I will concentrate on a preview of Tomorrow’s racing here. I will have a look back at today’s action tomorrow night.
Starting at Chepstow Sue Smith’s Bougoure represents the list to follow in the opener at 12.20. Bougoure won at Catterick and Market Rasen over hurdles and has shown enough in a couple of runs over the larger obstacles to have a chance here.
Madison Du Berlais won 3 times earlier in the year but is yet to come to hand this season. Both trip and ground should suit and he could be given an each way chance in the 12.55.
Another David Pipe runner, Doc Row has a squeak in the 1.30. He looks on a fair mark over hurdles and stays this trip well.
There are 3 runners from the list to follow in the Welsh National at 2.05. Halcon Generlardais jumps, stays and will like the ground. On the negative side horses carrying more than 11 stone have a poor record in the race. Kinburn has been second in both his starts this season. His chances have not been helped by jumping errors but if he gets it right in that department he could run well. All in the Stars has not shown his best form in his last few starts and may be a bit high in the weights. He is a thorough stayer though and would have claims on his best form. I will give him my tentative each way selection. Others that could go well are Simon, L’Aventure and Preacher Boy.
Paul Nicholls trained the winner of the bumper at 3.45 last season and has a good prospect in the race this time with Mutual Respect.
The 1.10 at Kempton features two from our list to follow, Killaghey Castle and Rasharrow. Killaghey Castle looked impressive last time when beating Briareus, a good winner since. The form looks solid and he gets the selection.
Rachel Green takes on some of the big name jockeys in the 1.45 on Fountain Crumble. She is a very capable rider though and the combination should go well.
Voy Por Ustedes had to give best to Kauto Star in the Tingle Creek but there was no disgrace in that and he can get off the mark for the season in the 2.30.
Alderburn was disappointing on his reappearance this season but has had a good break since and has AP McCoy in the saddle in the 3.05. Our other list runner is King Barry who was well beaten at Ascot last time out and may not find the going to his liking. Alderburn has the better chance of the two I would say although he is probably better on a galloping track.
Midas Way was 4th to Afsoun in a listed hurdle at Newbury last time. He should come on for that and has an each way chance in the 3.40.
The following horses from our list to follow are running in Ireland.
Leopardstown 1.30 Nickname
2.00 Catch Me and De Valira
2.35 Oulart
3.10 Numbersixvalverde
Limerick 1.10 You Sir
3.20 Merdeka Other selections;
Limerick 12.40 Fred’s Benefit
The Elite Racing Club
As some of my regulars will know I belong to the Elite Racing Club, which means that, along with 17,999 other people I am the proud owner of 20 or so racehorses. I thought readers might be interested to read about the club horses and their prospects for 2007. The opinions expressed here are very much my own thoughts as I avoid expressing any official club views for obvious copyright reasons.
Now that the club’s star filly Soviet Song has been retired the two best known names on the flat are probably New Seeker and Eisteddfod (I always rely on my spell check for that one!) Although New Seeker is rising 7 he showed he is no back number by winning for the second time in listed company this year in the Guisborough Stakes run at Redcar. Although he has only won 7 races in his career he does seem to specialise in valuable races. He has won the Totesport International Handicap twice and has also won 2 races at Royal Ascot, the most recent being the Royal Hunt Cup when it was run at York. He was also 2nd in the Lincoln a couple of seasons ago.
He is effective over 7 furlongs and a mile and likes to make the running. I am hoping that he can land another listed race in 2007 or just possibly find a Group 3, possibly abroad.
Eisteddfod is a product of the Elite’s own breeding programme as he is out of a former winning club horse, Ffestiniog. Eisteddfod is a classy sprinter who won a Group 3 in 2005. He didn’t manage to register a win last season as for one reason or another things just didn’t seem to drop right for him. Given some cut in the ground I am confident that he will get back to winning ways in 2007.
There is a lot to like about the professional way in which the club is organised. For example, the horses are spread amongst 7 or 8 trainers, partly to reduce the risk of them all being hit with sickness at the same time, but also to allow club members from different parts of the country to enjoy stable visits. Elite also like to have a number of versatile dual purpose horses in their string to maximise opportunities. The likes of Dancing Bay, Rehearsal and Monolith come into this category. Monolith is a good example of the dual purpose horse. He won the Pontefract Cup on the flat this year and followed that with a victory in a valuable handicap hurdle at Cheltenham.
I will be having a look at the prospects of some more Elite horses tomorrow.
Did you know?
Lester Piggott rode the last ever winner at the old Manchester racecourse in November 1963. It was not quite enough to catch Scobie Breesley for the jockey’s title though. Breesley of course sadly died the other day.
Funnies
An amusing comment heard on the Morning Line programme last week when Richard Hoiles pointed out that he could never marry a woman called Olive!
11 lords a leaping
Well, one Lord leaping 11 timers (I was using a bit of Yuletide poetic licence) Lord Oaksey rode the Grand National 11 times, getting round on 4 occasion and once finishing a close up 2nd.
I hope Christmas has gone well. See you tomorrow.
ahorse 