Month: November 2006

Mr Pointment kept our list to follow ticking over by winning the beginners chase t Bangor.  He may well go on to better things from there as he showed some useful form over hurdles last season. I see that the Lincoln Handicap winner Blythe Knight made a winning start to his hurdles career under AP McCoy.

  

The best racing tomorrow comes from Thurles.  The card gets under way with a beginners chase at 1.15.  Ballytrim was an easy winner of a bumper at Thurles and prior to that had won a point to point.  It is interesting that he goes straight over fences and that may be an indication that he has schooled well.  Oulart is more experienced and although he has yet to open his account over fences he was second in the Irish National last season.  This race was won by War of Attrition in 2004.

  

Slim Pickings could go well in the 1.45.  He was second to the useful Missed That over 2 miles 5 and should have a good race in him this season.  Barry Geraghty rides.

  

The 3.15 is a mares only maiden hurdle and this looks an opportunity for Female who has top class bumper form.

  

I am having a break this weekend and the next update will be on Monday evening.  You will find the jumps list to follow in the special features section of the site.  A couple of other names to look out for over the next few days are Bannow Strand and Just for Men. The massive chaser Bannow Stand, trained by David Pipe, has stacks of ability but has not really lived up to his hype.  This could be his season.  Just for Men is entered at Uttoxeter on Saturday.  I would also be interested in backing Commercial Flyer if he appears over the weekend.

  

Cheltenham’s Open Meeting takes centre stage over the weekend and there are plenty of runners from our list to follow in action.

  Be lucky

Continue reading “Diary: November 9 2006” →

I was very sorry to here that Fondmort is in a bad way after a training accident.  He has been a wonderful servant over the years and would be a huge loss to his connections that I am sure think the world of him.  If ever a racehorse had earned a long and comfortable retirement it would be Fondmort.  Let’s hope he recovers.

  

Ringaroses gave our list to follow a win today at Kempton on his hurdles debut.  He never came off the bridle under a patient Timmy Murphy ride and looks a useful recruit for Henrietta Knight.

  

There are jumps cards at both Bangor and Lingfield tomorrow and some interesting runners on show.

  

Blythe Knight, this year’s Lincoln winner makes his hurdles debut at Bangor in the 12.40.  With Tony McCoy on board he must be respected.

  

There are 3 runners from our list to follow in the 1.40, Cloudy Lane, Mr Poitment and Reach for the Top.  Cloudy Lane and Mr Pointment look the ones to concentrate on with the former having the benefit of a recent outing.

  

Distant Thunder’s recent form figures contain more letters than numbers.  His form of a couple of seasons ago was much more impressive though and he is in with a chance on his first run for his new stable in the 2.10.

  

Our runner at Lingfield is Gimmeabreak (2.30).  He is an Irish points winner and looks the type to show improved form now he is tried over fences.

  

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 8 2006” →

We had two winners from 3 runners today with Tony Dobbin riding both. Turpin Green was involved in a bizarre race.  None of the 3 runners wanted to take the lead and they took half a minute to cover the first few yards.  It was some time before they went for anything more strenuous than a gentle walk.  When the pace finally hotted up Turpin Green got the job done in competent style and with no sign of the gremlins that led him to virtually refuse at the last at Sandown.

  

Ever Present was our other runner and he made all and his jumping was pretty well faultless.

  

Tredegar was a winner on the flat for the Elite Racing Club so I was pleased about that too.  He comes from a winning family and seems to be going the right way.

  

Runners from our list to follow tomorrow.

  

Kempton 1.30 Opus Café and Ringaroses

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 7 2006” →

The European contingent didn’t fare too well at the Breeders Cup.  The excellent Ouija Board apart no European horse even got a place.  The real race of the weekend was of course at Down Royal where War of Attrition and Beef or Salmon fought out an epic dual in the James Nicholson Chase.  Beef or Salmon has his detractors in this country but back in his home country he is devilishly hard to beat, especially in a small field and given soft ground.  Justified belied his inexperience to finish a very creditable third.

  

On Saturday both Presto Shinko and Rampallion were close seconds at Windsor while Book of Music ran well to be third in the November Handicap.  Alfie Flits ensured that our list to follow had a winner on the final day of the season. He was a huge drifter in the market and ended up at 8/1.  He shrugged of a lacklustre display on his last run to storm clear of his rivals in the listed race at Windsor.

