 

Denman has his critics and although he maintained his 100% recorded over fences on Saturday there are still some that remain unconvinced.  He had to work for his win in the Jim Brown Memorial novice chase beating Don’t Push It by 3 parts of a length.  Denman hung left markedly up the run in but kept on gamely winning in a fast time.  Don’t Push It had blundered at the third last and that may have made the difference.  Later on Saturday Star de Mohaison took advantage of a very lenient hurdles mark and his next stop may well be the Hennessey.

 

There was a cracking run from Idle Talk in the last where he was collared up the run in by yet another Paul Nicholls runner My Will.  This was one of the best finishes of the meeting.

 

Roll Along won for our list to follow at Uttoxeter albeit at 1/4.

 

There were plenty of old favourites in the staying chase at Wetherby which was won by King Killone who looks to be going the right way.  Apart from a slight blip two out he jumped well and got the better of the grey Silver Knight and course specialist Jungle Jinks.

 

The highlight of Sunday’s Cheltenham card was Detroit City’s run away victory in the Greatwood Hurdle.  He made all and powered well clear to stake his claim as a real contender for the Champion Hurdle.

 

There were also a couple of winners for our list to follow at Carlisle on Monday.  Tidal Bay won the opener to make it two out of two over hurdles while According to John beat the highly rated Royal Rosa in the novice chase.  Both look to have bright futures.

 

Aztec Warrior is our only runner on Tuesday.  He was pulled up after the first on his chase debut at Wincanton but he appeared to be hampered by a faller in front of him that day.  A winner over hurdles last season he is the type to do better over fences and has a chance here.  Garde Champetre is the obvious danger though.

 See you tomorrow    

Continue reading “Diary: November 14 2006” →