  

Kicks for Free and The Whisperer were short priced winners for our jumps list.

  

The jump racing tomorrow comes from Carlisle where we have a couple of runners from our list to follow.  The Dukes Speech had some useful hurdles form last season ending with a 3^rd to Straw  Bear and Conna Castle at Aintree.  He has always looked the type to do even better over fences and makes his debut over the larger obstacles in the 12.40.

  

Turpin Green has showed consistent form over fences.  The only real blip was when he was beaten in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown after seemingly having the race at his mercy.  He practically refused at the last and failed to get back up on the run in.  He clearly has plenty of talent though.  His main danger in this 3 horse field will be Exotic Dancer from the in form stable of Jonjo O’Neill.

  

Ever Present won over fences at Ayr last season over 3 miles. He should appreciate the soft ground in the 3.30.  He doesn’t look too badly weighted.  Should stay further later in the season but two and a half at this stiff track should suit.

  

So we have 3 runners and they all hold a chance so fingers crossed.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 6 2006” →

The only runner from our UK list to follow on Sunday is Sue Smith’s Bougoure in the 2.50 at Market Rasen. He won twice over hurdles and looks the sort to do well over the larger obstacles.

  

In Ireland we have two runners, both with winning chances. The prolific winner from last season, Dun Doire runs in the 1.15 at Cork.  This is a handicap hurdle where Dun Doire’s rating is considerably lower than his chase mark.

  

In the 3.25 Mounthenry looks to improve on his runner up spot last time at Punchestown.  Mossbank looks the main danger.

  

I will be back tomorrow evening for a look back at the events of the weekend.

  Bye for now

Continue reading “Diary: November 5 2006” →

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 3^rd 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.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 4 2006” →

Today’s selections drew a blank (sorry Pikey!) although King Barry was 2^nd at Haydock and will hopefully pay his way over fences as the season progresses.

  

 There is only one runner from the list to follow tomorrow and that is One Sniff in the 1.20 at Hexham.  One Sniff is a former Irish points winner who made a big impression when winning over hurdles at the second time of asking at Kelso in April.  Stamina looks to be his strong suit and this extended 3 miles should be fine for him.  The Reverend represents the danger.  This one looked a hot prospect last season when beating the well regarded Wild Cane Ridge at Carlisle.  Was subsequently down the field in a handicap won by the ill fated Olaso but by then Howard Johnson’s horses were under a cloud.

  

There was a real fairytale ending to the Haldon Chase on Tuesday. This of course was the race where Best Mate died last season and it was fitting that Jim Lewis should gain some compensation this year with Impek carrying the owners Aston Villa colours to victory.  Impek had his critics earlier in his career and some questioned his temperament.  His record stands up to close scrutiny now though.  He has now won 8 times in the UK since arriving from France with 4 of those wins coming at Grade 2 level.

  

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 3 2006” →

The last couple of days have a symmetrical look with two winners each from our flat and jumps lists.  I am not sure that either of the flat winners, Height of Fury or With Interest beat a lot but a winner is a winner! Height of Fury really spread eagled the field but I thought the formerly smart hurdler Flame Creek ran well enough in second.  The remainder were strung out all over the place. 

  

With Interest was yet another Godolphin winner coming off the back of a very lengthy lay off.  He now has a record of 2 runs and 2 wins.

  

We had Paul Nicholls to thank for both jumps winners, Beau Michel and Denman.  Not all the pundits were over impressed with Denman and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.  Penzance chased him home in second.

  

The best racing tomorrow is at Haydock.  Howard Johnson has done well with his hurdle recruits from Sir Mark Prescott’s yard and the latest is Amorist.  He makes his hurdles bow in the Haydock 1.40.  Amorist won three times on the all weather last winter and looks a likely type.

  

Troll (3.20) is one of the “darker” horses on our list.  He won a bumper at Wetherby and has done enough over hurdles to suggest that he has a race in him.

  

King Barry (3.50) won a decent race at Perth in the summer beating Sue Smith’s Undeniable.  He reverts to hurdles here and he should be suited by the Haydock obstacles.  The drying ground should also be in his favour. Another runner to watch out for in this race is All for Luck who won an Irish point to point in a fast time.

  

I will leave it there for this evening as I have some record keeping to catch up with.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 2 2006” →